LINCOLN HOMESTEAD STATE PARK
The same spirit of adventure that brought other pioneers to Kentucky led Abraham Lincoln?s grandparents to the knolls of Kentucky near the Beech Fork River.
Lincoln Homestead State Park features the original home of Lincoln?s mother, as well as replicas of the 1782 cabin and blacksmith shop where his father was reared and learned his trade. You'll also find the home of Mordecai Lincoln, the favorite uncle of the President, along with split-rail fences and pioneer furniture that portray the rugged pioneer life. An 18-hole regulation golf course accents the gentle, rolling hills of this historic setting.
Lincoln Homestead State Park is located near Bardstown, Lawrenceburg and Lebanon
A picnic shelter, tables, grills, rest rooms, playground and parking area are near the cabins.Open year-round. Shelter available for rental. May be reserved up to one year in advance.
The Lincoln Cabin & Blacksmith Shop:
The Lincoln, Hanks, and Berry families migrated to this area over Daniel Bone?s Wilderness Road in the 1780s and 1790s. The Lincoln cabin is a replica that rests on the traditional site of the original log house in which the President?s grandmother, Bersheba, raised her five children. Thomas Lincoln, father of the President, lived here until he was 25 years of age.
According to tradition, Thomas learned his trade as a carpenter and cabinetmaker in a blacksmith shop similar to the shop replica located behind the homestead cabin. Thomas Lincoln probably learned his trade under the tutelage of Richard and Francis Berry, who were master craftsmen and relatives of Nancy Hanks. Several of the cabin furnishings, like the handsome corner cupboard, were made by Thomas Lincoln. Open May 1 - September 30. A fee is charged for admission.
The Berry House:
Nancy Hanks, mother of the President, lived in this original house while she was courted by Thomas Lincoln. It is thought that Thomas proposed to Nancy in the large living room before the immense fireplace. This distinctive frontier home, constructed of stout timbers with a full second floor and window glass, was moved from the Beechland section about a mile away. The home contains several elegant examples of pioneer furniture and a copy of the Lincoln marriage bond.Open May 1 - September 30. A fee is charged for admission.
The Mordecai Lincoln House:
The home of Mordecai Lincoln, eldest son of Captain Abraham Lincoln and Bersheba, and the favorite uncle of President Lincoln, is located across from the golf course on its original site. Mordecai Lincoln was one of the leading citizens of Washington County. The two-story log cabin built by Mordecai Lincoln was encased and enlarged by the Federal-style frame building visible today between the years 1810-1815, by the home?s second owner, Wilfred Hayden.
Exterior viewing only. Available for rental. Kitchen and rest room facilities are adjacent to the historic home. A fee is charged for use of this facility.
The park is five miles north of Springfield. Take the Bluegrass Parkway to US 150 east or KY 555 south. From US 150 east, take KY 528 to KY 438. From KY 555 south, take KY 438 to the park.
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