In 1936, George Honig created a time capsule in Rockport, Indiana. He wanted to immortalize the boyhood life of Abraham Lincoln and, with the help of the WPA, built an entire village that tells the story. Many of the village buildings are recreations, but some are original to the community, including one belonging to Abraham Lincoln’s sister, Sarah Lincoln Grigsby. These originals were painstakingly moved, log by log, in an astonishing feat of dreams turned into reality.
The village is a fantastic place, and it is surreal if you come early and have the place virtually to yourself. Costumed interpreters fill the village in May and October for an unforgettable experience. At the front of the village is an excellent museum with Lincoln artifacts, local history items, and an impressive gallery of period dresses. The village and museum were both a pleasant surprise and a place I’d recommend to any Lincoln history lover.
The Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum is open May through October, with many fun, scheduled events. Check out their website for dates and times.
