Lincoln Tavern at Knob Creek 2024

Here is a quick look at the Lincoln Tavern at Knob Creek!

Postcard: "Winter Scene" Lincoln's Birthplace Memorial

 This old postcard shows one of my favorite sites in Kentucky.  It is undated.

Hodgenville Kentucky January 2023

I really like Hodgenville Kentucky.  I love all of the great Abraham Lincoln history there, and I just like it as a nice little town.  It has a lot more going for it than many people realize.

Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home Knob Creek Kentucky

I have posted about the Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home before, but I really enjoy visiting this site...  so here is another video.

Hodgenville KY- Lincoln Memorial

I absolutely love this black and white photo of a couple at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Park.  I found it with other photos dated in the early 1970s.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Park Hodgenville Kentucky

I am still on an Abraham Lincoln kick, and I enjoyed another recent visit to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Park in Hodgenville Kentucky....  In this video, there is some discussion about Jefferson Davis' connection to this tribute to Lincoln.

Muldraugh's Hill, Kentucky Postcard

This old, undated postcard says on the back

"A lovely view of the famous Muldraugh's Hill, right in the heart of the scenes of Abraham Lincoln's Childhood."

Postcard: Gravestone of Thomas Lincoln Jr.

I THINK this undated postcard is from the 60s.  It notes on the back

GRAVESTONE OF THOMAS LINCOLN, JR. ABRAHAM'S ONLY BROTHER

Thomas Lincoln Jr., was born and died at Knob Creek Ky.  His grave is in the Redmond Family Cemetery 3/4 mile from the Lincoln Cabin.

Postcard: Knob Creek- Lincoln's Boyhood Home Hodgenville

I believe this old postcard is from the early 60s.  It notes on the back-

SEVEN ACRE FIELD AT LINCOLN'S BOYHOOD HOME, KNOB CREEK, KENTUCKY

While in the White House Abraham Lincoln told Sr. Jesse Rodman of planting this field with corn and pumpkin seeds and seeing them washed away by the creek.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park, Hodgenville Kentucky

 AND another Lincoln related video, this one is from the great Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park in Hodgenville Kentucky!

The Lincoln Museum Hodgenville, Kentucky

 AND...  here is another Lincoln related video.......  Check out the VERY underrated Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville Kentucky!

Sinking Springs at Lincoln's Birthplace, Kentucky

"Abraham Lincoln was born on the Sinking Spring Farm, Hardin County, Kentucky- February 12, 1809.

Lincolns Boyhood Home- Knob Creek and Drive through Hodgenville Kentucky

 Here is a video I made of Abe Lincoln's boyhood home and Hodgeville!

Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood Home Knob Creek Hodgenville, KY

The top postcard was sent in 1963.  It notes-

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) lived on this 228 acre farm 1811-1816.  A younger brother was born here.  This area is 7 miles north of Hodgenville on US Highway 31-E."

Vibe Coffee Hodgenville KY

I wanted to mentioned Vibe Coffee in Hodgenville really quick.  They have a great E-Town location too, AND this great spot on the square in Hodgeville.  Both locations are super cozy, and its a great independent shot.  Some of their drinks are a bit pricey by any standard (a large brewed, with tax, topped out at over $5) but I still like what they are doing.  Their shops are nice, clean and friendly.  They make good coffee too!

Hodgenville Kentucky and the Lincoln Museum

I FINALLY found the time to stop by the Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville Kentucky!

This is a lot nicer than I expected.  I thought it might be just a couple of rooms, but it kind of goes on and on.

They are big on life size dioramas telling Honest Abe's story here.  They give you a small pamphlet telling about the scenes when you buy your tickets.

Lets be honest though....  I THINK most of us know the Lincoln story.  Kentucky, some other state, Illinois....  Mary Todd, Douglas, Ford's Theater....

BUT.......  MAN I WISH I HAD TAKEN A FIELD TRIP HERE AS A KID!  This would have been a great place to visit when I just started learning about POTUS 16!

AND, even if you know all about Abe, there are some great art pieces inspired by the man from Hodgenville.

Also, as a collector of Lincolniana, I LOVED seeing the collectibles inspired by the man on display.  Rare dolls and obscure promotional items are in cases.  You know there are lots of coins.

Of course they have some nice Civil War items displayed too.

So, this is ABSOLUTELY a great place for a Lincoln scholar to take their kid.

PLUS, its only $5 each for adults, so its super cheap to get in!

I loved their gift shop too, its probably one of the most well stocked shops in the area.

The museum is right on the circle in Hodgeville too, RIGHT by the statues.  We found Vibe coffee, AND a homemade candy shop nearby!

Abraham Lincoln Postcard, Hodgenville, KY

"Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park- Enclosed in the beautiful, granite Memorial Building is the original log cabin where Abraham Lincoln was born, February 12, 1809."

Boundary Oak, Lincoln Birthplace, KY

"This 300 year old white oak tree served as a boundary marker for the original survey at the farm in 1805.  It is the sole survivor of all that were living here at the time of Abraham Lincoln's birth in 1809."

Lincoln Sites in Hodgenville

Stop me if I have told ya this one before.....

 

Some time back in my college days of driving back and forth between Berea and Owensboro, I stopped by my pal Eric's place for a brief break in my travels.

 

I knew that the Abraham Lincoln boyhood home was real close to the area.  Well, Eric offered to drive me out to it.

 

I remember us parking next to it on a rainy night.  It was dark.  My first thought was, "Hey, this looks OK.  Not a bad place."

 

I was looking at the building right next door to the boyhood cabin.  Eric corrected me and brought my attention to the actual cabin next door.... not a lot bigger than a nice children playhouse you might put in your backyard.

 

We stopped by that same cabin recently, and it was the first time that I have been by when an actual ranger has been there!  Our friendly guide showed us the inside of the cabin, and told us about the creek near a few steps away.

 

After stopping by the boyhood home, we went to the main National Park visitor Center and monument area, a few miles down the road.

 

At this location, there is the amazing monument that holds the symbolic birth cabin.  The spring that that family used at that time is still there too! 

 

Also on site is the privately owned, but still historic Nancy Lincoln Inn.  I really like this place too.  The friendly young staff person there mentioned to us that some of the drinks they sold were made from recipes used during Lincoln's time.  They also pointed out some sale items.  This cozy store was also a bit museum like, displaying various postcards, stamps, and scale dioramas relating to Abe Lincoln and the Park.  You must make sure that you go by the Inn on your visit. 

I love historic sites that have some mystery.  The Lincoln cabins do not disappoint.

First off, it is a little confusing keeping each cabin straight.  There is the birth cabin, inside of the monument.  Then there is the boyhood cabin.

I won't even try to explain the source of each cabin, but if you really want to try to figure out the origins of each, you've got some work in front of ya!

I think one of the cabins was built from logs from a cabin that MAY have used some of the Lincoln family logs to build it.  I also remember hearing that the Jefferson Davis boyhood cabin was displayed at one time with one of the cabins.  Somewhere in all of the confusion, some of the Davis cabin's logs probably mixed with the Lincoln ones.  If someone has a definite explanation for the two cabins, please comment!


AND, one of the rangers mentioned to me that there is some debate among scholars as to the exact location of the boyhood home.  Some think the original location may have been on the other side of the creek.  I was told that, when they put that cabin there in the first place, there was an old timer in the area that remembered the Lincoln cabin sitting at the exact location that the current cabin sits.  AGAIN, if anyone has any thoughts about that, I would love to hear them!

Anyway, I really love the drive out to this National Park.  I love getting there, and I love spending time there.

 

Abraham Lincoln