Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Why it's listed
Abraham Lincoln's only owned home is a frame house at 8th and Jackson Streets in Springfield, Illinois. Built in 1839 as a one-story cottage with two attic rooms, it was bought by Lincoln from the Rev. Charles Dresser in January 1844. The family lived there until 1861, apart from the years Lincoln served in Congress. Three more sons were born in the house, and the structure was enlarged to two full stories with twelve rooms. Built of native woods including oak, hickory and black walnut, it was the setting where Lincoln received the Republican nominating committee on May 17, 1860, and held a farewell levee on February 6, 1861. Later occupants included a railroad president and a Lincoln collector. In 1887 Robert Todd Lincoln gave the house to the State of Illinois, which has run it as a museum furnished with some original Lincoln pieces and reproduced interiors. It was recorded in excellent condition in 1959.
Significance in brief: It was the only house Lincoln ever owned and was the family home for about sixteen years, until 1861. There he rose from small-town lawyer to national figure, received notice of his 1860 presidential nomination, and held a farewell levee before leaving for Washington.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000076, listed August 18, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 8th and Jackson Sts., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | August 18, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000076 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1844-1861 |
| Areas of significance | Law, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 19, 1960 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and used as a historic house museum; owned by the State of Illinois since 1887, when Robert Todd Lincoln gave it to the state. |
| Acreage | 7.8 |
| Coordinates | 39.79729, -89.64483 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000076.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q3304667
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.