Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park marks the site near Hodgenville, Kentucky, where President Abraham Lincoln was born. Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, helped end slavery in the United States and kept the Union from splitting apart during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, 1809, in a one-room log cabin. The cabin stood on the Lincoln family farm, Sinking Spring Farm, on the South Fork of the Nolin River. The Lincolns lived there from 1809 to 1811. A Neoclassical memorial of granite and marble marks the location of the family cabin, which no longer exists. Fifty-six steps, one for each year of Lincoln’s life, lead up to the entrance. Inside the memorial stands a typical log cabin of the 1800’s that symbolizes Lincoln’s humble beginnings. About 10 miles (16 kilometers) away is Knob Creek, the site of Lincoln’s home from 1811 to 1816. A replica of the family’s cabin stands there.
A visitor center at the historical park displays the Lincoln family Bible as well as tools and household articles from the early 1800’s. Visitors can also see Sinking Spring, a natural spring where the Lincolns drew water.
The memorial was dedicated in 1911. Congress authorized the memorial and the surrounding area as a national historic site in 1916. It became a national historical park in 2009.
