President Lincoln's Cottage

After Thanksgiving, I took my wife, mother, and brother to this amazing historical place. What made the whole experience truly wonderful was the tour guide, Rachelle, and the way in which the Cottage is preserved. As a high school teacher and tour guide myself, I truly appreciated the human dynamic that Rachelle had to offer to our tour. She showcased the complexity of Lincoln’s presidency and the way in which the Cottage impacted the Lincoln families life. She kept the theme of family alive and well. Rachelle was able to cater to the whole group with ages raging from children to older adults. It was amazing!

I HIGHLY recommend going here! The cottage is stunning and our tour guide was very well spoken and knowledgeable! You can almost feel the energy from all the history that happened inside this place. My favorite rooms were the study and upstairs room that he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation in! Our tour group was only about 6 people which made it very easy ask questions. If you are a Lincoln fan I highly recommend not missing out on this tour while you are in DC! Not a place to bring little kids, there is times you’ll be sitting in rooms for 10-15 minutes at a time listening to the guide which most little kids are not very good at😂

The big picture: this place is well-meaning, yet underwhelming compared to the other historical sites in the Washington, DC region. Pros: the staff members are very nice and accommodating. I recommend the cottage tour because of our knowledgeable tour guide who taught me things I did not know about President Lincoln and his family. Cons: I do not recommend outdoor walking tour with the mobile app audio narration. You have to keep the app open on your device for the audio to work, and the narration sounds robotic. The location was also somewhat inconvenient for people taking Metrorail/bus. If you go: take advantage of their family-friendly homecoming day in September, which offers free admission.

A very unique DC experience where you explore Lincoln's legacy, his decision making and a bit of his history. The tour invites you to comment and connect with the choices Lincoln made and see if you agree or disagree with his thinking. You can't take pictures inside, but the outside grounds are beautiful and there's a great building with a more in-depth exhibits as well and a great gift shop. Would highly recommend, especially if you're looking for something off the beaten path in DC.

Our Guided tour with Francisco was FANTASTIC. We learned so much and the site is beautifully maintained. I was very impressed with the technology and interactiveness of the tour- It really made things come alive! Thank you.

President Lincoln's Cottage is one of the 'newer' (opening in 2008) and much lesser-known things to do in Washington DC, but I would definitely recommend it. Our tour guide was fantastic and provided a real insight into the lives of the Lincoln Family, both while staying at the Cottage and The White House. Being able to learn this information while standing and sitting inside the Cottage that Lincoln called home for three summers was a real privilege and added to the stories being told, given that you could see exactly what he would have seen within the house. The Cottage is on the outskirts of DC, but it was a quick and inexpensive Uber journey in both directions, both of which were able to collect/drop us right at the gates to the property. The Cottage is one of the few paid-for experiences in DC, but this is because they are not federally funded. The ticket fees also seem resonable for the experience and the conservation work that is needed to keep this piece of history alive.

The property, of course, was great, but our tour guide was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. (I don't think she needs to try to learn everyone's name; it was a distraction.) Great visit.

Nice and friendly staff! The tour was great! I learned many things. Ashley was amazing, she explained us very well.

Right away: the people who complain about no furniture in the cottage . . . you have no imagination and lack vision. I've done almost all the history/nerdy stuff in DC. This is one of my favorites so far. First, I like the fact that there is little furniture in the cottage. For one, The Lincolns didn't furnish the cottage separately; they brought the furniture from the Whitehouse every trip. So the foundation has no idea of knowing how the cottage was set up, even if they wanted to buy reproductions (and really, why are we impressed with reproductions?) Secondly . . . the fact that they cottage is mostly empty, you really get to envision Lincoln, the man . . . you can form a picture in your head of what happened here, who he was . . . ESPECIALLY with the help of the knowledgable, passionate guides. This is not a 20 or 30 minute tour. You're going to be here at least an hour. Our tour was a little over an hour. Our guide, Haley, was enthusiastic and painted Lincoln clearly for us. She relayed multiple anecdotes and examples of how Lincoln was a man of the earth, a man of the people. A man who liked to tell stories and jokes. I was the only American from the US on our tour, and Haley related to everyone. Involved everyone. Challenged everyone to think about the various stories and scenarios she presented. And the house is GORGEOUS. I wish I could live there! I loved my visit. When I headed to the gift shop, the staff there were awesome too! (I wish I had gotten her name, but she had the coolest outfit on--a chunky sweater, a kerchief on her head, a Harriet Tubman tee-shirt, and colorful pants). Aside from her rad style, she was so enthusiastic and engaged with me and another group about area history. This isn't flashy. If you need bells and whistles, this isn't for you. If you really love history and those who have enthusiasm for it . . . this IS for you Again, one of my favorite things so far . . . if not the favorite thing.

I spent my afternoon at President Lincoln's Cottage for their annual Homecoming and a tour of the cottage. The Homecoming was such a lovely family event. There were crafts, entertainment, farm animals, pony rides, food trucks and more. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the activities. Plus, the tour was very informative. This was first time visiting the cottage, and I recommend it!

DC has so many extraordinary free museums, so I'm always skeptical of a museum that charges a fee. Lincoln's Cottage, located not too far from the Georgia Ave/Petworth Metro stop, definitely does not match the value of a free DC museum, even while charging a fee. Lincoln's Cottage is located in a compound that includes a veterans' home, a charter school, and a couple residences. Visitors are limited to very few areas, although there is little to no signage telling you where you can and can't go. One of the most important boundaries had a sign that was knocked over and upside-down. Not too helpful! Our experience began negatively with a less than kind check-in with a security guard at the gate. While the staff inside the museum were friendly, the tour of the Lincoln Cottage was lackluster. There was very little furniture, not much to share, and a bizarre béninois art exhibit that added little to no value for the experience. The exhibit included some weird revisionist stuff about January 6th, I'll leave it at that... The one place where this museum excelled was the child loss exhibit in the main visitor center. It was extremely powerful and well done. Child loss is a devastating reality that too many face, and this museum really brought depth and warmth into such a sad area. Overall, this museum felt like it was almost designed to keep visitors away. I wouldn't recommend this museum, especially in a city as culturally rich as DC.

