Lincoln Home National Historic Site includes the largest neighborhood of original historic homes in any United States park.

The Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth is heightening worldwide interest in the life of the 16th American president. However fascination with the leader who led the country during its deepest crisis has been ongoing for the more than 150 years since he came to public prominence. It is said only Jesus Christ has had more written about him. Scholars, collectors, educators, students and others interested in his life have examined the lore, legend and truth in many forms. Museums and historic sites associated with Lincoln have received many millions of visitors during their existence.

Four Lincoln museums, each different in character, are examined here in detail. While collectively they present a significant portion of the artifacts and literature associated with this great leader there is far too much Lincoln history available to include in one survey. Some resources are presented at the end of this article. These four facilities are principally dedicated to his life and leadership, and each and every one provides a unique glimpse into the man, his life, what he accomplished and stood for.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Springfield, Illinois was Lincoln’s home for many years and is his final resting place. Here he married, fathered his children and rose to professional and political prominence. He left Springfield in 1861 to take his place as president, never to return during his tragically shortened life. Much of the Illinois state capital is dedicated to Lincoln; many places associated with him still exist and two of the museums reviewed are here. For a total immersion in Lincoln’s life, a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a good first stop.

This museum opened in 2005 and the library in 2003 under the auspices of the State of Illinois. The library is a well-known resource for Lincoln study. It is both larger in size and different in scope from the libraries of recent presidents. Besides the research library, the facility includes the museum, sculpture gardens and a visitor center in a restored late 19th century train station. Accessibility might be a single word descriptive of the museum’s aim to introduce people of all ages and levels of understanding to the life of Lincoln. Museum leaders take pride in the theme park theatrics used in the presentation of most of the displays.

Exhibit halls branch out from a large central rotunda, the Plaza. Upon entering this area, the first impressions are of a life size log cabin and a slightly less than life size South Portico of the White House, the Executive Mansion in 1860. These provide entrances to the two Journey exhibits which span Lincoln’s life. There are also life size wax figures of Abraham and Mary Lincoln and three of their sons, Robert, William and Thomas "Tad" (no photos are known to exist of Eddy, the child who died in 1852). They are out in the open for size comparison and picture taking. Many static figures appear throughout the life-size dioramas of the Journey exhibits.

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