ever owned by Abraham Lincoln, to which he brought
his wife and infant son, Robert Todd, in 1844. Mary Todd Lincoln
had the one and one-half story house enlarged in 1856 to its present
full two stories.
When the family left for Washington in 1861, Lincoln spoke warmly
of his life in Illinois, saying, "Here I have lived a quarter
of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man...
not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return..."
Many original furnishings are preserved in the home, including
his shaving stand, hung to accommodate his six-foot four-inch height,
and his favorite rocking chair. The Abraham Lincoln Home, situated at
Eighth and Jackson streets in Springfield Ill., is open to visitors daily,
8:30 - 5, free.