This should have been a great visit and just the kind of thing up my alley. Tickets were required in advanced and were on a timed basis. When the tour started, our guide was in torn jeans and a skeleton t-shirt, which felt way too casual. She obviously was a tour guide for field trips with small children. First, we went to a room and wrote on a white board a time we were brave. Then she explained to us what slavery was. To a group of mostly adults. The house itself was either not decorated or very sparse. When asked, she said no photographs of the interior when Lincoln was there existed. That doesn't mean you can't furnish the space with period-appropriate furniture. There were some multimedia parts which was nice to hear, but the tour guide had a set speech, couldn't/wouldn't take questions, and you really start to feel the boredom when someone has a memorized script designed for children in an empty room with nothing to look at. I love touring historical spaces, and this was the first one I truly felt bored because there was nothing to engage with. There was an exhibit on Lincoln at the visitor center which was nice to look through. I wish there was more information on the space itself or other presidents who used this as a home away from home (before Camp David was a thing). But it was less about the cottage and how it was used over time and more just about Lincoln's bravery and I think it could have had both elements in it. If this place was free/cheap I wouldn't have minded, but $15 a person is more on the pricey side when there's so many great things to see in DC. The gift shop was nice though. I don't think this place was worth the visit.

Paul was such a great tour guide. He was very knowledgeable, energetic and knew his history! The mansion is located outside DC and on the site of a military retirement home. Beautiful grounds, nice gift shop, great artifacts, overall a great visit.

One of the more beautiful spots in DC. I did the audio landscape tour and docent led guided tour-both were superb! The audio landscape tour was both informative and meditative at the same time. The docent led tour lasted about an hour and gave unique insight into Abraham Lincoln's character. The staff were friendly and helpful. I highly recommend coming here.

Part of this may be my fault, part of it may not be my fault. In the end, we showed up not realizing we had to be part of the tour. We showed up, we were greeted by security and told they had a large school group coming in. To me, that meant nothing, so we hurried inside, went to the registration area, and we were told that we couldn't go inside of the Cottage because school tour was starting in 15-minutes. I asked about doing a self-guided tour, as I would have been out of there and I was told that was not offered, but I could look at a few of the rooms within the Visitor Center. Overall, the grounds are nice, I think communication is horrible. If you are going make sure you can actually be part of a tour before you waste the time going there.

As with many tourist attractions, the tour guide is what makes a visit to a historical place great. This is no exception. The cottage was Lincoln's 'summer White House'; a place away from the city (at least back then) that offered a little more peace than the city could give him. Not a lot of furnishings are original, but period-era duplicates are used in lieu of the original. The tour is 60 minutes and it mixes in both the history of the house and the decisions that Lincoln made while living in it. The tour guide was agile enough to answer the many questions we peppered him with, so we covered a lot of ground. My favorite story was the Colonel who - after being denied every person in his chain of command - visited Lincoln to request he be given permission to visit Virginia to retrieve the body of his deceased wife. Lincoln initially denied this request as well, only to rethink it and give him permission the next day (after first conferring with his Secretary of War). It was just a quick story, but a good glimpse at Abe's deep humanity. This is NOT a National Park Service (NPS) location, but totally should because the quality is the same. $15 well spent.

This tour was amazing and full of so much information regarding Abraham Lincoln and his legacy. Our tour guides were so knowledgeable about the history of the cottage and we were so delighted to know that it was also wheelchair accessible for those who needed a mobility option. I would recommend coming to visit the cottage and to explore the era of history that once housed one of our most memorable former Presidents.

I went to an event being sponsored on the grounds of Lincoln's Cottage. I had no idea this hidden gem even existed. While I did not have a chance to tour the cottage itself, I look forward to going back one day to take in the full experience. Now to be clear, Lincoln is a complicated man who is no great liberator (as he is falsely portrayed) and who is not one I admire in any meaningful way. But I look forward to unpacking his complicated legacy on a future visit.

President Lincoln's Cottage is an off-the-beaten-path museum in Northwest Washington, D.C. near Petworth. It's on the campus of the Armed Forces Retirement Home so you'll need to purchase a ticket beforehand to get through security. During COVID-19, they offer daily outdoor safe distance tours of the grounds for $13.50 per adult ticket starting at 10AM. The tour itself lasts between 35-45 minutes and it takes you to the actual cottage used by four presidents and the original building of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. The tour guides are engaging and Johnny even made it interesting for my toddler daughter (she got in for free). Once the pandemic ends, the indoor museum will reopen.

President Lincoln's Cottage is a beautiful historic site, a must see! You can feel the soul of Lincoln in this home, its like going back in time and walking in the very private place where Mr.Lincoln often spend some of his most wonderful and difficult times in his life. Beautiful place!

My family and I were excited to go to Lincoln's Cottage. Why the 3 star review? If we hadn't read Ian M.'s review we would not have any information going in on throughout the tour. The guide just wasn't that good. The kids, ages 9-16, who are civil war and president followers said "what was with that guide? It felt like a zoom class". I had to agree. Especially when she sat down cross legged and asked if we thought America was a good place to live. That said we made the best of it and used the web on our way home to get more information. Here's another funny...the kids wanted to buy Lincoln t-shirts at the gift shop. The sales person said more sizes were probably downstairs but hard to get too. Lincoln's Cottage is a great resource in DC's backyard. Probably because of Covid, it is hard to get tour guides and sales people. That said, I won't be taking anyone else there.

