Abraham Lincoln Birthplace in Kentucky
On a trip through Kentucky, we visited Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park south of Hodgenville to see where our 16th president was born.
The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace features a log cabin inside a marble Memorial Building on the site of the farm where Lincoln was born. The structure is on top of a hill, which makes it look even more imposing. While perhaps not quite as large as the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, this site was actually built first, leading to its alternate name of The First Lincoln Memorial.
Although you can’t see them in this photo, the words near the top of the facade read, “Here over the log cabin where Abraham Lincoln was bor destined to preserve the Union and to free the slave a grateful people have dedicated this memorial to unity, peace, and brotherhood among these states.”1 Above the columns are the famous Lincoln quote, “With malice toward none, with charity for all.”2
Inside the marble building is a log cabin. However, this is not the actual cabin where Abraham Lincoln was born. Instead, it is known as the “Symbolic Cabin.” Those who originally acquired the cabin thought that it could have been built from some of the logs used in the original cabin, but that is probably not true. At any rate, the cabin is a good reminder of the humble circumstances Abraham Lincoln was born into.
This view of the cabin also gives a view of the ceiling of the memorial building around the cabin. The 16 tiles on the ceiling surrounding the cabin represent the fact that Lincoln was the 16th president. There are also 16 windows and 16 fence poles surrounding the cabin. Symbolism played a large part in the Memorial Building.
I always like details, and I enjoyed the detail of these lion door handles on the doors. These are the front doors, but we entered through the rear doors, as these doors remained closed.
In keeping with the symbolism, there are 56 steps leading up to the Memorial Building (not all of them are in this photo). The number 56 symbolizes the age of Abraham Lincoln at his death, 56 years.
We enjoyed our visit to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, even if its name is a long one to type. The site was originally known as Abraham Lincoln National Park in 1916. It then became Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park in 1939, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in 1959, and finally Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park3 in 2009. Why does the National Park Service have so many names and classifications for things, anyway?
There was more to see at this site, including a nature trail and the Visitor Center. But more about those later on.
Looking for more Lincoln? Check out our visits to The Lincoln Memorial; Lincoln-Douglas debate sites in Jonesboro, Charleston, and Quincy; and the site of Lincoln’s last Illinois address in Tolono.
Great Things from Small Beginnings
Abraham Lincoln is just one example of many where something great came from a small beginning. No one would have guessed that someone born in a one-room cabin to a farmer family would eventually become one of the greatest United States presidents.
Similarly, you can do something great, no matter who you are or where you come from. What you do might not be something great on the world stage. You might not win an award or an election. You might not get your name all over the news. But what you do can still be something great.
Examples of doing great things: Be a loving spouse, be a loving parent, be a good employee or even a good boss, be a good leader or even a good follower,help out someone in need, be a good friend.
Something does not have to be on a large scale to be something great. If it makes a difference in one person’s life, that can be a great thing.
“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” - Matthew 25:37-40
About the Photos
In hindsight, a wider-angle lens might have been a good idea here, because it would have captured more of the cabin inside the Memorial Building, and a wider view of the outside of the Memorial Building, too. But the 35mm prime lens was better for the lower lighting levels inside the Memorial Building, as well as inside the Visitor Center (photos to come later on), and for me it was fine for these photos, too.
I did the usual processing to increase the contrast and color saturation, and smooth out the highlights and shadows. All in a normal day’s work.
Photo: Each photo is a single Raw exposure, processed in Raw Therapee and GIMP.
Camera: Sony Alpha A7 II
Lens: Rokinon 35mm f/1.8
Date: July 6, 2024
Location: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Kentucky
