Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

OPERATING HOURS

The Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park is open from 10 AM to 4 PM on weekends in April, May, September, and October, and on Thursdays through Mondays from Memorial Day until Labor Day. It is closed in the winter.  Keep in mind that times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to get the latest schedule at the official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the park.

AMENITIES

• Ranger-staffed information desk where you can ask questions and pick up a free Knob Creek brochure
• Exhibit area
• Book and souvenir store
• Restrooms

Information desk, exhibit area, and souvenir store inside the Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

EXHIBITS

Exhibit area in the Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

Exhibits at the Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center provide information about Abraham Lincoln’s second home in Kentucky. Start on the left side of the building, which focuses on Abraham’s family, frontier life, and his father’s involvement in three land disputes, which eventually prompted him to pack up the family and move to Indiana. Most interesting is an exhibit that exposes the myth of the Lincoln Family’s poverty when Abraham was a young boy. This was promoted to emphasize Lincoln’s humble roots and to connect him with the average man when he ran for political office later in life. In actuality, the Lincoln’s were one of the more prosperous farming families in the area. Though this does not mean they were wealthy, they were far from poor.

Exhibit in the Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

The right side of the room highlights experiences Lincoln had as a young boy with the people around him, including slave owners and slaves, and how these interactions influenced him later in life. There is also an exhibit on how Knob Creek became part of Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. The Visitor Center itself started out as an actual tavern built by Chester and Hattie (Howell) Howard in 1933. The couple purchased the land in 1928 in hopes of turning it into a tourist attraction. Over the years the tavern served as a restaurant, gift shop, museum, and dance hall.

Also on display is the original tombstone believed to have been for Thomas Lincoln Jr., who died in childbirth. Nothing is known about when he was born other than that he was born at Knob Creek. It was not found in an established cemetery, but by luck when somebody was exploring the grounds. A reproduction is on display at the Birthplace Visitor Center, the main visitor center for the park. (Note that the original and reproduction stones rotate among the two visitor centers.)

Grave marker found at Knob Creek that is thought to be for Thomas Lincoln, Jr.

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Other than getting information about Knob Creek from the park Ranger or buying a souvenir, all there is to do at the Knob Creek Traven Visitor Center is to read through the exhibits. It takes about a half hour do to so, if you are so inclined.

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