This little gem is somewhat off the beaten path as far as visitor attractions in the DC area, but I would recommend taking the time to go see it. President Lincoln lived there for much of three summers to get away from the hustle and bustle of the White House. He didn't use it as a retreat from the presidency, but did his work there. He also used it as an opportunity to interact with soldiers fighting in the Civil War. You need to purchase tickets for specific times in order to get a tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and the tour consisted of some little videos and sound bites as we went through the various rooms of the cottage. It is located on some beautiful grounds.

Imagine sitting at your desk, looking south and seeing your former country man who was in open rebellion against the Union in order to protect slavery. That was Lincoln's view as he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. Opened to the public in 2008, President Lincoln's Cottage is located on the Armed Forces Retirement Home and is a gem to our country's heritage. Lincoln spent a quarter of his presidency at the cottage, commuting daily and in the summers; it was the nineteenth century Camp David. The house was built in 1842 for the founder of Riggs Bank. He sold it in 1851 as a home to disabled and retired veterans, mostly from the Mexican American War. The government built the Soldier's Asylum, soon to be Old Soldier's Home. In 1861 after his inauguration, Lincoln visited the Cottage and was enamored with it. It was here in 1862 that he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. Every day Lincoln could stand on the South facing porch or sit in his second floor window and look at Virginia, visible from the property. Every day he looked at his enemy and knew that if the Union failed the United States would end at that horizon; Manifest Destiny be dammed. With that constant reminder, he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1863 he wrote portions of the Gettysburg address after the Confederacy marched to the west of the property. Lincoln was escorted by about 40 soldiers on horseback when he went to and from the Executive Mansion, about three miles south of the Cottage. At the time DC was really a swamp and the main water source of the White House was the Potomac, which was used by a latrine by the US Army; giving rise to bouts of typhoid. In one of those outbreaks the Lincolns lost a son. The cottage was on higher ground giving it plenty of breeze in the Summer. On April 13, 1865, Lincoln visited the Cottage for the last time. The next day John Wilkes Booth assassinated one of our greatest presidents in cold blood. The Cottage was used by President Arthur and Hayes. After that it was used as an infirmary until in 2000 President Clinton declared the Cottage a National Monument. After you pass the gate the parking is on the left and free. You check into the main visitor center where there is a small exhibit about Lincoln, a Gift Shop and bathrooms. The Cottage is across the road.

I didn't even know this place existed until I was on Groupon looking to strike a deal on 'things to do' in the DC area. My husband and I frequent DC quite a bit and scored a Groupon for admission for 2 for $15, which is half off the general price. Yesterday morning we got up bright and early and made our way to DC; had breakfast and headed over to the cottage. Pulling in, you are stopped at the gate by security, who will take down your plate number and request your photo ID. We were sent over to "lot 2"; there are no parking fees and the place wasn't busy at all. There were several small youngsters on a field trip on the grounds, which by the way are impeccable; very well kept and serene. We couldn't have picked a lovelier day to visit. The weather wasn't too humid; it was just perfect out. We went over to the Visitor's Center as instructed. They are handicap accessible for anyone with a disability. We turned in our groupon and were given a laminated 'ticket' for entry, which they collect at the end of the tour. The next tour was offered at noon, so we had about 45 minutes to spare. We were told that we could view some of the videos and facts in the Visitors Center, stroll the grounds (although there is a map that identifies that areas that you are not permitted in) or we could sit in the waiting area across from the gift shop. We chose to look through the visitors center. Photography is NOT permitted anywhere inside ANY of the buildings on the grounds (including the visitors center). However, I do see that some people chose not to respect the rules, based on some of the photos submitted on Yelp. Although I love to capture all the museums that I visit, I respected the rules and only captured pictures outside, as permitted. Honestly, there isn't much to photograph anyway. I don't understand their reasoning behind the no photography rule. There is nearly nothing dated back of President Lincoln's in the Visitors Center with the exception of his slippers. Everything else is just posters (not original) and a small sculpture or two; again nothing original. In the cottage, expect nothing. As in, the cottage is completely empty and hollow for the most part. It's just the shell of a house, with no furnishings. So what to expect on the tour? You meet in the entryway of the visitors center at the time of your tour. A tour guide will quickly go over the rules with you. You are taken into a back room of the visitors center and asked if you've been there before, a brief summary of what to expect and then taken over to the cottage. Although the cottage has been housed by others, since President Lincoln lived there, 90% of the house is original. People on my tour were leaning on the walls in some of the rooms, which I found disrespectful. Seriously, please remember that this breaks down the fibers of the house, and we should try to preserve this part of history. You are taken into empty rooms and your tour guide will mostly talk about the Emancipation Proclamation. In one room, you will see a brief film on a flat screen TV and in another on a projector. Although it's true that there is really nothing to see in the house (it would be nice if they would furnish it in Lincoln's era furnishings), it was still nostalgic standing in the same rooms that he and his family once stood. My husband and I learned a lot from our tour guide Blake, who was an enthusiastic young man, who seemed quite knowledgeable about the tour. However, if you dare gear off and ask him anything about the President unrelated to what he has learned, and prepared to talk about, you will surely stump him. At the end of the tour, which lasts an hour, you will be taken into the basement in the 'staff quarters', and asked for donation money. This part is completely uncalled for! We all paid an entry fee to visit and it is awkward and unnecessary to ask for more. Blake did state that this was the least favorite part of the tour for him. There is no restaurant on the grounds, but the visitors center does sell bottled water, sodas and candy bars. They have some books, magnets, key chains...typical museum gift shop stuff for sale, but nothing over the top. Despite the empty rooms and the long drawn out speech focused on solely the Emancipation Proclamation primarily, my husband and I still very much enjoyed this tour and still recommend it. Just don't come in expecting much. It's as basic as you're going to get, and I highly recommend looking for a bargain on Groupon.

