Follow Kentucky’s Lincoln Trail

Lincoln statues stand in the circle outside the Lincoln Museum in historic Hodgenville.  The adult Lincoln statue, created by Adolph A. Weimann, was dedicated in 1909, the same year the cornerstone was laid for the First Lincoln Memorial, during the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth.   The boy Lincoln statue, depicted Lincoln as a seven-year-old, was created by the Daub Firmin Hendrickson Sculpture group of Berkeley, CA.  The design was selected from 77 entries submitted for a sculpture to commemorate the 2009 Lincoln bicentennial.The Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville (called Hodgens Mill during Lincoln’s time here) contains twelve dioramas depicting scenes from events in Lincoln’s life, from his early cabin years to Ford’s Theater.  Many of the artifacts in this cabin scene are antiques, authentic to Lincoln’s childhood period.  The cabin itself was moved from a nearby farm, and pioneer recipes were used to make the chinking and the mud floor.  The wax figures used in the dioramas came from a former wax museum in Springfield, Illinois.The Lincoln Museum is community based, housed in a former department store in historic Hodgenville.  Much of the original woodwork is left intact, and some of the department store’s display cases are used to showcase museum artifacts.  Be sure to visit the second floor of the museum which houses a gallery of Lincoln-related art.At Knob Creek Farm, you’ll find a log cabin similar to the one in which Abe Lincoln lived as a boy.  Some of the logs used in the cabin came from what is believed to be the cabin of Lincoln’s boyhood friend, Austin Gollaher.  After Lincoln’s death, Gollaher related a story of how he once saved Lincoln from drowning.  They were playing around Knob Creek when Lincoln fell into the seven-to-eight-foot water.  Neither boy could swim, but Gollaher extended a stick out to Lincoln, and when Lincoln grabbed on, Gollaher pulled him onto dry land.View the list »
The cornerstone for the First Lincoln Memorial was laid on February 12, 1909, the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.  The building of pink  granite and Tennessee marble was completed and dedicated in 1911.  Architect John Russell Pope incorporated much symbolism went into the building construction.  The 56 steps leading up to the memorial building represent the 56 years of Lincoln’s life.  The 16 rosettes on the ceiling represent Lincoln’s place as the nation’s 16th president.  A log cabin inside the memorial building is symbolic of the cabin that Lincoln grew up in.The First Lincoln Memorial is on the grounds of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park in Hodgenville, Kentucky, where you’ll also find a visitor’s center with a small museum and an orientation film and the spring from which the Lincoln family drew water.

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Every child educated in the United States is certain to have heard the story of Abraham Lincoln being born in a one-room log cabin in the hills of Kentucky to a poor family and having very little formal education. Lincoln is the epitome of the “anyone can grow up to be President” claim, his story often used in that context.

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Although his family did not have much money, they were considered middle class, much the same as most people in that area during that time. Having to move twice in Kentucky due to land disputes, the family made a third move when Abe was seven years old, this time to Indiana. The family subsequently settled near Decatur, Illinois, when Lincoln was a young adult, at which time he left his family and struck out on his own.

Today you can tour Lincoln’s birthplace, as well as several other Lincoln-related sites and attractions on Kentucky’s Lincoln Trail. The trail begins at the Farmington Historic Plantation in Louisville, runs south to the Lincoln Museum, to his birthplace and boyhood home in Hodgenville, northeast to the Mary Todd Lincoln House and Henry Clay Estate in Lexington and then west to the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort. Drive another hour or so west, and you’ll be back in Louisville, having gone full circle, with several additional Lincoln sites between the major points.

Plan to spend a few days on the tour to allow plenty of time to take in all 15 attractions on the trail. Louisville, Kentucky is about a five hour drive or one hour flight from Chicago.

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  • The cornerstone for the First Lincoln Memorial was laid on February 12, 1909, the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.  The building of pink  granite and Tennessee marble was completed and dedicated in 1911.  Architect John Russell Pope incorporated much symbolism went into the building construction.  The 56 steps leading up to the memorial building represent the 56 years of Lincoln’s life.  The 16 rosettes on the ceiling represent Lincoln’s place as the nation’s 16th president.  A log cabin inside the memorial building is symbolic of the cabin that Lincoln grew up in.The First Lincoln Memorial is on the grounds of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park in Hodgenville, Kentucky, where you’ll also find a visitor’s center with a small museum and an orientation film and the spring from which the Lincoln family drew water.
  • At Knob Creek Farm, you’ll find a log cabin similar to the one in which Abe Lincoln lived as a boy.  Some of the logs used in the cabin came from what is believed to be the cabin of Lincoln’s boyhood friend, Austin Gollaher.  After Lincoln’s death, Gollaher related a story of how he once saved Lincoln from drowning.  They were playing around Knob Creek when Lincoln fell into the seven-to-eight-foot water.  Neither boy could swim, but Gollaher extended a stick out to Lincoln, and when Lincoln grabbed on, Gollaher pulled him onto dry land.
  • The Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville (called Hodgens Mill during Lincoln’s time here) contains twelve dioramas depicting scenes from events in Lincoln’s life, from his early cabin years to Ford’s Theater.  Many of the artifacts in this cabin scene are antiques, authentic to Lincoln’s childhood period.  The cabin itself was moved from a nearby farm, and pioneer recipes were used to make the chinking and the mud floor.  The wax figures used in the dioramas came from a former wax museum in Springfield, Illinois.The Lincoln Museum is community based, housed in a former department store in historic Hodgenville.  Much of the original woodwork is left intact, and some of the department store’s display cases are used to showcase museum artifacts.  Be sure to visit the second floor of the museum which houses a gallery of Lincoln-related art.
  • Lincoln statues stand in the circle outside the Lincoln Museum in historic Hodgenville.  The adult Lincoln statue, created by Adolph A. Weimann, was dedicated in 1909, the same year the cornerstone was laid for the First Lincoln Memorial, during the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth.   The boy Lincoln statue, depicted Lincoln as a seven-year-old, was created by the Daub Firmin Hendrickson Sculpture group of Berkeley, CA.  The design was selected from 77 entries submitted for a sculpture to commemorate the 2009 Lincoln bicentennial.
  • Farmington was the plantation home of the Speed family, headed by John Speed.  The Speed family owned a 550 acre hemp farm sustained by 60 slaves.  John Speed’s son, Joshua, befriended Abraham Lincoln when Lincoln first moved to New Salem, Illinois.  Joshua was running a store in New Salem when he offered to share his room with Lincoln, who had nowhere to stay, and they became lifelong friends.  Years later Lincoln spent about three weeks at the Speed Home in Louisville, Kentucky.  Joshua’s brother, James, served as Attorney General under Lincoln.Begin in the visitor’s center, where you’ll be oriented to the Speed family and Lincoln’s relationship with them.  Then tour the 14-room Federal Style home, which has been redecorated and furnished to closely resemble its original state.  Some of the furnishings are original to the home.
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, Chicago Travel Examiner

Connie Reed, a lifelong Chicago area resident, loves to explore new places and share her stories. She recently began her own blog, www.midwestwanderer.com and has been named as an Enjoy Illinois Mile Marker Ambassador for the Enjoy Illinois tourism web site. Contact Connie at connie...

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