Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, part of the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, preserves the 19th-century home of Thomas Lincoln and Sarah Bush Lincoln, father and step-mother of our 16th president. Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer living in Springfield by the time his parents moved here, but his burgeoning law practice often brought him to Charleston and the farm, especially during the 1840s. Abraham Lincoln also owned a portion of the farm which he deeded back to his father and step-mother for their use during their lifetime.

Today Lincoln Log Cabin is an 86-acre historic site that is owned and operated by the State of Illinois, managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Sites. The site includes an accurate reproduction of the Lincolns' two-room cabin that was reconstructed on the original cabin site in 1935-1936 as a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) project. The National Park Service oversaw the creation of Lincoln Log Cabin State Park with CCC labor. The CCC camp, Camp Shiloh, was located within the park's boundaries and its enrollees were WWI veterans. Today the ten acres in the northwest corner of the park where Camp Shiloh was located is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A working, living history farm has been developed around the cabin, and a second historic farmstead, that of Stephen and Nancy Sargent, has been moved to the site to help broaden visitors' understanding both of life in the 19th century and Lincoln's legal practice in the community. The site also includes the Moore Home, where Lincoln bid farewell to his family in 1861 before leaving to assume the Presidency, and the gravesites of Thomas and Sarah Lincoln at the Thomas Lincoln Cemetery.

Upcoming Events!

New Volunteer Orientation
Saturday, February 21, 9 am-noon

Are you interested in volunteering, but don't know where to start? This volunteer orientation is your chance! Meet at the Visitor Center at 9am to get a "backstage" tour, ask questions, learn out about volunteer opportunities for individuals and families, and take the first step to becoming a volunteer! RSVP online here.  

Homeschool Historians
March 6 and 20, 10 am-2:00 pm

Homeschool Historians is a monthly (Sept-May) program held on select Fridays, with each month featuring a different theme. Homeschoolers ages pre-k through high school are invited to explore American history through hands-on activities, games, and crafts. Registration in advance is required. For more information on this program click here.  

Saturday Story Series
Saturday, March 7, 10 am

Join us at 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month for story time! Featuring the reading of a historically-themed children's book followed by activities and crafts, this free program helps to engage youngsters ages 5-10 in American history and bring the stories to life. All youth must be accompanied by an adult. Please email education@lincolnlogcabin.org for more information.

Power of Place: An Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Presentation with Dr. Aaron Lawler
Saturday, March 7, 2 pm

In this thought-provoking talk, Dr. Aaron J. Lawler takes audiences on a unique tour of Illinois' most sacred and strange landmarks; from ancient Cahokia to Casey's "World's Largest" mailbox, from the Bah'' Temple to the Leaning Tower of Niles. This is not a travel brochure. It's a pilgrim's progress, a reflection on how we ritualize experience, enshrine memory, and express longing through the places we build, visit, and revere. When people return again and again to the same places, they leave something behind: memory, longing, belief. Over time, these places become filled with the presence of everyone who has stood here before. In this way, America's kitsch and its sacredness are not opposites but companions. The giant rocking chair, the nature preserve, and the historic landmark-they are modern shrines to the human need for meaning and connection, and remind us that sacredness is not found only in temples or cathedrals, but in any place that holds the weight of our collective attention. Dr. Lawler closes the presentation with a few carefully selected "day-cation" pilgrimages, not as tourism, but as journeys of curiosity, reflection, and reconnection. This presentation aligns with the Illinois America 250 Commission's theme, the "Power of Place," that helps us explore how our natural and built environments have shaped the settlement, migration, and the development of our state. The Illinois America 250 Commission's goals are to uplift local stories, places, and programs; build pride; and showcase how Illinois brings the ideals of the Declaration of Independence to life. This presentation is part of the By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

Basket Weaving Workshop -"Country Catch All"
Saturday, March 21, 1 pm

oin Bonnie Rideout of Bonnie's Baskets on Saturday, March 21st for this hands-on, guided basket-weaving workshop. All tools and materials will be provided, and by the end of the day participants will take home basket! Registration is required, and seats are limited! $50 registration includes all materials. Register here

Natural Playscape Project! Click here to learn more about the Foundation's latest project!