No photos allowed. And you know, there isn't much to photograph either. You really need imagination on this one. The cottage is better described as a story-telling visit about the Emancipation Proclamation and Abe's life in DC. You start with a video and then you tour around several empty rooms doing a lot of listening to audio speakers and imagining Abe walk around. It's cool that the cottage is like 'sacred' ground where deep thoughts were pondered. Listening to all the anecdotes about Lincoln and his family brings everything to life. Still, I found the visit a bit lacking. The simplicity here is underscored and they do a good job briefing you in advance that this is not going to be some opulent tour. No furniture. Just empty space. And stories. That's good and all but....I'm giving it 3 stars. I just depends what you really want to see on your trip to DC. I feel like high school students doing Lincoln research would benefit from this. But little kiddos will barely make it through. Since it's a distance away plan to give up almost a half-day. I'm a history buff and yet I still left a little bored.

Beautiful quaint cottage! I didn't tour the cottage and just went inside the visitor's center. I wasn't aware that tours are offered until reading fellow Yelp reviews, apparently its costs $15 and best to call ahead. If you are a history buff and don't mind reading the boards, I think you are fine and don't need a tour (the cottage is mostly empty). There's a lot of really fascinating history behind Lincoln's Cottage, I didn't realize he was there the day before he got assassinated and lived there during the summers and a quarter of his time during presidency. He also had 4 wonderful sons. I also learned about Lincoln's achievements against slavery with the Proclamation Emancipation leading to the 13th Amendment and implications with heavy crowding and shanty homes in DC. I also learned about the proliferation of immigrants during the Golden Rush and their contribution during the civil war, and the 1965 Immigration act revoking quotas on immigration. The transformative legacy that Lincoln left has shaped our nation to greater diversity. The beautiful cottage and rich history is worth a visit! Parking is easy inside the Armed Forces Retirement community.

A very nice place for history buffs and Lincoln fans. They have a very nice facility. As mentioned elsewhere, this isn't a property that attempts to recreate the era through furniture and the inclusion of other artifacts. (So they can rent out the place to high end dinner gatherings). The emphasis is on the property and the events that occurred at the site, and its importance to the Civil War and Lincoln's presidency. If you are one to get tingles walking the same steps as Mr. Lincoln, then you are sure to find this tour and property fascinating. Tickets MUST be purchased in advance, and can be purchased online. I purchased mine a couple of hours before the tour. But, you must have tickets, otherwise you will not be permitted onto the grounds. This is a government compound, and therefore has restrictions. You will also need your ID. Always carry it with you in the District. Tour was nice, however I do take slight issue with some of the information provided. Tour guide intimated that somehow Lincoln's actions issuing the Emancipation Proclamation revised, or overrode the Constitution. Not the case at all, and I don't care to deliver a point by point argument here, other than to direct readers to the book "One Man Great Enough," by Stephen Waugh. Then, please read "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter." ;) After your tour, you may want to visit nearby Ft. Stevens, one of the Civil War battlements for the city defenses. Just a couple miles away. I might also recommend the restaurants Domku, Moroni & Bros., or Fusion for some local cuisine.

Johnny was a great tour guide today! Very knowledgeable and entertaining with the perfect amount of historical and anecdotal information about President Lincoln and his life not only at the cottage, but leading up to it, and his role as the brilliant, strategic mastermind behind the Union forces during the Civil War.

Did the tour and the tour guide did a great job. He was very well spoken and knowledgeable.

Lincoln's cottage is great for the DC tourist who has already seen it all. It's placed on a lovely federal lot in Petworth, with a free parking lot. Tours, however, are $15, which seems high in a city where most tourist attractions are free. Before the tour you can walk around the grounds, which are quite relaxing. There's also a small museum inside the visitor's center. During our tour, we learned a lot about President Lincoln's history. The exhibit is intended to get you to think more philosophically about issues. The tour guide will ask lots of "why do you think he did this?" or "what is the meaning of liberty?" type questions. There are screens and speakers in almost every room, so, there's a lot of interactive parts to the tour. The house is not really decorated, so there isn't much "this couch is from 1802," or "Lincoln sat here every morning to do this." I tend to like that, so I was a bit disappointed. But, I still thought it was an interesting tour, that will appeal to a lot of people. At the end, they do make an awkward pitch to ask for money. But, they need to survive, so I don't blame them.

A hidden gem that is a must-visit for any locals or tourists looking for something out of the ordinary. It is a tiny bit off the beaten path about a mile East of the Georgia Ave center of Petworth, in the shadow of the Soldier's Home. But it is a great little visit. We stopped in as part of the 2018 bday weekend spectacular. We needed to buy $15 advance tickets for a tour that lasted about one hour. I appreciated that the tour did not focus on things like the furniture and how the place has been preserved (and it has been preserved shockingly well for a cottage more than 150 years old). Instead, the guide discussed the ideas behind some of Lincoln's major acts, especially the Emancipation Proclamation. There was a brief discussion about whether the American Dream is more achievable today than in Lincoln's time, and we even started by having everyone write down one idea for how everyone can make the world a better place. You get to walk all over the cottage, visiting rooms upstairs and down, and you get to hear some great stories about Lincoln's time here. Apparently he often took a short carriage ride out here to get away from the bustle and distraction of the White House and worked on some of his major acts here. One story included a foreign man coming to the US and insisting on having a chat with Lincoln, so he came here and was welcomed right in, where Lincoln greeted him in his pajamas. Crazy how times have changed. The grounds are very nice, too, picturesque, and there is a statue of Lincoln with a horse that offers a nice photo op to show off to your friends and family. Don't miss it.

