Complete Guide to Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Indiana

Complete Guide to Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Southern Indiana including things to do, history, lodging, camping, directions, and more.

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

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Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is located in Southern Indiana. This memorial encompasses the land where President Lincoln lived the early years of his life. President Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States.

About Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

The Lincoln Family moved to this farm after Abraham Lincoln's father lost two parcels of land in Kentucky due to title disputes.

In 1816, the Lincoln family moved to southern Indiana where Thomas Lincoln could buy government land. Thomas Lincoln also wanted to be in an area that opposed slavery.

On this land, Abraham Lincoln would grow into manhood and really shape his values. In 1830 the Lincoln family moved to Illinois.

By this time Abraham Lincoln's mom Nancy had passed away and Thomas had remarried.

The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial encompasses 200 acres that include a living history pioneer farm, a foundation display symbolizing Lincoln's cabin, the grave site of Nancy Lincoln, and the spring that was the family's water source.

The Lincoln Boyhood NM Visitor Center includes exhibits detailing Abraham Lincoln's boyhood and family life, a park film, and large sculpture panels which are carved from Indiana Limestone. These panels illustrate events in President Lincoln's life.

Is Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial worth visiting?

Yes, The park does an amazing job telling the story of Lincoln's early life in Indiana. The displays are really interesting and the park is beautiful.

Make sure to plan time to walk through the park and enjoy the trails.

History of Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is located in Lincoln City, Indiana. It preserves the farm where Lincoln lived with his family from ages 7 to 21 and serves as a great historical snapshot of this important time period in the 16^th President’s life.

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Kentucky to parents Thomas and Nancy.

In 1816, the Lincolns, along with their 9-year-old daughter Sarah, and 7-year-old Abraham, moved to what is now Lincoln City, in southern Indiana.

Lincoln stated later in life, that the move to Indiana came on account of slavery, but also because it was difficult to secure land titles in Kentucky at that time.

The land Thomas Lincoln bought in Indiana was bought directly from the federal government. Thomas had visited Indiana a few months before and had chosen the specific spot he wished to build his cabin.

When Indiana became a state the same year the Lincolns moved to Indiana, the state constitution prohibited slavery.

It was on this property that Lincoln lived for 14 years of his life. The hard work and events that happened here shaped the man that would live on forever in history.

The historical farm on the site is not the original log cabin the Lincolns lived in. The structures were built to display a typical 1820s Indiana farm.

Abraham helped his father clear their new land and property, working so hard that there wasn’t much time for schooling. Lincoln was skilled with a plow and especially the axe, which he called “the most useful of tools.”

Despite the hard labor, his parents still encouraged him to read as much as possible as they understood the importance of a strong mind. It is said that Lincoln could often be seen walking around the Indiana fields with a book in one hand and his axe in the other.

The loving, hardworking family saw tragedy in October 1818 when Nancy died at just 35 years old from milk sickness.

Milk sickness was a common illness in the area brought on by cattle eating snakeroot plants which would in turn create a toxin and contaminate its milk.

Heartbroken, Thomas and Abraham together built her coffin and she was buried just a short distance from the cabin. A short walk from the Memorial Visitor’s Center will take you to Pioneer Cemetery where Nancy and other pioneers are buried.

A year after Nancy’s death, Thomas returned to Kentucky to look for a suitable wife and mother for his two children.

Sarah Bush Johnston became Lincoln’s stepmother and by all accounts, she and her three children formed one large loving family with the Lincolns.

In 1826, Sarah Lincoln married Aaron Grigsby and the couple moved into a cabin just two miles from the Lincoln cabin.

Sadly, Sarah, as well as the baby she was carrying, died in that cabin in January of 1828 during the delivery. She and the child were buried at the Little Pigeon Baptist Church Cemetery where she and Aaron’s wedding took place.

Sarah was undoubtedly one of Lincoln’s closest confidants as the two siblings suffered through the death of their mother. Sarah would die in Indiana never witnessing her brother becoming one of the greatest presidents of all time.

By the time Lincoln was 19 years old he was six foot four and stronger than ever.

In 1928, Lincoln was hired by the richest man in Indiana County, Mr. James Gentry. Gentry hired Lincoln to sail to New Orleans in his flatboat loaded with produce.

Heading south, it was this first trip for Mr. Gentry that Lincoln witnessed a slave auction on a dock. That image disturbed Lincoln and stuck with him for the rest of his life.

Another job venture Lincoln tried during his teen years was working on the ferryboats on the nearby Anderson River.

In his spare time, while working for the ferryboat service, Lincoln would row passengers out to the steamboats on the Ohio River.

This business venture did not last long as the ferryboat operators were upset that Lincoln was encroaching on their jurisdiction. Lincoln was ultimately not fined nor charged.

In 1930, Thomas decided to move his family to Illinois. Relatives living in that area had sent word to Thomas that there was rich, productive farming soil and that the milk sickness, which was so prevalent in their Indiana County, did not exist in Illinois.

The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial was established in 1962 and includes the Cabin Site Memorial, Pioneer Cemetery, nearby Lincoln Spring (Lincoln’s main source of water), and the Visitor’s Center.

