The Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois was the only house that Abraham Lincoln owned. Purchased price from Rev. Charles Dresser was $1500.oo consisting of $1200.oo cash, plus a downtown lot and a building worth $500.oo.
The original, Greek-revival-style cottage was built in 1839 for the Reverend Charles Dresser, an Episcopalian minister who three years later would officiate at the Lincolns' wedding ceremony in the Edwards home. Lincoln signed a contract in January 1844 to buy the cottage from Dresser and received the deed on May 3. A bedroom and pantry were added to the back in 1846 and more remodeling was done in 1849.
Lincoln's legal practice grew dramatically when he lived in the cottage and he also achieved political success, winning a seat in Congress in 1846 and nine years later narrowly losing a bid to become a member of the U.S. Senate. As his economic and political status increased, Mary Lincoln believed that the family should have a home more impressive than the cottage.
According to the Lincoln Association's fundraising brochure, John E. Roll, who had helped remodel the cottage in 1849, reported that "Mrs. Lincoln decided their means justified a more pretentious house."
According to the brochure, "Lincoln opposed any such expansion, and allegedly conspired with local carpenters to have an inflated estimate of the cost prepared so that he could reasonably claim that it was too expensive. Despite his reluctance to add a second story, Mrs. Lincoln took matters into her own hands, hired carpenters, and evidently paid for the expansion with funds she had received from her prosperous father. The result was what her nephew termed 'one of the more pretentious residences of Springfield.'"
In 1856 the second story was added to the home and the number of rooms doubled to 12, giving the Lincoln Home its current appearance.
Lincoln lived in the cottage that later became a two story house for 17 years with his wife and children before going to Washington D.C.
In order to finance the building of the upstairs on the cottage, Mary sold 80 acres that had been deeded to her from her father.
WALKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUNDS was truly enjoyable to me as I stepped back in time. I could easily have stayed for hours. The original houses made this corner of the world epic. We had a couple of meals across the street at THE SPRINGFIELD CARRIAGE COMPANY Restaurant. It was very relaxing to sit and look across the street at the Historic neighborhood.
Back to the Park.
No automobiles are allowed in this couple of blocks in the HISTORIC PARK. It's about walking the wooden sidewalks and gravel roads. Because some of the houses were removed from their original lots, there are some lots that make a larger lot appealing.
From previous pictures of Lincoln's house when he lived there, the neighbors house was once close by theirs. With the neighbor's house now gone, it makes the Lincoln's property more private.
A walk about begins from the Visitor's Center. Some of the houses were open to see inside with more information about the neighborhood and the Lincolns.
At the Springfield Carriage Company.
