Lincoln's Cottage and the Soldiers' Home

Having visited the Lincoln Memorial, Ford’s Theatre, and Petersen House the weekend before, I wrapped up February’s Lincolnpallooza with Lincoln’s Cottage. Before starting this project, I had never heard of Lincoln’s cottage or the Soldiers' Home, but I took the green line to Petworth / Georgia Avenue and trudged in my rubber snow boots to Church Street NW. The Soldiers' Home is the nation’s first veteran’s home, and cemetery. Established in 1851, the Soldiers' Home provided a much needed sanctuary (it was actually referred to as a soldiers’ asylum) for veterans of American wars. Many of the early residents were actually immigrant soldiers and their families.

Soldiers' Home

Lincoln’s Cottage (http://www.lincolncottage.org/) is located on the grounds of Soldiers' Home and provided a presidential retreat that was used by numerous presidents including Buchanan, Hayes, and, most extensively, Lincoln. The Lincoln family resided there during three of the four summers of Lincoln’s first term in office. Each day, the president walked or rode to the White House, located about 3 miles away. Lincoln’s routine was so established that his advisors became concerned that his daily ride was a security risk. An unsuccessful assassination attempt did, actually, take place one evening in 1864. Despite the danger, the Lincolns continued to reside in this home away from the White House and Lincoln continued his daily commute to the White House alone.

The cottage provided an escape from the heat and humidity of central DC and provided some measure of privacy for the family. Prior to becoming an historic site, it had also served as an Officer’s Club and Infirmary. Painstakingly restored and dedicated as a National Monument in 2000, it stands much as it was during the Civil War. Under the care of the National Park Service, there are daily guided tours of the house and grounds.

Back View of Lincoln's Cottage

After my tour, I decided to take on a little more snow and retrace Lincoln’s daily walk to the White House. Passing through Petworth, down Seventh Street past Howard University, and over to Farragut Square, I made it to the White House in about an hour. I could see how this daily trek, in the midst of the pressures of the Civil War, would provide much needed time for the President to be alone with his thoughts at the start and end of each day. Despite the cold and snow, it was an experience to walk in the footsteps of our Sixteenth President and a fitting end to my investigation of all things Lincoln.