Try this (1.5 miles | 3,168 steps): This walk, available by purchasing a landscape tour, takes you through parts of the grounds around the Cottage that are not usually accessible to the public. For those of you walking virtually, you will start at the Cottage before making your way up and down MacArthur Drive, back through the entry gate, and ending at the United States Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery.
President Lincoln’s Cottage was home to Abraham Lincoln for over a quarter of his Presidency. Today the site, which sits within the 272 acres of the Armed Forces Retirement Home, is centered on sharing perspectives on issues of freedom, justice, and humility while also bringing the community together on site for programs, events, and exhibits that range from live music to deep reflection on the challenges we face today.
Hannah Urrey, director of advancement at President Lincoln’s Cottage said, “One of my favorite things about the Cottage is that it is surrounded by incredible natural spaces. We are a haven for animals like fox, deer, and many types of birds. I have seen wild turkeys, red tailed hawks, dark-eyed juncos, and teeny tiny ruby-crowned kinglets. It isn’t unusual to see bats flying across the south lawn of the Cottage at dusk, helpfully eating mosquitos and other less desirable insects.
We also see lots of blue jays, mockingbirds, robins, sparrows, and more, with both our wild and cultivated spaces providing food and shelter for them throughout the year. The quiet natural spaces are as much a part of Lincoln’s experience here as the Cottage itself, so I always recommend visitors take the time to sit out on the Cottage’s veranda or on the benches overlooking the lawns or take our audio-guided landscape tour.”
