Historic Site and Historical Park · NPS · KY
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
Photo: NPS Photo, The Memorial Building
Alerts and conditions
Weather Frost Advisory issued November 8 at 9:37PM EST until November 9 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Louisville KY
* WHAT...Temperatures as low as 34 will result in frost formation.
* WHERE...Portions of south central Indiana and east central, north
central, northwest, and south central Kentucky.
* WHEN...Until 10 AM EST /9 AM CST/ Monday.
* IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive
outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.
What to do: Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
Read the full alert · Until Nov 9, 2026, 3:00 PM
Overview
For over a century people from around the world have come to rural Central Kentucky to honor the humble beginnings of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. His early life on Kentucky's frontier shaped his character and prepared him to lead the nation through Civil War. Visit our country's first memorial to Lincoln, built with donations from young and old, and the site of his childhood home.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Plan your visit
Hours
Birthplace Unit: Memorial Building: open 9:00 am - 4:30 pm eastern time. Birthplace Unit Visitor Center and Grounds: open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm eastern time.
Boyhood Home Unit: The Boyhood Home Unit at Knob Creek Grounds: open daily dawn to dusk. Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center hours are different than the park unit.
Getting there
The Birthplace Unit of the park is located approximately 2 miles south of the town of Hodgenville on U.S. Highway 31E South. The Boyhood Home Unit at Knob Creek is located approximately 10 miles northeast of the Birthplace Unit of the park.
Visitor centers
Weather
There are four distinct seasons in Central Kentucky. However, temperature and weather conditions can vary widely within those seasons. Spring and Fall are generally pleasant with frequent rain showers. Summer is usually hot and humid. Winter is moderately cold with mixed precipitation.
Phone: 2703583137
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos


Pair it with
- Mammoth Cave National Park NPS · 37 miles
- Camp Nelson National Monument NPS · 60 miles
- Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument NPS · 63 miles
- Hoosier National Forest USFS · 74 miles
- Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial NPS · 81 miles
- Daniel Boone National Forest USFS · 91 miles