413 SOUTH 8TH STREET, SPRINGFIELD, SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Situated on the corner of 8th Street and Jackson Street in Springfield, Illinois, is the only home that Abraham Lincoln ever owned. Reverend Charles Dresser built the house in 1839 and lived in it for only five years. This same reverend officiated the marriage of Abraham and Mary Todd. In 1844, Mr. Lincoln, then a young and promising attorney, purchased the home for $1,500. Demonstrating his wisdom, Mr. Lincoln made several additions to increase the home's value. The Lincoln family lived there for 17 years before Abraham became the 16th president of the United States. On February 11, 1861, the Lincolns departed Springfield by train for Washington, D.C., to settle into the White House.
The exterior and interior of the home feature architectural elements traditional to 18th-century styles. The exterior is a blend of Greek Revival and Georgian Colonial design with some Italianate detailing. Its classic features include symmetry, paired chimneys, a medium-pitched roof, and a paneled front center door. The six-over-six window sashes, decorative brackets in the eaves, and wood mouldings atop the windows further define its style. Painted in light tan with proportionally placed green shutters, the house is highly recognizable. The front door is unusually inset, suggesting it may be a remnant of a once-columned porch, a common feature in Greek Revival-style homes with entry porticoes.
Mr. Lincoln took pride in improving his home, undertaking numerous renovations. The original one-and-a-half-story house became a full two stories when the “sloped” ceilings were raised, and additional rooms were constructed. The new roof featured a pronounced overhang. In 1846, a bedroom and pantry were added to the back of the house, and in 1853, a barn was built. Mary Todd Lincoln desired a “proper Victorian interior” and oversaw the construction of a dividing wall between the kitchen and dining room. These architectural transformations occurred between 1844 and 1861.
Sadly, the Lincolns never returned to their Springfield home due to the president’s tragic assassination. The last tenant lived in the house from 1861 to 1887, operating it as a museum for personal profit. In 1887, the eldest son, Robert Lincoln, sold the house to the State of Illinois. Today, the Lincolns’ Springfield home is a museum managed by the National Park Service. This national treasure has been meticulously restored to its 1860 appearance. Touring the home of a former American president is always a fascinating experience. History enthusiasts appreciate even the smallest details of a historical home, including its fine architectural wood mouldings and trim. Preservationists have done an excellent job of honoring and furthering President Abraham Lincoln’s legacy.
