Lincoln Log Cabin Site: History in Action

By Peter Rathburn

Peter Rathburn is administrator (District Historican) for Historic District II of the Department of Conservation, Division of Historic Sites. District II covers the central third of Illinois and includes such sites as Lincoln's New Salem, Lincoln's Tomb and others as well as Lincoln Log Cabin. Mr. Rathburn had been Assistant Historian for Northern Illinois, Site Superintendent at Shawneetown and Historic Site Surveyor before coming to District II.

Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site has undergone a transformation since the early 1970's. It now presents a successful blend of outdoor recreation on one hand, and historic interpretation, preservation, and restoration on the other.

Before the present innovations began the site was a small unimpressive recreational area. It has since become a quality historic park that continues to provide major recreational opportunities.

In the early 1970's changes in the historical awareness of the public and the Department of Conservation caused the emphasis on the historic aspects of the site to be increased and the outdoor recreational aspects to be re-examined in the light of proper usage of the resources of the area. The goal has been to provide the visitor with the maximum possible enjoyment and benefit from the resources available without damaging the resources or allowing one priority to overshadow another.

At Lincoln Log Cabin that goal of maximized use was translated by the staff into an opportunity to create a first rate historic site. The path has been far from easy, but through energy and perseverance major successes have been enjoyed and many objectives accomplished.

The transition from park to historic site has meant that there have been changes in the relationship between historic and non-historic aspects priorities. However, the net effect has been to upgrade both. The roots of the change were inherent to the form and history of the site.

Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site is located in Coles County south of Charleston, Illinois. Other Department of Conservation sites in the immediate vicinity are Fox Ridge State Park, about five miles away, and the Moore Home State Historic Site, a mile from Lincoln Log that is managed by the Lincoln Log staff.

Just like it used to be...

The shape of the land at the site is a departure from the flat visage that is common to eastern Illinois. The configuration of the site provides a management tool that will be described later. The site covers eighty-six acres, part of which has a moderate slope with a range in height of about forty feet. Two streams dominate the topography of the eastern end of the park, bisecting the park into valley in the east and high ground in the west. The site has been farmed extensively leaving a poor soil which requires extensive management and erosion control. Lincoln Log contains crop fields, second growth trees, and both hardwood and pine plantings. Well established trees divide the eastern and western section. In addition there is a native prairie remnant.

The historical significance of this acreage is that it includes eighty acres purchased by Thomas Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's father, and six out of an original forty that were farmed by Thomas but owned by Abraham. The major feature of the site is an accurate reconstruction of Thomas Lincoln's cabin on the site of the original cabin.

Thomas Lincoln was born in Virginia but moved with his family to the pioneer state of Kentucky. He became a farmer and married Nancy Hanks, who in 1809 became the mother of the future president, Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln family soon after began a migration that is now memorialized in the Lincoln Heritage Trail that covers three states and ends up in Illinois with the Abraham Lincoln home at New Salem and the home of Thomas and Sarah, Abraham's stepmother, in Coles County. By 1840 Thomas had settled at the Goosenest Prairie farm which is now Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site.

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After Thomas' death the cabin came under the ownership of John Hall, Lincoln's step-grandson. He kept it until 1891 when the Abraham Lincoln Association bought the cabin and moved it to Chicago, where it was eventually destroyed.

Pressure for rebuilding the cabin grew and in the park building period of the 1930's, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the National Park Service and the State of Illinois cooperated to create the park and rebuild the Lincoln Cabin. Over the years following the reconstruction of the cabin the site became a small outdoor recreation area with a campground, shelter and picnic areas. The cabin, which had been the reason for the park's creation, had become at best a side show.

A change in the perception of the park occurred apparently in the period 1974-75. A quality historic site was in the process of being born. The greatest changes have been in the area of historic interpretation. Prior to the last few years the interpretive program was almost nonexistent. Since that time enormous strides have been made in providing the visitor with a glimpse of the past and a more meaningful visit to a Lincoln shrine.

A man's work is from sun to sun, but....

The major focus of this activity has been the cabin and the area around it. On a summer day the change is most drastic. Formerly the cabin would have sat still and lifeless similar to a headstone in a cemetery, worthy perhaps of a glance or two. Now it is the center of activity for a recreated segment of the 1840's. The changes that have resulted in this transformation are numerous and varied. Some are physical, others operational and yet other conceptual such as in the provision of interpretive education.