Loved the location there's parking and the tour is priced reasonably. You can find a great deal Groupon for adults. It's a charming place to visit.

Can't say too much because we didn't get to see the inside, but the outside is cute. We are not familiar with the plants and trees around this area but whatever is planted around the house smells really bad. Not sure if it's an all year thing or just in December. The exhibits inside the visitor center had some great stuff too. We enjoyed it. Maybe we'll try to come back to tour the inside. If you want a tour, don't come an hour before closing like we did because the last tour had already started.

For $15 you get a view of Lincoln's cottage. He spent a good amount of time here during his presidency and we got a very extensive overview of how his life was during his time here. The Lincoln cottage is located three miles north of the White House. Everyday Lincolnwood take the 30-minute carriage ride to and from the White House where he did his presidential duties and would come back to the cottage for refuge in the evening time where he slept. Unfortunately this cottage does not have federal funding and is fully held up by private donations. It's located on the grounds Armed Forces Retirement Home which is on federal property. You are not able to wander the grounds without a guide and only within the specified areas of the tour. You're required to park on the street outside of the gate before entering the property. You must provide an ID and your ticket to validate your tour visit before making it to the visitor center where you check in with the tour guide. Tickets must be purchased in advanced. As far as the cottage goes itself; you don't find any rooms with furnishings in it during the Lincoln period. This is mainly due to its ever-changing usage over the years since Lincoln's presidency. What they do offer is an interactive exhibition with both PowerPoint and speakers and talks from the tour guide. They will ask you questions to see what you know of the Lincoln Administration and during anything during the time. Photos are not allowed to be taken while on the tour of inside the cottage, however, they can be taken inside the visitors center and outside only. What does it this was a firm investment? Absolutely! If you are a history lover and you want to see a different side of Lincoln's life - you can find it here.

Yelp led me so astray on this site visit, and I cannot believe there are so many excellent reviews. I live two miles away from the cottage, but it's not convenient to get to on public transportation so I kept putting off a visit. In January, my friend and I grabbed a $15 for 2 people Groupon to visit. We took a Saturday tour at noon, and within 5 minutes we knew we made a terrible choice in coming here. Our tour guide opened with an "ice-breaker activity" so we could get to know other people on the tour. We were required to write down an inspirational moment in our lives on a dry erase board, and then discuss them as a group. I have NO idea why, but I learned nothing about President Lincoln from this. We then made our way to the cottage. There really isn't much to see in the cottage, as there is no furniture or decorations. You enter a room, the tour guide tells you what the room is, and then you stare at a TV that talks about random aspects of Emancipation in no particular order. Our tour guide then would misquote random facts about US history that left most people confused. Compared to the equivalent National Parks sights, this cottage was not what we hoped for at all. Despite being told that no pictures were allowed inside the cottage, most people on the tour seemed to be taking a lot of pictures. Maybe it depends on your tour guide, but we would not come back.

There are two things that you have to be open for when you visit the museum: 1. You need a guide (Recommend calling ahead and asking for Taylor) and $15 is worth it. 2. You need to have low expectations. The Lincoln's Summer White House is an emptish building from 1840's and not particularly amazing, but you do not go there for the architecture (although nearby Soldier's Home is gorgeous). You go there for the stories, hence No 1 comes handy. The video in the visitor's center is a good start but it is not even a top of the iceberg. The stories about humanity of this 6-4' man with the face of the one resembling the worn out soldier face are abundant. The museum is about the Civil War and about personal struggles that honest Abe had to overcome. Can you imagine a president, seeing from his window a score of dead soldiers being buried in the cemetery across the street every day, and can you imagine an impact of those scenes when he was writing the Gettysburg Address? I wished I could have meet him and shake his hand and say, "Congratulating on being a man!" If you decide to follow two tips I mentioned, you may have an inspiring time in the President Lincoln's Cottage. I did.

Off the beaten path and chock full of history. This tour differs from other local hotspots by offering you ideas rather than presenting you with furnishings and period decor often seen with other government-funded projects. Lincoln's summer cottage sits on the Armed Forces Retirement Home campus. While the retirement community is government owned, the Lincoln cottage is privately funded. The grounds are well manicured and was quite peaceful. According to our tour director, Lincoln and his family often retreated here to beat the summer heat, mourn the loss of loved ones in private or to hold private meetings with his staff. I've been a local resident since birth and NEVER knew this place existed. Special thanks to Groupon for expanding my horizons! My tour began on a stormy day with the roar of thunder rumbling in the distance. Eerily, it was as if the roar of cannons were nearby and the civil war was now front and center. Nature provided it's own soundtrack and gave the tour a realistic, dramatic overtone. At first glance, I had mistakenly assumed that our tour guide was an urban hipster that took over the last tour of the day...for the heck of it. I WAS SO WRONG! This guy was amazing and simply one of the best historians I've come across in a long time. He brought Lincoln's story to life and gave me a better picture of Lincoln and his family. He gave this historical icon a humanity that I've never known. Check this place out with a good map in tow. Our group got lost, but according to the tour guide- Lincoln's guests suffered the same fate. Glad we could hold up the tradition.

I found this on Groupon and took the kids for a little historical adventure. It was a little hard to find as I didn't realize it was inside the Armed Forces property. The waiting area had lots of information. This was the first place I've visited where the docent took our group to a room for us to get to know each other and have an interesting conversation prior to the visit. The actual cottage is a little sparse, but the docent did a great job putting everything into context. You could imagine you were in the cottage of President Lincoln. Good historical perspective.

