Trivia time: How many national parks are dedicated to the childhood, life, presidency, and death of President Abraham Lincoln? Among all of the former Presidents of the United States, Lincoln is one of the best commemorated in the National Park Service. To date, there are at 12 national parks honoring President Abraham Lincoln.
February marks one of the best months to tour Lincoln-related parks. Lincoln’s Birthday was February 12th. We celebrate President’s Day on the third Monday in February. And it’s Black History Month when we remember the individuals who played a key role in the story of African American Heritage in the United States. It’s a great time to add one of these historic sites, memorials, or battlefields to your #parkchasing list.
Map of The National Parks Honoring President Abraham Lincoln
Here’s a Google Map of all the national parks honoring President Abraham Lincoln to help you plan your next trip:
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site, Kentucky
Shortly after Lincoln became President, citizens began collecting donations to preserve the one-room cabin in LaRue County, Kentucky where Lincoln was born. Established in 1916, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site marked the first memorial to Lincoln and one of the most popular historic sites in the world.
Today, visitors can tour the enshrined replica cabin and see Sinking Spring, where the Lincoln family gathered water on their original homestead.
Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland
Those familiar with Lincoln’s famous Emancipation Proclamation know that it was a direct result of the bloody Civil War September 1862 battle at Antietam. Today, the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland serves as a reminder of the deadliest day in American history. It also marks the beginning of Lincoln’s formal legislative efforts to end slavery in the United States.
Fort Stevens & Civil War Defenses of Washington, Washington D.C.
While technically only an affiliated designation and not one of the 400+ units of the National Park Service, Civil War Defenses of Washington should be on any list of historical places related to President Lincoln. During the heart of the Civil War, Washington DC became a heavily fortified city with a collection of forts, batteries, and military outposts all designed to prevent a Confederate attack on the city.
Among the 17 different sites managed in partnership with the NPS, is Fort Stevens where a plaque commemorates where President Lincoln came under enemy fire.
Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site, Washington, DC
On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. Today visitors to Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site can learn about the events that led up to that night, learn about the history of the theater, and tour the Peterson House where Lincoln eventually died. During the spring and summer months, attend a One Destiny event, a costumed performance with key historical figures who were present the night of the assassination.
Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania
A list of national parks honoring President Abraham Lincoln would not be complete without Gettysburg National Military Park. When the Civil War’s bloodiest battle ended in Gettysburg, PA President Lincoln drafted his most famous work, the Gettysburg Address. Today, Gettysburg is one of the most popular Civil War-era tourist attractions in the United States. Each year thousands of visitors attend battlefield tours and living history reenactments here.
Lincoln Memorial, National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, DC
Perhaps the most famous Lincoln-related site (and one of the most famous landmarks in the entire United States) is the Lincoln Memorial. Part of National Mall and Memorial Parks, the Lincoln Memorial does count as a stand-alone unit of the 400+ parks on the official #parkchasing list.
There’s so much to see at the Lincoln Memorial. Read some of Lincoln’s most famous words. Look out on the rest of Washington D.C. Stand in the spot where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech. recommend you visit the Lincoln Memorial multiple times on your trip. It’s a captivating sight both during the day and at night.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Indiana
If you’ve ever wondered how Lincoln grew into such a historic leader, look no further than Lincoln City, Indiana. Home to the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, it’s here that Abraham Lincoln grew from a 7-year-old boy into a 21-year-old young man. It’s also where he developed the traits that would later lead him to the presidency, and the courage to lead his country out of the Civil War.
Visitors to Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial have many options to learn about the President’s childhood. Tour a historic replica of the Lincoln Farm. Visit the Cabin Memorial Site and see a bronze casting of where the cabin once stood. Or hike on one of the park’s miles of walking trails where Lincoln played and roamed as a child.
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Illinois
Between the time Lincoln left home and became President, he and his wife Mary Todd lived in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln Home National Historic Site preserves the only home Lincoln ever owned, just blocks from the Illinois State Capitol building. Today, visitors can take a ranger-led tour of the twelve-room, two-story house that’s been fully restored to its Lincoln-era appearance. After that, walk the four-block area around the home and see some of the other buildings that were a part of Lincoln’s life during the years he lived in Springfield.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota
One of the most popular road trip destinations in the Midwest also finds its way onto this list of national parks honoring President Abraham Lincoln. Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota has one of the most familiar images of Lincoln in the entire world. Visitors to the site can learn why the sculptor Gutzon Borglum memorialized Lincoln.
Fun fact: Lincoln’s face is more than 60 feet tall and his nose on Mount Rushmore extends more than 20 feet long!
Related Links:
- The Night Program at Mount Rushmore
- 19 Amazing National Parks for Independence Day
- Visit all the National Park Service Sites in South Dakota
- 13 National Parks Honoring George Washington
Petersburg National Battlefield, Virginia
Just a week before his assassination, President Lincoln visited General Ulysses S. Grant at City Point, his headquarters during the later Civil War. City Point is now part of present-day Petersburg National Battlefield. The Siege of Petersburg also occurred here, when more than 70,000 soldiers died during nine months of fighting. Today visitors can take guided tours of the battlefield, see General Grant’s Headquarters, or hike along some of the park’s 18 miles of nature trails.
Richmond National Battlefield Park, Virginia
Located just 25 miles north of Petersburg National Battlefield is another historic Civil War site honoring Lincoln. Richmond National Battlefield Park contains 13 different sites, including cemeteries, buildings, and artifacts from this critical Civil War area. Lincoln visited Richmond just days before his assassination in 1865.
A life-sized sculpture remains in the park of Lincoln and his son Tad commemorating their historic visit after the Confederate surrender.
Yosemite National Park, CA
Yosemite? You’re wondering, ‘how does Yosemite make it on the list of national parks honoring President Abraham Lincoln?’
In some ways, all of the national parks could be on this list. It was President Lincoln’s legacy that established them. On June 30, 1864, Lincoln signed the Yosemite Land Grant. It was the world’s first legislation to establish and preserve land for public enjoyment. The bill set aside Yosemite “for public use, resort and recreation.” It also established the groundwork to later create Yellowstone National Park in 1872 and Yosemite National Park in 1890.
Related Links:
- 14 National Parks with Big Trees
- Which National Parks Are Like Yellowstone?
- The Most Visited National Parks
- The Best Canyon Hikes in the National Park Service
- 17 National Parks with Stunning Waterfalls
