Lincoln Living Historical Farm at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

The main attraction at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, a recreation of an 1820s farm built on four acres of the original property owned by the Lincoln Family when they moved to the Little Pigeon Creek Community in 1816. Visitors to the park can reach it either from a nearby parking lot or by hiking the .4-mile Lincoln Boyhood Trail from the Visitor Center. Even from the parking lot, visitors must walk a tenth of a mile to the farm, though the trail is easy. It is not ADA compliant, but those in wheelchairs with larger tires can get to the farm with some help. Be aware that there is a set of railroad tracks that must be crossed.

Typical terrain on the trail to the Lincoln Living Historical Farm at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

The grounds of the Lincoln Farm are open year-round from dawn to dusk. However, activities at the farm, which include being able to go inside some of the buildings and talk with Rangers or volunteers dressed in period costumes and doing farm chores, are only held from noon until 3 PM from mid-April through September. If you are coming to the park specifically to see the farm in action, call the Visitor Center at (812) 937-4541 to get an updated schedule (note that at the time of this writing, the Visitor Center is only open Wednesdays through Sundays).

Main farmhouse at the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Interior of the main farmhouse at the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Interior of the main farmhouse at the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

In the 1960s, the National Park Service, along with the Department of Agriculture and the Smithsonian Institute, became interested in recreating a variety of agricultural time periods at parks throughout the different regions of the United States. Numerous farms like the one at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial were constructed at National Parks during this time. The bulk of the Lincoln Living Historical Farm was built between 1968 and 1969.

Outbuildings of the Lincoln Living Historical Farm at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Chicken coop at the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Living history had also become quite popular in the 1960s. This is where people, often historians or those interested in history, dress up in period costumes and talk and act as if they really are living in the past. Demonstrations of skills from the time period, such as blacksmithing, woodworking, and cooking on antique stoves or in actual fireplaces, are also part of the experience.

Carpenter repairs equipment at the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

To make the Lincoln Farm even more authentic, traditional crops are planted and harvested, and animals populate the farm just as they would have when the Lincoln’s lived here. The farm currently has horses, cows, chickens, and sheep.

Crop area of the Lincoln Living Historical Farm at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Cows grazing at the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Sheep at the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Much of the construction at the Lincoln Farm was done using methods and tools that would have been used in the 1800s. To speed up the opening of the farm, a few authentic log buildings were moved here from other locations in the area.

Barn at the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

There is also a short side trail at the farm that leads to the freshwater spring used by the Lincolns as their water source. At the end is a small monument marking the spring.

Trail to the Lincoln Spring at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Small monument marks the location of the spring used by the Lincolns when they lived near Little Pigeon Creek in Indiana, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Plan to spend up to an hour at the Lincoln Living Historical Farm, depending on what activities are taking place when you visit. When I stopped by mid-week in August, there was only one person working at the farm and the main farmhouse was open, so there wasn’t much to do. I suspect that the place will be busier on the weekends.

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