If you are planning a visit to Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington DC, this article describes what makes the site revealing, how the tours work, and what you learn about Abraham Lincoln’s private life away from the White House.
Why Abraham Lincoln chose Lincoln’s Cottage
Unexpected sides to Abraham Lincoln’s personality can be found at his former home in Washington DC. President Lincoln tended to use the White House strictly as an office whenever possible. He preferred to stay three miles to the north, at a cottage inside a complex for veteran soldiers.
What Lincoln’s Cottage is like today
Lincoln’s Cottage is a surprisingly humble affair on a hilltop. But the breezes it attracted during the summer months were the main attraction.
The cottage is now open to the public, and due to the lack of artefacts from Lincoln’s time, the tours of it become a mobile lecture about the man himself. It’s one of the better US presidential homes for this – the guides have clearly studied their subject.
5 Washington DC experiences worth booking
- 🏛️ Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the US Capitol Building, with the Library of Congress or Supreme Court included.
- 🏡 Combine George Washington’s Mount Vernon with Old Town Alexandria on a history-packed day tour.
- 🕊️ Take a guided walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery, including the Changing of the Guard.
- 🚲 Visit the monuments and memorials of the National Mall on a bike tour that gets you closer than the bus routes.
- 🍽️ Go on a tasting tour of Georgetown’s top foodie highlights.
Stories told on Lincoln’s Cottage tours
They cover some of the extraordinary difficulties Lincoln had to face, such as grieving for his twelve-year-old son Willie who died in February 1862. Mourning and being there for his utterly distraught wife at a time when the Union’s chances in the Civil War were at their darkest must have been painfully conflicting.
Public access to President Lincoln
He also had to deal with people coming up to the cottage at all hours to ask questions and present petitions – ordinary Americans had jaw-dropping levels of access to their president.
The guide tells a story of Lincoln once snapping and launching into a “how dare you” rant at a late night visitor, before seeking him out to apologise the next day.
Daily travel between Lincoln’s Cottage and the White House
Also surprising is how Lincoln would usually ride unaccompanied between the cottage and the White House every day. He’d usually take the same route – making him a remarkably easy target for would-be assassins.
Useful information for visiting Lincoln’s Cottage
| Where is Lincoln’s Cottage located? | Lincoln’s Cottage is located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington DC. |
|---|---|
| How far is Lincoln’s Cottage from the White House? | The cottage is approximately three miles north of the White House. |
| Can you visit the interior of Lincoln’s Cottage? | Yes, guided tours take visitors through the cottage. Tours cost $15 as of January 2026. |
| What do the tours focus on? | Tours focus on Abraham Lincoln’s life, decisions, and personal challenges rather than original furnishings. |
| Is Lincoln’s Cottage suitable for first-time visitors? | Yes, the guided format makes it accessible even without prior knowledge of Lincoln’s history. |
More Washington DC travel
Other Washington DC travel stories on Planet Whitley include:
- Living out James Bond fantasies at the International Spy Museum.
- What to expect at the Museum of the American Indian and Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall.
- Discover where Washington DC’s power lies on a Pennsylvania Avenue walking tour.
- What to expect at the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial on the National Mall.
- A practical visitor guide to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre in Chantilly.
