Lincoln Home at Night Clock

Abraham Lincoln's home in Springfield, Illinois, at sunset. Abraham & Mary Lincoln moved into this home in May 1844. When he was elected 16th President of the United States, they rented out the home, with all intentions to return to it after his one - or two - terms. When President Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865, Mary could not bear to return to the home without her husband. She & her oldest son, Robert, continued to rent out the home until 1887. At that time, Robert sold the home to the State of Illinois for $1, with two guarantees from the state: 1) That they would keep up maintenance on the home, and 2) that it would be free to all visitors.