The outside of the Visitor’s Center is made of Indiana limestone panels and in them, various locations of places Lincoln lived are carved into the walls.

When visiting this historic site filled with Lincoln's family history, one must realize the significance that all travels during Lincoln’s life likely served.

Having lived in Indiana from the formative ages of 7 to 21, we know that the events here shaped the man he became – both tragic occasions and lessons learned through hard work and education as well.

Things to know before your visit to Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Entrance fee

$0.00, There is no entrance fee to visit the park.

Planning a National Park vacation? America the Beautiful/National Park Pass covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites.

The park pass covers everyone in the car for per vehicle sites and for up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

Buy on REI.com and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.

Time Zone

Central Time Zone

Pets

Pets are allowed at Lincoln Boyhood NM. Pets must be on leashes at all times.

You can bring your pet on the trails but they are not allowed in the buildings unless it is a service animal.

Cell Service

We had fairly good cell service while visiting the park.

Park Hours

Park Grounds - Sunrise to Sunset

Visitor Center - Hours depend on the time of year visiting.

The visitor center is closed on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King JR Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is not available at the park.

Insect Repellent

Insect repellent is always a great idea when outdoors, especially if you are around any body of water.

We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips.

Water Bottle

Make sure to bring your own water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.

Parking

There is an easy-to-reach parking area in front of the visitor center.

Food/Restaurants

There are no restaurants within the park.

Gas

There are no gas stations within the park.

Drones

Drones are not permitted within National Park Sites.

National Park Passport Stamps

National Park Passport stamps can be found in the visitor center.

Make sure to bring your National Park Passport Book with you or we like to pack these circle stickers so we don't have to bring our entire book with us.

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is part of the 2009 Passport Stamp Set.

Electric Vehicle Charging

There are at least 2 EV Charging stations within 10 miles of Lincoln City, Indiana.

Details about Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Size - 200 acres

Check out how the park compares to other National Parks by Size.

Date Established

Feb. 19, 1962

Visitation

In 2021, Lincoln Boyhood NM had 114,353 park visitors.

In 2020, Lincoln Boyhood NM had 110,692 park visitors.

In 2019, Lincoln Boyhood NM had 138,714 park visitors.

Learn more about the most visited and least visited National Parks in the US

National Park Address

3027 East South Street
PO Box 1816
Lincoln City, IN 47552

National Park Map

Where is Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial?

Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is located in southern Indiana.

Estimated distance from major cities nearby

Louisville, KY - 79 miles

Indianapolis, IN - 141 miles

Lexington-Fayette, KY - 153 miles

Nashville, TN - 161 miles

Cincinnati, OH - 177 miles

St. Louis, MO - 195 miles

Fort Wayne, IN - 266 miles

Columbus, OH - 284 miles

Chicago, IL - 299 miles

Memphis, TN - 369 miles

Estimated Distance from nearby National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park - 112 miles

Gateway Arch National Park - 194 miles

Indiana Dunes National Park - 286 miles

Cuyahoga Valley National Park - 412 miles

New River Gorge National Park - 384 miles

Shenandoah National Park - 562 miles

Where is the National Park Visitor Center?

The visitor center is located off the main park road.

Getting to Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Closest Airports

Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport

Evansville Regional Airport

International Airports

Louisville International Airport (SDF)

Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

Nashville International Airport (BNA)

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)

Driving Directions

From the east or west - From Interstate 64, exit onto US 231, (exit 57A). Travel south on US 231 to Indiana Highway 162. Take the Santa Claus/Gentryville exit. Turn west (right) on Indiana Highway 162; go 1-1/2 miles to the park entrance on the right.

From the north or south - From US 231 take the Santa Claus/Gentryville exit. Turn west on Indiana Highway 162; go 1-1/2 miles to the park entrance on the right.

Best time to visit Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

The best time to visit the park is spring through fall to skip the snowy winter days.

That being said summer season is warm and muggy.

Weather and Seasons

This part of Indiana has warm muggy summers and cold snowy winters.

The hottest weather is from May 25 to September 21 with an average daily high temperature above 78 degrees.

July is the hottest month in the park.

The coldest weather is from November 30th to February 28th with an average daily temperature below 50 degrees.

Snow commonly occurs between November 28th and March 16th with an average of at least an inch of snow.

The snowiest month is February with an average of 3.6 inches of snow.

Best Things to do in Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Visitor Center

The visitor center is a great place to start your visit to this park. You can pick up a junior ranger program, and park pamphlets, watch the 15-minute park film, and ask any questions you may have about President Lincoln.

Make sure and check out the limestone sculpture panels depicting President Lincoln's life.

Within the visitor center, you can visit the Lincoln in Indiana Museum which includes twelve exhibits that explore the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Park Film - Forging Greatness: Lincoln in Indiana

The park film Forging Greatness: Lincoln in Indiana is 14 minutes long. The park orientation film is shown every half hour from 8 a.m. to 1/2 hour before closing.

Junior Ranger Program

The program consists of viewing the 15-minute park orientation film, and visiting the grave site of Nancy Hanks Lincoln, the Cabin Site Memorial, and the Living Historical Farm.