I am a local and have been wanting to visit Lincoln's Cottage since it opened and I finally had an opportunity to go today. I'm not sure it's worth the full price admission. If you can go on a Groupon or special reduced rate coupon deal, it is probably worth it. Definitely buy your tickets early as tour times sell on on weekends and holidays. We went on Labor Day and most of the tours were sold out when we went to buy our tickets online that morning. Getting there: We took Metrorail. We walked from the subway station (about 5 blocks to the gate/guard station). At the gate, there is a shuttle that will take you up the hill to the house. The shuttle runs about every 15 minutes. Since you have timed tickets, factor in extra time to wait for the shuttle. While the walk to the cottage from the entrance gate is all up hill, it is not far, probably about as far as from the metro to the gate. They do have parking, it is behind the visitors center. It might be worth it to park if this is the only attraction you are going to see that day. You check in in the Visitors Center Gift Shop. There they give you your tour pass and you wait in the lobby for your tour guide. You can shop before or after the tour. After the tour you get a bookmark from the Gift Shop, so make sure to stop back there on your way out. You are not allowed to take pictures inside the cottage, but you can take pictures of the building and some cannons and statues they have outside. The Tour: The cottage is not air conditioned. They do have ventilation, but it's very hot inside on a hot and humid day. I highly recommend going on a cool day during the cooler months. The tour lasts a little over an hour, there isn't as much walking as there is standing in each room to hear the presentation. The tour starts in the Visitors Center lobby. Then you view an 8 minute film. There is limited seating for the film if your tour time is sold out. Many stood for the entire film. After the film, you walk over to the house. The house is unfurnished. The tour focuses on stories about Lincoln related to the cottage. People who visited him there, what his day was like there. There are a few rooms where you can sit, again seating is limited. At the end of the tour you exit outside the cottage where you can take pictures or go back down to the gate to the metro. The cottage does have an elevator/wheel chair access if you can't take the stairs. The gift shop has bottled water, cold drinks and hot tea/coffee (Keurig) for sale. There are bathrooms in both the Visitors Center as well as a bathroom at the very end of the tour as you exit the Cottage. Our tour guide was excellent, I just don't think you get the bang for your buck with this tour. If you are interested in Lincoln, this tour gives a different side of him, the "person" or "human side" as they say on the tour, different from the Ford's Theater Tour (which focuses more on his death) and the Lincoln Memorial Tour (which focuses more on his speeches).

I had an absolutely wonderful time on this tour. I have wanted recently to explore more of the historic houses in DC. This is different then the usual DC tourist trail. Our guide's name was Kevin and he was wonderful! It may be that meshing with the guide's personality makes or breaks the trip (from reading other reviews). Kevin was funny, filled with many great historical stories and kept everyone in our group engaged. I really liked the stories he told about some of his previous tours and about the first time that he visited Lincoln's cottage. I really liked that the house wasn't filled with stuff and mostly empty, it allowed me to imagine what it may have looked like at the time. I really liked the way that they incorporated actors reading primary sources so that we could experience them together as a group. This was a very different experience. Yes it is a little bit of a pain to get to, yes there are many fantastic tourist experiences you can have for free but this was a fantastic experience to learn a little bit about Washington, DC.

I absolutely loved exploring the cottage! First of all, they have a parking lot which is pretty rare in the D.C. area. Second, our tour guide was phenomenal and I loved that you can actually get in the cottage to explore. I do wish they would give you ten minutes to just go back to whatever room of the cottage you wanted to visit again. Overall, it was a phenomenal experience. I'll definitely be going back when my other friends visit in May.

Discovered this opportunity on Groupon otherwise I'm not sure I would have known about it despite being two miles from my home and driving past it. Said to be federally unfunded so they charge for tickets at $15 each, $12 for military which I found a little disturbing despite being situated with the Armed Forces Retirement Home. I was able to get a cheaper deal on Groupon than using my military ID. I took my three kids while on holiday break and had no issue making a reservation for the four of us. It's a short walking tour of the grounds and cottage with audio and video descriptions throughout to highlight the guided tour and put yourself in Lincoln's shoes. I questioned how much was authentic given electrical outlets, lighting, furniture, carpet, etc throughout. I was told 90% is authentic despite it looking fairly modern. They have a 4x4 potion of the wood floor exposed to show the original hardwood floor now covered by another hardwood floor. The guide encouraged people to touch the stairwell banister that Lincoln used to touch. I think the words are the highlight though that I wanted the kids to take away from the tour. They didn't complain and seemed to soak in the knowledge so it's a win. The entry is through a secure gated area manned by guards that will verify access and direct you to the parking lot with plenty of available parking.

