This is by far one of my favorite places in the state of Indiana: a shrine to President Abraham Lincoln. Built entirely out of Indiana limestone and sandstone, it’s a very serene, quiet place I’ve visited repeatedly to recenter and refocus. And there is no admission charge, despite how great it is.
The impressive memorial contains a theatre that shows a movie about Lincoln’s life, a large chapel, a museum with Lincoln artifacts, a post office, a gift shop, an artist rendition of his Mother, Nancy, and a compelling picture of the Ohio River with a lone flatboat, and presumably Abe Lincoln himself: guiding it downstream, like he guided a nation through a difficult time, not knowing exactly what to expect.
The site also contains a pioneer cemetery where his Mother is buried, a bronzed cabin foundation and fireplace of what was believed to be the Lincoln home, a working pioneer farm with interpreters in period clothing (during the tourist season), and the Lincoln well where they retrieved their water each day. This is in addition to the “Trail of 12 Stones”, which has a stone from 12 significant places of his life. This is simply a wonderful place to escape for several hours and recharge in the quietness of the Hoosier landscape.
BONUS: As a bonus, Lincoln State Park is also covered, directly across the street from the memorial on Highway 162. There, you’ll find another limestone memorial, a sculpture of Abraham Lincoln, the Little Pigeon Creek Baptist Church, and the gravesite of his sister, Sarah. The park also has a large outdoor theater, famous for its annual production of “Young Abe Lincoln,” a nature center, and a large, quiet lake with a floating pier and bridge to pause for reflection. There is a per-vehicle fee for admission.
BONUS #2: Lastly, just down the road from Lincoln State Park (managed by the park) is the home of Colonel William Jones, Lincoln’s employer and friend. This attraction is free unless a formal tour is given (by appointment from the Lincoln State Park office).
This area can easily take all day if you leisurely tour the memorials, pioneer farm, and nature center, walk the trails, and pause for reflection. It is an outstanding place to recharge and refresh your spirit.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
This place is a shrine to Abraham Lincoln’s life; you almost feel his presence here. It’s undoubtedly one of my favorite Southern Indiana places, and there is no admission charge. The memorial is just off Highway 162 in Lincoln City, Indiana.
Pitched into the limestone walls are scenes from Lincoln’s life. Many think of him as being born in Kentucky, a lawyer and politician in Illinois, and then president in Washington, DC. However, Abraham Lincoln spent 14 years of his life in Indiana, from a little boy of seven years old to a 21-year-old man.
There’s a gift shop and a movie about his life, but so much more is here. Abraham Lincoln was a deeply religious Christian; it’s only fitting that a chapel be part of this place.
If you want, you can even have your wedding here. There’s a small museum with many artifacts from his life. The Nancy Hanks Lincoln Hall has some exciting things to see. There’s a functioning post office where you can have your postcards stamped from Lincoln City. In the corner is an artist’s rendition of Lincoln’s mother, Nancy. They died here on the farm in 1818. No one knows what she looked like, as photography was not yet invented until 1826, and having someone paint your portrait was a luxury most pioneer families could not afford. The meeting hall is quiet, where even a whisper can be heard.
Above the fireplace is a painting of the Ohio River and a lone flatboat floating downstream, presumably with a young Abe Lincoln. To me, this is the most powerful and moving object in the memorial – a young man who had no idea how greatly he would change the world, only to have his life cut short by an assassin’s bullet, so far from where he started.
There is much more to see down the hall and outside the building. The flagpole on the hill was once considered the tallest in Southern Indiana. Behind it is a Pioneer Cemetery and his mother’s gravestone. The exact location of Nancy’s grave is unknown.
We know that when Abraham Lincoln returned from Illinois as a politician, he reflected on his mother’s grave. It’s a very solemn place—a long trail ahead to the Pioneer Village and a pretty steep hill. If you’re not ready for a workout, you can go back to the memorial and drive to the Pioneer Village, where this trail goes.
There is also the Trail of 12 Stones, which has a stone from each significant place of Lincoln’s life. On the west side of the trail leading to the village is a cabin fireplace and foundation that have been bronzed. It was once thought that this was the location of the Lincoln cabin, but that is now in dispute.
At the end of the trail is the Pioneer Village. In season, you can see people in period costumes going about life like the 1800s. You can imagine the experiences a young Abe Lincoln had here as a boy growing up to be a man. He was said to be a wrestler and would travel long distances to wrestle with other boys.
Past the Pioneer Village is a well where the Lincolns got their water. They had the basics of life and nothing more here on the Indiana frontier. Just across the street from the Lincoln Boyhood Memorial is Lincoln State Park. Near the entrance is a memorial to Abraham Lincoln detailing the years of his life and his accomplishments.
There’s a fine sculpture of Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. The park also has the Little Pigeon Creek Baptist Church. Abraham and his father helped build the original church that’s no longer here, but the cemetery behind it is where Abraham’s sister, Sarah Lincoln Grigsby, is buried. Sarah died in 1828 while giving birth. Abraham was very close to his sister, and he was utterly devastated by her death. To this day, visitors have a tradition of placing a Lincoln penny on the carved wreath of her gravestone.
Lincoln State Park is famous for its large outdoor theater and Young Abe Lincoln annual production.
There are quick steps up from the parking lot and a handicap-accessible ramp. Further down the road, there’s a nature interpretive center. Inside, there’s a wooden statue of Abe Lincoln and a pioneer fireplace as a setting to teach kids about life in 1800s Indiana and numerous wildlife specimens from the area that would have been very common to the Lincolns.
But perhaps the highlight of the park is the large lake. It’s a quiet place to reflect in this small section of Indiana. It’s incredible that one of the greatest American presidents grew up here and became someone despite humble beginnings. It should give us hope that we can end up somewhere entirely different no matter where we are now. Sometimes, we have to cross bridges of faith to see what’s on the other side; sometimes, it depends on how the waters flow.
A short drive from the Lincoln State Park at Gentryville is the house of Colonel William Jones. A young Abe Lincoln worked at his store, and the two became friends. When Abraham was on his campaign trail, he returned to visit his friend and former employer.
Ironically, the Civil War that started due to Lincoln’s beliefs would result in an older William Jones volunteering for military service. He was killed at the Battle of Atlanta in 1864. We can’t predict the future; we make the best decisions and hope they’re good ones. The rest of what happens will be history.