The objects of the renovation of the site were three-fold. First to bring the area adjacent to the cabin into a physical semblance of the Thomas Lincoln Farm, second to bring the Lincoln Farm to life for the visitor, and third to interpret the 1840's period and life style using Lincoln's farm as a representative example.

Slow, but the quality is good!

The first changes to bring the site back to an approximation of its state when Thomas Lincoln lived there were the creation of an orchard, a kitchen garden, a herb garden and crop fields. The orchard was planted with small varieties of 19th century apples and peaches to give the semblance of the young fruit trees that would have been found there in the 1840's. Each year the herb and vegetable gardens are planted with those plants commonly used in the period and in the manner that was typical for the period. Archeological evidence has helped place and identify the type of fence in front of the cabin and around the gardens. Historic species, as well as planting and harvesting methods make the corn and wheat fields distinctive.

Another series of alterations to bring Lincoln Log Cabin close to its historic past has been the introduction of livestock to the area behind the cabin with the construction of a primitive chicken coop and sheep shelter. Lincoln would also have had larger livestock and there are plans in the future to have them on site.

These changes are the result of careful planning, research and continued effort on the part of the staff. Before undertaking any of these projects the staff has had to determine the feasibility, propriety and accuracy of their plans. The search for information and knowledge about Thomas Lincoln's farm and 1840's farm life has taken place both in the nooks and crannies of Coles County and as far as the federal records in Washington, DC. Often what is needed is not available and requires unusual efforts. The breed of chickens that would have been on the farm is not available so in that case the folks at the site have been backbreeding their fowls to achieve the proper results.

One of the most important elements that have brought life to the history of Lincoln Log Cabin is interpretation by costumed and trained staff. Through the use of staff, and volunteers during the summer and

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at a number of special events, the true touch of life is given to the farm. The activities performed are daily or special tasks common to the 1840's such as cooking meals, farm chores, the making of candles, soap, and cloth, and much more. A formal volunteer program initiated this year will make the continuance of this program possible.

The individual visitor to the site is transported back to the 1840's. The cabin and almost all of its surroundings are as they were. There are people, in the roles of the Lincoln family and its friends and neighbors, doing the everyday activities for that period of time. The role-players are both staff and highly trained dedicated volunteers. Without the volunteers much of the programming at the site would be impossible. The authenticity even extends to the use of period dialect, and different ages of interpreters including children.

School children on field trips receive a different program. This program is geared to the special needs of such tours and involves the use of such things as providing pre-visit materials to teachers to make the visit a meaningful educational experience. When possible some school groups have one half to one full day "live-ins". A "live-in" is an event where groups of children learn the ways of the past by actually participating in common activities done in the period under study. The hands-on activities during a "live-in" provide a special experience for the children.

Old breed — new breed — all visitors look alike to me.

The expansion of the historic programming as well as concern for the quality of visitor experience has made alteration of the outdoor recreational use patterns necessary. Prior to the early 1970's the non-historic recreational activities at the site were, for the most part, concentrated in the area adjacent to the cabin itself; while the cabin was only used as a shrine, similar to a statue or plaque. The only problem was overuse of the one area. With the increased emphasis on historic interpretation this problem became greater. Therefore, the picnic area was spread out over six different areas; this served both to reduce visitor concentration and to reduce the intrusion upon the historic visitor presented by the picnicker. Fortunately, the picnicker could be as well served nearby. The eventual plan is to contain the historic area to the east while allowing the western three fifths of the site to be devoted to outdoor recreational goals. The topography of the site provides a clear boundary between the two types of use areas. When fully implemented the policy of providing day-use facilities such as fishing, picnicking, shelters, and playground equipment in the western sections of the site, and maintaining the southeast as historic allows the site to serve three populations. These include those individuals interested in the historic aspects, day-users and people who are interested in both opportunities.

Although many people have been involved in the effort in the past seven years to create a true picture of life at the Lincoln farm, most of the credit has to go to one individual. The vision and energy of the Site Superintendent, Tom Vance, have been the guiding lights for the progress at this site.

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