We are locals and toured yesterday with Groupon. The property is enchanting and lovely. Carl, at the gate ROCKS!! The tour started out well enough. The audio visuals were a nice touch and the few actual historic images were wonderful to see. A rare site in our area and a real MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR guests and a MISS from a Marketing perspective as well. The cottage architecture and history were invisible against the obvious redundant slant and talk within each SPARSELY FURNISHED room on emancipation. Very sophomoric presentation. The probabing questions from the guide to draw a relationship to enslavement to current day immigration political feelings, was tough to endure. Further, the questions of how we can all feel the hopelessness in our current day of not being able to rise up and become successful beyond our beginnings was REALLY OFF PUTTING. I voiced disagreement over such a hopeless negative tone. Every person, has the opportunity to rise to full potential..that, by the way, IS NOT WHY WE WERE HERE. My friend and I are involved with several Historic Foundations in our area. Excited to hear about the property site, Mr. Riggs, the Georgetown native and historic figure himself, who actually built the place; after which the Lincoln's, who found summer refuge there during the Civil war. Sparse information on daily life around the campus. Minimal information on the ACTUAL rooms we visited downstairs and ZERO information on rooms upstairs and kitchen. Kitchen area is now a sales tool area for educational programs on human trafficking and enslaved peoples programs. The passionate guide, decidedly speaking from a pronounced political perspective, was limited in range outside HER program. Questions were difficult, as in, what room are we in now and why are there no "Lincolnesque" furnishings. The White House Storage and Smithsonian, house many Lincoln family artifacts. The place is as barren as if Sherman came thru. The cottage is rented out as a special event venue, I later learned, which explains the lack of furnishings. But even that, is not orally addressed. Their site explains we can walk the grounds and have something to eat at the concession area within the gift shop. SO, prior to arrival, we decided to eat lunch there. Concession area is tea-coffee-can soda and snack bars. The gift shop had a good assortment of books and gifts, with the exception of anything about the cottage except a few postcards. No historical references or picture books, receipe books of the day or history of the property or the soldiers hosiptal. NOTHING IN relationship to Rock Creek Park or, the IMPORTANCE AND RELEVANCE of the National Cemetery, which we learned AFTER THE FACT, was within walking distance. Additionally, NO MENTION AT ALL of OTHER KNOWN Presidents who enjoyed time with family and friends in this significant site. Absolutely NOTHING on the soldiers who were there at the hospital or the operation of the hospital then or now. Additional passes are required to stroll the property. The original Hospital for soldiers has ZERO to offer for sightseeing or information. Such a fabulous place in time. Such a wasted opportunity to show and tell a BIGGER story than the narrow political view of tour guide and the myopic focus on emancipation. I spent time after the visit researching real history about the charming venue. I wanted more and was disappointed in my purchase.

Probably ok for first graders. I was in a tour of adults. I was embarrassed for us and the tour guide. She had many drawn out childish anecdotes that she recited as we all sweated and waited to go to the next room. I love history but people like this tour guide would make me hate it. I desperately wanted to sneak out.

We did this hour long tour of President Lincolns home and received a lot of knowledge while walking over the same steps the President did 150 years ago. Our tour guide Ashlee, did a phenomenal job. Keep her on staff, she's wonderful.

Took this tour with a group once. Then purchased Groupon to take my husband. No diversity among the docents/volunteers. On a sleepy Sunday afternoon, I wanted to treat my husband who is an officer, vet and history buff. Even with a ticket, if you don't call prior for a reservation (even on a sleepy day), especially once you show a Groupon, no attempt is made to accommodate the only two people of color in the whole area. I explained the circumstances and asked to be allowed to tour. Nope. So we drove here to this obscure site to be turned around -- while a mono color tour group by mono color docents prepared to tour a house my ancestors probably built. And I left with my Groupon, never to return. Yeah. So that happened.

I went to Lincoln's Cottage last month during their self-guided January experience ("A Good Deed in a Wear World" Tour Experience) where admission was $5 ($6 with the $1 online fee). They had some museum staff who were in the cottage and available to answer questions. The staff was very knowledgeable and willing to answer our many questions; however, it was during this time that I realized I would have gotten much more out of a guided tour because the cottage doesn't have a lot of signs/information in it because it is typically visited via a guided tour. For the January self-guided experience, you received a small battery-powered tea light candle and there were various quotes/thought prompts as you walked through the darkened cottage, such as "What thoughts or challenges are you bringing into 2019?" There was a station toward the end where you could write a message about what good deed you are planning to do in 2019 to wrap around your candle and then place it in a room with candles from other visitors. It was a very reflective visit and the room with all of the candles visually looked nice, but in terms of learning more about Lincoln's Cottage, I didn't really get much out of the self-guided experience. I get that wasn't the focus of the January self-guided tour experience, but with it being my first visit to the cottage, it would have been helpful if there was a bit more information in each room or even if there was a handout explaining a bit more about each of the cottage's rooms. The exhibits in the visitor's center was helpful in providing some background information and context to the cottage. We didn't spend too much time walking around the outside of the cottage because it was during the Polar Vortex when it was below zero out and very windy at the top of the hill, despite being layered up and in puffy parkas. Thankfully the visitor's center and cottage were just a very short distance to the parking lot. I happened upon a Groupon to come back for a guided tour, so I am looking forward to visiting President Lincoln's Cottage again in the very near future for the more traditional guided tour experience.

This is a hidden treasure that not many tourist know about in DC! I was looking for other museums to take my daughter and cousin to besides the normal spots. Thanks to Yelp, I ran across the Lincoln Cottage! The cottage is located on a current retirement community for retired military. Although the cottage was not owned by Lincoln, he and his family retreated to this house on the military grounds( yes it was for the military use during his time as well) quite often during his presidency and he and his family interacted with the soldiers a lot . You should book your tickets in a advance or you may not be able to take the tour--there are only a limited amount of slots. There is plenty of parking here if you wish to drive. Also make sure you arrive early so they can do a head count. If you don't have a ticket and you arrive early, but the tour is booked--they may let you tag along if there is someone that is a no show. The check in building houses a nice museum with lots of interesting facts and items to read. If you don't have time to check it out before the tour, I encourage you to check it out after. You cannot take pictures in the cottage but you can on the outside. Our tour guide throughout the house was great and very knowledgeable. There is no furniture or original items in the house, so you have to use your imagination. My daughter and cousin learned a lot on this tour, and so did I. The only reason this place doesn't get a four is because there are no original items in here. Other than that, I really enjoyed our visit!

