Living History In Washington, DC: The Lincoln Cottage
When Abraham Lincoln was President, this was his equivalent of Camp David. He spend much of the Civil War here, and this was where he and his family escaped the brutal Washington summers, where typhoid was often rampant.
The cottage sits on the site of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (formerly called the Soldiers Home) in Northwest Washington, about three miles from downtown. And my guess is that the horse and buggy ride between the White House and the Cottage probably took about as much time as a helicopter ride to Camp David takes today!
Lincoln and his family stayed here between June and November. It's on a high elevation, and the cool breezes were a respite from the un-air conditioned White House, although not from the war.
The National Trust For Historic Preservation just completed a $15 million renovation, and the home is now open to the public, offering a peek into the life that President Lincoln and his family lived here. This Gothic Revival home was built in 1842, and in 2000, President Clinton designated it an historic landmark.
Lincoln was not the cottage's only occupant. It was also used by Presidents Buchanan, Hays, and Arthur.
To visit the cottage, you must schedule a tour, Whether you are planning a trip to Washington or you live here, Lincoln's Cottage is a little off the beaten path, but it's really worth a visit.
It is also available to rent for private and corporate events. Maybe your next wedding reception?
