Virtual Field Trip
Abraham Lincoln spent the first seven years of his life in Kentucky, his closest friend was from Louisville, his wife was raised in Lexington, and during the Civil War, he stated, “to lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to the lose the whole game."
Student Directions:
When you finish this virtual field trip, you will be able to describe how Lincoln's life, opinions, and future Presidency were impacted by his time in the Bluegrass.
Student Directions:
- Tour the four locations in Kentucky that we know Lincoln spent a considerable amount of time.
- Complete the historical thinking questions listed at each stop on the worksheet that was provided to you.
- Complete the Open Response Question on the worksheet that was provided to you.
When you finish this virtual field trip, you will be able to describe how Lincoln's life, opinions, and future Presidency were impacted by his time in the Bluegrass.
Stop #1: Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace
Hodgensville, KY
Sinking Spring Farm
Ahead of the 1860 Presidential Election, Abraham Lincoln drafted an autobiographical sketch for his friend, Jesse Fell, a newspaper editor in Pennsylvania. Lincoln began the sketch by stating, “I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky.” He then went on to address the origin of his parents, drawing specific attention to the fact that his grandfather, also named Abraham Lincoln, was killed by Indians after coming to Kentucky “not in battle, but in stealth, when he was laboring to open a farm in the forest.” After growing up “literally without education,” Lincoln’s father, Thomas, moved to Hardin County, KY in December of 1808 to purchase the land where Lincoln would be born. The area was named The Sinking Spring Farm, because of the source of year round freshwater that was found at the bottom of a hill in 1805. After only living on the farm for two years, the Lincoln’s were forced to move a few miles north over a land dispute with the property title. Lincoln's autobiographical sketch provides a direct account of how he wanted to be viewed while running for President. While it was certainly written with political ambitions in mind, it offers us a glimpse into the various ways that he connected with various people across the country.
Watch the video below for insight into how historian Matthew Pinsker interprets this famous public letter. Historical Thinking Questions:
Differentiated Activity: Use Google Maps to determine the distance between where you were born and where Lincoln was born. Create a poster, or draw a picture, that describes the similarities and differences between the two locations. If they are relatively the same, use you background knowledge and understanding of American History to describe how they have changed between the two time periods. |
The Memorial building above is the first Lincoln Memorial built to honor the President. It houses a symbolic cabin at the top of the hill that is believed to be where Lincoln was born.
The cornerstone for the Abraham Lincoln Memorial was laid in 1909 by President Theodore Roosevelt (pictured above). Upon completion, it was dedicated in 1911 by President William Taft.
This symbolic cabin inside the memorial building is not the one that Abraham Lincoln was born in; however, it is from the 1800's and currently rests on the hill overlooking the sinking spring. The cabin (pictured above) came from the 1893 World's Fair.
Thomas & Nancy Lincoln
The Sinking Spring offered a year-round fresh fresh water source for the Lincoln family. In 1928, a sidewalk and retaining wall was built around the spring to give visitors access to the area.
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Stop #2: Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood Home
Hodgensville, KY
Knob Creek Farm
When Lincoln was two, he, along with his parents and older sister, Sarah, moved to the 228-acre Knob Creek Farm. While there his brother, Thomas, was born, but died in infancy in 1812. In 1860, Lincoln mentioned the Knob Creek Farm as his “earliest recollection.” He also stated that this was the place where he and his sister received their early education by attending what he called “blab” schools, where everything was learned through repetition. At the age of seven, his family once again was forced to move over land disputes. This time, they left the state of Kentucky altogether, and moved to Spencer County, IN. There is one unique story that remains from Lincoln’s time at Knob Creek, but it is not referenced officially in any of Lincoln’s personal documents. It comes from a man named Austin Gollaher, who stated that he and Lincoln were childhood friends when he lived at Knob Creek. Gollaher claimed that he and Lincoln were crossing the creek one day on a log when the water was high. Lincoln became scared while crossing, slipped, and fell into the creek. Neither of the young boys knew how to swim, so Austin grabbed a long stick, reached out to Lincoln, and was able to pull him back to safety. Both he and Lincoln promised to never talk about it again, but after Lincoln’s assassination, Austin came forth as the boy who saved Lincoln from drowning. Historical Thinking Questions:
Differentiated Activity: Using the story of Lincoln and his friend Austin and an example, write a short story, or poem, about a time when you helped a friend, and you knew their life was impacted by your actions, or write a short story about a time when a friend impacted your life by something that they said or did. Add a picture to your final product if you like. |
The Lincoln Knob Creek Farm historical marker commemorates Lincoln's earliest memories as a child.
Like the cabin at the Sinking Spring Farm, this cabin is also a symbolic representation from theperiod. The cabin gives visitors a view of how Lincoln might have lived during while at Knob Creek.
Austin Gollaher was a childhood friend of Abraham Lincoln. He claims to have saved him from drowning as a child while they were crossing the Knob Creek.
