Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Partner Address: 

413 South 8th Street

City, State, Zip: 

Springfield, IL 62701

Partner Phone: 

(217) 391-3248

Partner Contact: 

Susan M. Haake, Curator

Partner Email: 

Susan_haake@nps.gov

Wooden Bench from Lincoln’s Home

Image of bench from Lincoln's home.

a. Wooden bench owned by the Lincolns
b. Object was made in Springfield, IL
c. Object was made circa 1845 and used by the Lincolns until 1861
d. Proper Name: Settee or Bench
e. Object was made by local Springfield carpenter Solomon Conant

The Lincolns were fortunate to have a long back porch on their house when they purchased it in 1844. Despite adding on and changing the house elsewhere, they kept the south-facing porch as long as they lived in the house, only adding some latticework in one section for shade and a place for the climbing roses to grow, making it a pleasant place to pass the time.

Lincoln Cradle

Image of the cradle used by the Lincoln children.

a. Cradle used by the three youngest Lincoln boys
b. Object was most likely made by a furniture manufacturer in New York or North Carolina
c. Purchased by the Lincolns at John Williams Dry Goods Store in Springfield probably around the time Edward Baker Lincoln was born in 1846 and used by the Lincolns’ sons until at least 1854.
d. Proper Name: Cradle
e. Unknown carpenter or manufacturer

Highs and lows were captured in this one artifact from the Lincolns’ lives in Illinois. The Lincolns’ oldest son, Robert, was born while they were living in one room at the Globe Tavern, and this cradle would have been much too large and expensive for the Lincolns. After the family moved into their one and a half story home, and Mary had their second son, Eddie, in 1846, they had the room and a little extra money to purchase this large walnut cradle.

Mary Lincoln’s Kitchen Stove

Image of Mary Lincoln's kitchen stove.

a. Kitchen stove owned by Mary Lincoln
b. Object was made in Buffalo, NY
c. Object was purchased by the Lincolns on June 9, 1860 from Eli Kriegh’s store in Springfield, IL, and used by them until Feb. 8, 1861
d. Proper name: Royal Oak Cook Stove
e. Manufactured by Jewett & Root Stove Works, Buffalo, NY

Mary Lincoln did not know how to cook when she first married Abraham Lincoln, having grown up in homes with slaves in Kentucky. She quickly learned over the large, open fireplace in her new home, but the addition of a wall dividing the kitchen from the dining room destroyed the fireplace and gave Mary a chance to acquire a cook stove.

Stereoscope Owned by the Lincoln Children

Image of Stereoscope owned by the Lincoln children.

a. Stereoscope owned by the Lincoln children
b. Purchased by Abraham Lincoln from Jack Hough, a Springfield furniture dealer, around 1860.
c. Object was made around 1859 in New York, NY and used by the Lincolns from late 1859/early 1860 to 1861
d. Proper Name: Stereoscope
e. Patented by Alexander Beckars and James Lee

Mr. Lincoln is often only thought of as the President, but in Illinois, he was also a husband and father who was known to spoil his little boys. Mr. Lincoln also had an interest in technology. These traits came together in Mr. Lincoln’s purchase of a stereoscope for his sons. The stereoscope allowed for viewing on two sides and cost approximately $18-20, the equivalent of a laborer’s monthly wages.

Abraham Lincoln’s Desk

Image of Abraham Lincoln's Desk.
Abraham Lincoln used this desk when he first “began to do business for myself” around 1844, according to the affidavit. About ten years later, he brought it home to his new second floor bedroom and used it there for a few years until he upset the inkwell on it and upset Mrs. Lincoln in the process. She threw it out!
Subscribe to RSS - Lincoln Home National Historic Site