DC: President’s Lincoln’s Cottage

When Abraham Lincoln needed to get away and think about important things (like how to stop the South from successfully leaving the Union and whether or not to abolish slavery), he rode just out of town to his cottage in what is now Northwest DC. Today, President Lincoln’s Cottage is an example of how a historic house museum can not only be relevant to the present, but also change the future.

The tagline for the Cottage is “A Home for Brave Ideas.” This house was a place where Lincoln contemplated extremely difficult decisions and ideas, and the staff today are extremely creative in how they have made the Cottage a place for much the same today. Whether through comedy nights that tackle controversial issues to their presidential-award-winning Students Opposing Slavery (SOS) program, exhibits on issues that span the centuries like immigration, or naturalization ceremonies where new citizens are welcomed to full participation in our democracy, President Lincoln’s Cottage lives up to its tagline. If you are in the DC area, I highly recommend a visit.

I visited last Christmas with my family before flying back to Nashville. Here are a few shots of us enjoying the beautiful grounds around the Cottage. In the background is the private Armed Forces Retirement Home.

[35mm taken with my Canon EOS Rebel 2000.]