Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Things To Do Near Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

To fully enjoy everything this area has to offer, start your visit with a stop at the Memorial Visitor Center. Here, you can gather trail guides and watch a 15-minute film that focuses on Lincoln's time in Indiana. The living history farm is just a short hike from the visitor center. There, you can watch as interpreters engage in the daily activities of a pioneer farm. Surrounded by gently rolling hills and thick trees, the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial offers 2 miles of hiking trails where visitors can relax and enjoy the scenery or explore trailside historical markers and sites. 

Hiking Trails

• The Trail of Twelve Stones

  The Trail of Twelve Stones is an easy half-mile hike that starts at the Lincoln homesite and continues on to the Pioneer Cemetary where Nancy Hanks Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's mother, is buried. The 12 stones along the trail come from places and buildings that mark important moments in Lincoln's life. 

  Location

  3027 East South St, Lincoln City, IN 47552

  Length

  0.5 miles

  Intensity

  Easy

• Lincoln Boyhood Trail

  The Lincoln Boyhood Trail starts at the visitor center and extends to the living historical farmstead. Along the way, you will be able to see the memorial marking the area where the original Lincoln family cabin once stood. 

  Location

  3027 East South St, Lincoln City, IN 47552

  Length

  0.5 miles

  Intensity

  Easy

Sightseeing

• Santa Claus, Indiana

  The town of Santa Claus, Indiana, was originally called Santa Fe. When Santa Fe, Indiana, applied for an official post office, officials directed them to choose another name for their town. No one is entirely certain why they settled on the name Santa Claus, but today, the citizens embrace their jolly connection to Christmas. Offering a holiday-themed amusement and water park and year-round Christmas shopping, Santa Claus, Indiana, has something for everyone. 

  Location

  Santa Claus, Indiana

• Lincoln State Park

  With 10 miles of hiking trails and two lakes, Lincoln State Park offers boating, fishing, and even swimming for those who want to relax and enjoy the scenic forests and hills of Lincoln's formative years. History buffs can stop by the interpretive center and learn what life was like for early settlers in the area or visit the historic Colonel William Jones House. 

  Location

  15476 N CR 300 E, Lincoln City, IN 47552

• Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum

  The Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum is a living history memorial to early settlers in the area, including the Lincoln family. Costumed interpreters and recreation log cabins allow visitors to experience life as it was for the Lincoln family and their peers between 1816 and 1830. 

  Location

  928 Fairground Dr, Rockport, Indiana 47635

Museums

• Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science

  Located on the Ohio Riverfront, this museum offers a wide variety of exhibitions and family programs. In addition to art and history installations, the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science features a planetarium and immersive theater. 

  Location

  411 SE Riverside Dr, Evansville, IN 47713

• Reitz Home Museum

  Located in the heart of the Evansville Historic Preservation District, the Reitz Home was built by John Augustus Reitz. Born in Germany in 1815, Reitz moved to the United States in the 1830s, where he became a leader in the lumber industry. The Reitz Home, an excellent example of Second Empire architecture, was completed in 1871. Today, the home is furnished with many pieces original to the Reitz family, and it looks much as it did when the Reitz family lived there. 

  Location

  112 Chestnut St, Evansville, IN 47713

Nearby Shops and Restaurants

• Fat Daddy’s Grill & Chill

  Fat Daddy's is an old-fashioned walk-up food stand. Operating seasonally, Fat Daddy's Grill & Chill serves up a variety of American fare and desserts. Diners can dine outdoors at the on-site picnic tables. Or, for a more scenic meal, find a table down by the banks of the Ohio River. 

  Location

  421 Main St, Grandview, IN 47615

• Frosty's Fun Center

  A restaurant and arcade that is sure to be a hit with the entire family, Frosty's Fun Center offers an assortment of sandwiches and snacks but is perhaps best known for their fresh-made pizzas. Don't forget to save room for dessert. The Dirty Sundae is a popular option for topping off any meal. 

  Location

  15 South Cedar Ln, Santa Claus, IN 47579

• Lakeview Orchard

  Open seasonally from May through October, Lakeview Orchard is a family-owned and -operated orchard and farm. Best known for juicy peaches and fresh, seasonal produce, this is the perfect place to stock up on some delicious and healthy fresh foods. 

  Location

  2315 North Orchard Rd, Rockport, IN 47635

• Santa Claus Christmas Store

  Certain to bring out the childhood wonder of Christmas, the Santa Claus Christmas Store is dedicated to the celebration of Christmas year-round. Shop here for gifts, holiday decor, and sweet treats like their famous fudge. While you're there, don't forget to stop and visit with Santa Claus himself. 

  Location

  33 North Kringle Pl, Santa Claus, IN 47579

How To Get To Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is near the Ohio River in the Southwest region of Indiana. The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset. The Living Historical Farm is operational from mid-April through the end of September. For the remainder of the year, it is open as a walk-through exhibit. 

Follow Interstate 64 to exit 57A. Turn from Interstate 64 onto US 231 south to Indiana Highway 162. Take the Santa Claus/Gentryville exit and turn right onto Indiana Highway 162. The park entrance will be 1.5 miles down the road on your right. A large wooden sign marks the park entrance.

Address

3027 East South Street, Lincoln City, IN 47552

Fee: Entry fee $0

Dedicated to one of our most beloved presidents, Abraham Lincoln, the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial offers visitors a unique glimpse into the life led by Lincoln and his family. From living history exhibits to hiking and fishing to a town called Santa Claus, this area offers something for everyone making it the perfect stop on your RV trip through the Midwest.