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Stop #3: Joshua Speed's Farmington Plantation
Louisville, KY
Farmington Plantation
Lincoln’s closest friend was Joshua Speed, the son of a plantation owner in Louisville, KY. They met in 1837 when Lincoln moved to Springfield, IL to begin his law practice. Lincoln visited Speed’s store in search of bedding materials, and after a conversation, they became roommates. From that point on, their friendship continued until Lincoln’s assassination. Shortly after Speed’s father passed away in 1840, he made plans to return to Louisville to take care of the family plantation. With the thought of his closest friend leaving, as well as his unease about marriage, Lincoln broke off his engagement to Mary Todd, who would later become his wife (You will meet her in Stop #4). This did not help matters, as he soon became depressed, causing his friends to remove dangerous items for fear that he might commit suicide. In August of 1841, Speed convinced Lincoln to visit Louisville in hopes that his depression would lift and that he would be able to move on with his life. When Lincoln arrived, he was surprised by the cultural differences that were present in Kentucky. From table manners, to the issue of slavery, Lincoln had to adjust to the realities of the state of his birth. Over the course of his three and a half week visit, his views on slavery were greatly impacted, as he saw first hand how the system worked through the eyes of his closest friend. Lincoln and Speed would always disagree on the issue of slavery, but their friendship would remain strong until the end. As President, Lincoln offered government appointments to Speed, but each time he declined, choosing rather to remain in Kentucky as an adviser to the President. This advice was paramount, as Lincoln would later state, “I think to lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to lose the whole game.” Historical Thinking Questions:
Differentiated Activity: Using Google Maps, determine the places that Abraham Lincoln could visit today if he were at the Farmington House off of Bardstown Rd. Then create a visitor's brochure that would provide him with the information that he would need while in town. Be creative and think like a historian! |
The Farmington Plantation was built by Joshua Speed's parents, John and Lucy, in 1816. The 550 acre hemp plantation was maintained by approximately 60-65 slaves during a time when the average Kentucky plantation only had 3-5 slaves.
Abrham Lincoln & Joshua Speed
The Farmington historical marker stands at the corner of Bardstown Rd. and Gardiner Lane in the heart of Louisville, KY.
Shortly after returning from his trip to Louisville, Lincoln wrote a letter to Joshua's sister, Mary Speed (pictured above). Within the letter, he described how slaves were chained together on their way to the South. He stated, "They were chained six and six together. A small iron clevis was around the left wrist of each, and this fastened to the main chain by a shorter one at a convenient distance from, the others; so that the negroes were strung together precisely like so many fish upon a trot-line."
You will learn more about this letter on the "Lincoln on Kentucky" DBQ page. A relative of the Speed family is still in possession of an authentic document with President Lincoln's signature on it.
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Stop #4: Mary Todd Lincoln's House
Lexington, KY
Mary Todd Lincoln House
Mary Todd Lincoln was born in Lexington, KY in 1818. She was the fourth child of seven to her parents, Robert and Eliza Parker. When Mary was seven, her mother passed away after giving birth. Soon thereafter, her father married Elizabeth Humphries from Frankfort, KY. Over time, their marriage added another nine children to the family. Her upbringing was one of privilege, as her father was very active in the political scene of Kentucky. Both of her grandfathers helped found the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and her father actively campaigned for political leaders like Henry Clay. In a time where very few women were able to receive very much of a formal education, Mary received nine years of schooling in math, science, and literature in addition to a continual interaction with local and national politics. In 1839, she moved to Springfield, IL to live with her sister, Elizabeth. Shortly after arriving, she met Lincoln, who upon meeting her stated that he wanted to “dance with her in the worst way.” Mary later told a friend that that is exactly what he did. After a broken engagement, which resulted in Lincoln visiting his friend Joshua Speed in Kentucky in 1841, Lincoln and Mary were married on November 4, 1842. Together the Lincoln’s had 4 children, Robert, Eddie, Willie, and Tad. Only Robert would live into his adulthood. The house that Mary grew up in would later become the first museum to honor a first lady. Although, the house was built in 1806 as inn, it was certainly put to good use by the Todd’s and their sixteen children. In addition to the family, the Todd’s owned an average of five slaves while living in the house, which provided Mary with a first hand understanding of the institution. Although her father owned slaves, he did support the idea of colonization, which would send slaves back to Africa. In addition to this opinion, Mary’s grandmother favored complete emancipation, while five of her brothers supported the institution of slavery and fought for the Confederacy - two of them dying in the Civil War. As one can see, the debates that Mary overheard, and might have participated in, certainly gave her the ability to impress upon her husband, the importance of the issue throughout his Presidency. After being elected to Congress, Lincoln visited the house for a period of three weeks in 1847, along with Mary, Robert, and Eddie on his way to Washington. He is noted to have been overjoyed at the Todd library, and spent most of his time on the second floor resting in front of a window while reading a book. Historical Thinking Questions:
Differentiated Activities: Lincoln once stated that Henry Clay was his “beau ideal of a statesmen.” Clay’s Ashland Estate is located approximately two miles from the Mary Todd Lincoln House. While we know that Clay often visited the Todd House, and that Mary visited the Clay Estate, it does not appear that Lincoln ever did so. Lincoln often quoted Clay in speeches and he actively campaigned for him for President. Choose one of the following activities:
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Lincoln met Mary shortly after she moved from Kentucky to Illinois in 1939. After breaking off their engagement and revisiting Kentucky, Lincoln and Mary were married on November 4, 1842.
Together, the Lincoln's had four sons, Robert, Eddie, Willie, and Tad. Robert was the only one to live until adulthood. Eddie died when he was 3, Willie when he was 11 and living in the White House, and Tad when he was 18 years old.
Very few letters remain between Abraham and Lincoln. The one above was written on April 16, 1848 from the White House to Mary while she was visiting family in Lexington, Ky. It gives us a look into the Lincoln's marriage, as well as the fatherhood of Lincoln. In many ways, it shows how much like you and I the Lincoln's were. The cared about one another, their home, their work, and their family. Watch the video below to see how Historian Matthew Pinsker interprets the letter.
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This virtual field trip, and its corresponding lesson plan, was created by David Reid in the summer of 2016 as partial fulfillment of the Understanding Lincoln course offered through the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.