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Lincoln Cabin State Historic Site: A Step Back in Time

Explore 1840s Illinois at the Lincoln Cabin State Historic Site: a living history farm and replica of Abraham Lincoln's father's home.

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Visit the Lincoln Cabin State Historic Site in Lerna, Illinois, to experience 1840s rural life. The park features a replica of Thomas Lincoln's cabin, where Abraham Lincoln's father and stepmother lived, along with other historical buildings and a living history farm.

A brief summary to Lincoln Cabin State Historic Site

  • Decatur, Illinois, 62522, US

Local tips

  • Visit between May and October to experience the living history programs with costumed interpreters.
  • Check the schedule for special events like the Fall Harvest Frolic for an immersive historical experience.
  • Make the Visitor Center your first stop to view exhibits and a film about the Lincolns and Sargents.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    The Lincoln Cabin State Historic Site is located approximately 8 miles south of Charleston, Illinois. From I-57, take Exit 190 and follow State Highway 16 east, then head south on Lerna Road, following the signs to the site. There is paved parking available, including accessible parking spaces.

  • Public Transport

    While there is no direct public transportation to the site, you can take Amtrak or Greyhound to nearby Springfield, IL, and then take a taxi or rideshare to the site. Taxi/ride-share cost from Springfield is approximately $100-$130.

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Discover more about Lincoln Cabin State Historic Site

The Lincoln Cabin State Historic Site, located near Lerna, Illinois, is an 86-acre park offering a glimpse into the world of Abraham Lincoln's family. The centerpiece is a reconstruction of the two-room log cabin built by Thomas Lincoln, Abraham's father, and his stepmother, Sarah Bush Lincoln. Although Abraham Lincoln never resided here, he frequently visited and provided financial support to his family. The site features a living history farm that recreates agricultural practices from the 1840s, complete with costumed interpreters tending to the fields, animals, and household chores. Visitors can also explore the Stephen Sargent Farm, representing a successful cash crop farm of the same era, and the Reuben Moore Home, where President-elect Lincoln bid farewell to his stepmother before leaving for Washington, D.C. in 1861. The original Thomas Lincoln cabin was displayed at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 but was later lost. The current replica was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, offering visitors an authentic experience of 19th-century rural life.

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