Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Kentucky, USA - map and visitor information

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park near Hodgenville, Kentucky, preserves two places connected with Lincoln’s earliest years. At the Birthplace Unit, a stone memorial encloses a symbolic log cabin. The separate Knob Creek unit explores his boyhood. Choose one unit for a focused stop, or allow time for the drive between them.

Highlights of Lincoln’s Kentucky sites

• See the Memorial Building and symbolic birth cabin at Sinking Spring Farm.
• Visit Sinking Spring, the water source associated with the farm.
• Continue to Knob Creek for the separate boyhood-home landscape.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Safety information

NPS recommends sturdy footwear on hiking routes. Mosquitoes, ticks, and poison ivy are common from mid-spring through mid-fall. Match clothing to the weather and ask staff about current trail conditions. There are no public telephones within the park, so do not plan on finding a public phone for assistance.

Visit responsibly

Do not use flash photography indoors. Stay on paths to protect the historic landscape and wildlife habitat. Watch animals from a distance; the park advises visitors never to chase or pick them up.

Reservations and permits

Visits are self-guided throughout the year. Groups should contact the park to arrange reservations. Ask about ranger programs or any special-use requirements for your activity rather than assuming a group visit follows the same arrangements as an individual stop.

Maps, location, and access

The Birthplace Unit visitor center is at 2995 Lincoln Farm Road, Hodgenville, KY 42748. The Boyhood Home at Knob Creek is at 7120 Bardstown Road. NPS describes an approximately 10-mile drive between them on US 31E. Use the directions for the correct unit; a single park name in navigation can obscure which location you need.

Nearby parks

• My Old Kentucky Home State Park offers an onward stop in Bardstown; use the mansion address at 501 East Stephen Foster Avenue for that visit.
• Mammoth Cave National Park is another regional stop to the southwest. Approach its main visitor center from I-65 at Cave City rather than navigating to an unspecified point inside the park.

The memorial, Sinking Spring, and Knob Creek

• Birthplace orientation: Start at the visitor center to understand the memorial landscape before going to the symbolic cabin.
• Memorial visit: Arrive before the earlier building closing time. The cabin symbolizes Lincoln’s birth setting. It is not his original birth cabin.
• Sinking Spring: Use the upper viewing sidewalk if you want to look into the spring area without descending the sinkhole steps.
• Knob Creek: Explore the boyhood-home grounds separately and confirm whether the seasonal visitor center will be open.

Facilities and accessibility

Visitor centers provide orientation, exhibits, bookstores, and restrooms when operating. At the Birthplace Unit, the wheelchair route to the Memorial Building uses a boardwalk to its rear entrance. Accessible restrooms and picnic facilities are described by NPS. The Knob Creek cabin has one entry step, even though the approach path is accessible. Review the site-specific accessibility details for your needs.

About this national historical park

History

Lincoln was born at Sinking Spring Farm on February 12, 1809. The Memorial Building, erected in 1911 by the Lincoln Farm Association, commemorates that birthplace. The park also preserves the Knob Creek landscape connected with his childhood. Together, the two units address different stages of his Kentucky years rather than a single house museum.

Wildlife and habitat

Forests, grassland fields, springs, and creeks support the park’s natural setting alongside its historic purpose. NPS describes birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and aquatic animals across the two units. A short walk may reveal activity beyond the memorial grounds, but no particular sighting is assured.

Contact

Call 270-358-3137 about groups, seasonal visitor-center operation, weather closures, or access requirements. The park mailing address is 2995 Lincoln Farm Road, Hodgenville, KY 42748.