Walking in Lincoln’s Footsteps: Discover Abraham Lincoln’s Washington, DC

When Abraham Lincoln arrived in Washington, DC, to take office in 1861, the city was a tense, divided place on the edge of Civil War. During his presidency, Lincoln’s time in the capital would shape the nation’s history forever — and today, visitors can walk in his footsteps at the very sites where he lived, worked, and ultimately gave his life.

Lincoln in the White House

The White House, 1860s - Library of Congress

As the 16th President, Lincoln spent most of his days in the White House, guiding the country through the darkest chapter of its history. It was here that he wrote letters, met with generals, and signed the Emancipation Proclamation, forever changing the course of the nation.

Lincoln’s Cottage: His Summer Refuge

Courtesy of President Lincoln’s Cottage

When the Washington heat grew unbearable, Lincoln and his family retreated to the Soldiers’ Home, now known as President Lincoln’s Cottage. Just three miles north of the White House, this Gothic Revival home was where Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation and found moments of reflection away from the pressures of war.

👉 Special Offer: Mention code UNTOLDDC when booking your ticket to Lincoln’s Cottage for a discount. Vist the website to book your ticket here: https://www.lincolncottage.org/visit/

The First Lincoln Memorial: The Emancipation Memorial

Freedman's Memorial at Lincoln Park, Washington, D.C. Courtey of NPS

Before the iconic Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall was built, the first tribute to Lincoln was unveiled in 1876 in Lincoln Park. Known as the Emancipation Memorial, it was funded largely by formerly enslaved people and dedicated by Frederick Douglass. The statue shows Lincoln with the Emancipation Proclamation alongside a freedman — a powerful, if controversial, image of freedom.

Ford’s Theatre and the Petersen House

Credit: Maxwell MacKenzie, Ford's Theatre

The Lincoln Memorial

Completed in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial is one of the most visited landmarks in the United States. Its grand statue of a seated Lincoln has become a global symbol of democracy and justice, and its steps were later the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech — linking Lincoln’s legacy to the Civil Rights Movement nearly a century later.

Take the Untold DC Lincoln Tour

Want to experience Lincoln’s Washington in person? Our Untold DC Lincoln Tour will take you to all these sites — from the Cottage and the Emancipation Memorial to Ford’s Theatre, the Petersen House, and the Lincoln Memorial — weaving together the story of a president who changed America.

👉 Book your Lincoln Tour today and don’t forget to use discount code UNTOLDDC for savings at Lincoln’s Cottage.