Abraham Lincoln

Email to a friend with a personal message

Barbara J. Feldman

Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, led our nation through its greatest crisis, the Civil War. He helped end slavery and helped reunite our country.

Abraham Lincoln for Primary Children

4 stars

Every year Mrs. Payton's first grade class (from Loogootee, Indiana) visits Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood National Memorial. Join them for a virtual tour of Abe's childhood log cabin by visiting the Picture Gallery. Afterwards you'll be ready for the Quiz ("Where was Abe Lincoln born?") and Online Treasure Hunt ("What is the name of the church Abraham Lincoln attended in Springfield, Illinois?") Looking for Lincoln lesson plans for your class? Try the Classroom Activities.

Abraham Lincoln Online

5 stars

David Davis, an Illinois judge and close friend of the Lincoln family, said this about Honest Abe: "From the humblest poverty, without education, or the means of attaining it; unaided by wealth or influential family connections, he rose, solely, by the strength of his intellect and the force of his character, to the highest position in the world." This five-star site is a compendium of Lincoln letters, speeches, virtual tours, news items, art gallery and links to hundreds of Lincoln resources.

Ford's Theater National Historic Site

5 stars

"On the night of April 14, 1865 John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln who had been attending a play at Ford's Theater. The President was carried to a small bedroom in the back of the Petersen House, a boarding house across the street from the theater, where he died in the early morning hours." In addition to the story of Lincoln's assassination, this National Park Service site is filled with unexpected treasures, such as a word search, a photo gallery and a ranger presentation. Do not miss the other NPS Lincoln sites, especially the Lincoln Birthplace, Lincoln Home and Lincoln Memorial.

Gettysburg Address

5 stars

In 1863, David Wills, a Pennsylvania judge, was given the task of "cleaning up the horrible aftermath of the [Civil War] battle" at Gettysburg. Wills acquired seventeen acres for a national cemetery and three weeks before its dedication, invited President Lincoln to "formally set apart these grounds to their sacred use by a few appropriate remarks." Lincoln's brief remarks at the cemetery on November 19, 1863 became one of the most memorable presidential speeches ever given. Can you recite it? "Four score and seven years ago . . ."

History Place Presents Lincoln

4 stars

This single page illustrated time line of Lincoln's life begins in 1637 when Lincoln's ancestors arrived from England to settle in Hingham, Massachusetts. Easy to read, it is peppered with personal tidbits such as "1817 - In February, Abraham, age seven, shoots a wild turkey but suffers great remorse and never hunts game again," and "1841 - January 1, breaks off engagement with Mary Todd. Has episode of depression."