Lincoln’s Birthplace & Childhood Home, Visited 9/16/08

Website Photo

Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace lies about 3 miles south of Hodgenville, Kentucky. The site lies on 116 acres of Thomas & Nancy Lincoln’s Sinking Spring Farm. We know he was born in a log cabin on this farm. Today, a symbolic birth cabin is enshrined in a Memorial Building. The 56 stairs leading up to the building represent his age at the time of his death on April 15, 1865.

Park Service Sign


View of stairs


Entrance to Memorial

The only item in this memorial is this cabin. Items representative of the time period have been placed inside.

Replica of birth cabin


Interior view


Another interior view


Tools of the era


Pathway around Visitor Center

The spring was the family’s water source and was called “Sinking Spring” as it was down in a hole.

Sinking Spring

Park Service photo of former Boundary Oak

Due to a land dispute arising from a cloud on the title, the Lincoln family moved about 10 miles away to Knob Creek, approximately 8 miles north of Hodgenville. The family rented 30 acres and lived there in this small cabin during the time Abraham was two until he was seven years old. It is here that Lincoln’s earliest recollections exist.

Park Service Sign

Official State Sign

The Knob Creek property fell into the hands of entrepreneurs who built a road house for food and drink in the 1900s.

Knob Creek Road House


Side view of Road House

Sign describing Lincoln home

Bob brings home a souvenir from the Knob Creek Home

Actual residence of Lincoln Family at Knob Creek

The Lincoln family ultimately lost the court case involving title of their Sinking Spring property and moved out of state.

Rail fence of era

In 2001 the site was purchased by the Preservation of Lincoln’s Kentucky Heritage Inc. and donated to the National Park Service.

For Further information: Lincoln Birthplace & Childhood Home