Living Historical Farm

The buildings are open from mid-April through September and give you the chance to learn more about a working pioneer homestead.

You can enjoy a log cabin, outbuildings, split rail fences, animals, gardens, and crop fields.

The living history farm is set up like an 1820s farm similar to the one when Lincoln was growing up.

Park staff working on the farm can be seen chopping firewood, milking cows, and feeding the animals.

The farmer handles taking care of the garden and crops including plowing, planting, cultivating, and harvesting the crops.

Nancy Hanks Lincoln Grave Site

The existing headstone, erected in 1879, marks the burial spot of Abraham Lincoln's mother, who died of milk sickness in 1818.

Abraham Lincoln was 9 years old and helped his father Thomas fasten boards together into a coffin.

The Pioneer Cemetery includes Nancy Hanks Lincoln Gravesite along with other pioneers and some residents of Lincoln City.

MARKED GRAVES

Lincoln, Nancy Hanks, “Mother of President Lincoln” d Oct 5, 1818, aged 35 y “Erected by a friend of her martyred son 1879”

Rhodes, “Mother” Mary E., b Feb 14, 1852, d Mar 16, 1900, “Erected by sisters Minnie and Sallie”

Morris, Josephus, s/o D.C. & V.L., b Mar 12, 1844, d Mar12, 1899

Morris, Susanna, b Feb 9, 1851, d Jul 23, 1897

Ludwig, Bertha A., d/o John & L., b Nov 7, 1886, d May 6, 1899

Huff, Salley, w/o Thomas, b Jun 21, 1848, d Jul 14, 1884, “The Lord is My Shepherd”

Hicks, Infant, s/o George II and Nancy J., b & d Dec 14, 1891, “It was an angel that visited the green earth and took a flower away”

Brooner, Nancy Rusher, b 1782, d 1818, w.o. Peter Brooner

Sparrow, Thomas and Elizabeth Hanks, died September 1818

There are also multiple unmarked graves in the Pioneer Cemetery.

Cabin Site Memorial

This is the site that was believed to be where the third Lincoln cabin was located and marked in 1917.

In 1933, the State of Indiana excavated the site and found the remains of sill logs and a stone hearth.

A bronze casting marks the location of where it is believed the 1829 Lincoln Cabin stood.

Lincoln Spring

The Lincoln Spring served as a source of water for the family while they lived in Indiana. Thomas Lincoln chose the section of land they lived on because of the spring which was their freshwater source.

The homestead was built 300 years from the spring.

Hiking in Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Always carry the 10 essentials for outdoor survival when exploring.

There are two miles of trails within the park. You can walk in Lincoln's footsteps and explore where Lincoln grew up.

Lincoln Boyhood Trail

The Lincoln Boyhood Trail connects the Pioneer Cemetery to the Living Historical Farm. The Boyhood Nature Trail loops about one mile through the woods north of the Living Historical Farm.

There is a steep including from the north parking lot to the Pioneer Cemetery.

Trail of Twelve Stones

Distance - .5 miles

Trailhead - Start at the Living History Farm and ends near the Pioneer Cemetery.

Twelve historic stones are arranged in chronological order at irregular intervals with small bronze tablets near them.

Each tablet explains the events in Lincoln's life associated with each of the memorial stones. There are benches along the trail for visitors to enjoy.

The Allee is a landscaped, tree-lined walkway that leads to the Nancy Hanks Lincoln gravesite was designed by the noted landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr., and was completed in 1930.

Lincoln Boyhood Nature Trail loops an area known as the "North 40". The land was a part of the original Thomas Lincoln farm but is heavily wooded today.

You can also ride your bike on park trails.

How to beat the crowds in Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial?

We did not experience any crowds in the park. It is easy to move around any crowds by exploring the park trails and outside areas.

Where to stay when visiting Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

There are no National Park Lodges within the park.

Nearby lodging includes:

Comfort Inn - Consider a stay at Comfort Inn and take advantage of a terrace, laundry facilities, and a gym. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

Quality Inn & Suites - You can look forward to free continental breakfast, laundry facilities, and a business center at Quality Inn & Suites. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.

Baymont by Wyndham Dale - You can look forward to free continental breakfast, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour gym at Baymont by Wyndham Dale. In addition to a business center, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites - Free breakfast, a grocery/convenience store, and an arcade/game room are just a few of the amenities provided at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Jasper, an IHG Hotel. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with dry cleaning/laundry services and a 24-hour gym.

Hampton Inn Jasper - Take advantage of free continental breakfast, golfing on site, and laundry facilities at Hampton Inn Jasper. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. In addition to a gym and a 24-hour business center, guests can connect to free Wi-Fi in public areas.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Jasper - You can look forward to a free breakfast buffet, a grocery/convenience store, and dry cleaning/laundry services at Fairfield Inn & Suites Jasper. Free Wi-Fi in public areas is available to all guests, along with a gym and a business center.

Click on the map below to see additional lodging and vacation rental options near the park.

Camping

There are no National Park Campgrounds in the park.

For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!

Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, New York, and Orlando