Took Thing1 here yesterday for some history and enlightenment. We had a magnificent day - he got to pick two places to go ( he chose 5 Guys for lunch and Barnes and Noble in Bethesda) and I got to pick two ( I chose this place followed by Commonwealth Brew Pub) - best day out ever. Moving on - this place is an absolute jewel box of a treasure of a hidden gem of a diamond in the not-so-rough. It's got three major things going for it: 1. The place itself - a cottage in the Soldiers' Home used by Lincoln ( and other Presidents) in the summers of their presidencies to help convince them that actually it was a good idea to have a retirement home for retired and disabled veterans, and that it was not in actual fact massive government overreach. 2. The renovation they have done - restored all the rooms to their original state, have used furniture sparingly, and have integrated video and audio magnificently well to help tell the story. 3. The star of the show however - at least for us - is the guide. Our guide Scott was one of the best guides I have ever had at any museum / site ever - tons of knowledge and enthusiasm and energy and engagement - he was brilliant. We did not need to show ID to get on site - but that could be because it was a quiet day - but we did book on line in advance ( one hour in advance, from 5 Guys in Bethesda). I can imagine that at the weekend or on holidays the tours book up - and you do need to take a guided tour. 17,000 books have been written about Lincoln, our guide told us -I am not sure if any of them is called "The Tao of Lincoln" but that's what this tour gives you .In a small way you get inside Lincoln's head. You see how he lived. You are in the room where he had a boiled egg and coffee every monring before he rode to the Whitehouse. You spend time in the summer Lincoln bedroom. You hear stories of how he yelled at Colonel Scott who was looking for help to recover his dead wife's body from the Potomac. Then the next day, feeling remorseful, Lincoln puts the full might of the War Department to recover the body. Another great story is how an English tourist knocked on the door late at night, got him out of bed, and then he regaled the tourist with his own history and subtly emphasized the superiority of the US system over the British system of government and society. It's absolutely brilliant and I totally recommend it. It also teaches the lesson that history is written by the victors. There would never have been a government owned cottage here, or a retirement home for veterans, if it had not been for the efforts of a Democratic Senator from Mississippi called Jefferson Davis. The place exists - and 1000s of retired and disabled veterans have lived there - thanks to his work in the 1850s. But " the evil men do lives on after them and the good is oft interred with their bones"

My sister and I came here on a short trip to DC last week. We are both young adults and kind of obsessed with Abe Lincoln, so we were excited to visit one of his homes. HOWEVER, if you aren't under the age of 12, this may not be the thing for you. We discovered right away the feeling of being on a field trip that is very much geared towards children. The tour of the house is only for three, maybe four, rooms that aren't really furnished at all. We had to watch things on a tv and listen to audio clips through speakers. It was all kind of weird. This location really needs to re-think their tour. The house should be furnished with pieces appropriate for the period in which Lincoln lived there with plaques posted of what the 'tour guide' rambled on about. We would have loved to know more about the house itself: when it was built, what is still original, what was each room used for, etc. I imagine like us, if people are traveling out of their way to see this home, they already have a base knowledge of the President and are looking for details on his life and the cottage. Just seeing the house and saying we've been there was cool (because we're Lincoln nerds), but the tour was a big let down. If you don't have kids, save your $15 and just walk around the exterior of the house and take a nice picture on the steps. Afterwards, go get a drink with the money you saved!

I'm a history buff, my Dad is a Civil War buff, my Mom likes old houses. What better to do when they were in town than take the tour of President Lincoln's summer retreat? Did anyone know that this historical landmark was even here? I sure didn't, until I read a recent National Trust article about the restoration. The "cottage" is a 32 room retreat tucked away on the grounds of the Soldiers' Retirement Home in far north DC (almost in MD). After years of restoring it back to the time that Lincoln and his family lived here, 10 rooms of the cottage are now open to the public for tours. This is a fantastic tour. Our tour guide - although admitting to us that it was his first day - was fantastic. He knew his stuff, was able to answer all of our questions, and didn't have to look at his notes once. The tour itself is really cool because it combines videos and audio portions (reinactments) along with the tour guide to give a real sense of living as Abraham Lincoln did. The house and grounds are really beautiful and the restoration job is impressive. This is a top notch tourist attraction and well worth the $12 price of admission ($8 if you're a National Trust member). The tour takes about an hour, and is a must for any history buff OR local who thinks "they've seen it all" in DC. While I personally enjoy visiting the museums many times, I really appreciated something entirely new and different. They cap the groups in the tour at 15 people and there is one tour every hour on the hour that leaves from the Education Center. Most days, it's open from 10am - 4:30pm (with last tour starting at 4:00). Make sure you purchase your tickets online instead of just showing up. Since the cottage is on the grounds of the Soldiers' Retirement Home, it's on Government property and entrance is prohibited to people who have tickets to show. Tour times fill up quickly. If you'd like to see something new hiding right in the heart of DC, plan to check out the Lincoln Cottage. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I personally believe this is one of the best tours in DC. Whereas most of them are too hung up on the furniture, this tour is focused around President Lincoln's time here and how it shaped his presidency and the course of the Civil War. The tours are very intimate at only 20 people, and the tour guides are excellent. This is a must-do for any history fanatic.

As many others have said, President's Lincoln Cottage is an off the beaten path, often forgotten about DC gem. My my visited DC for the very first time ever this fall, and we visited every stereotypical touristy place we could possibly fit into a 4-day visit. Most of the sites underwhelmed her because they didn't inspire those "deep feelings". You know what I'm talking about: sometimes you visit an historical site and you can't help but be overwhelmed by the history present in that place. My mom found places like the Capitol and Library of Congress, to be cold, and not particularly inspiring. But Lincoln's Cottage? She LOVED (and so did !). As others have said, you won't find Lincoln's Cottage full of period-pieces (furniture, artwork, etc.). Instead, the tour guides fill it with "ideas"....and these tour guides are fantastic. They are extremely knowledgeable and tell stories in such a way that you can't help being captivated. The use of media to supplement the tour was perfectly executed. I spoke with our guide after our tour, and she informed me that they often change the "ideas" they present on the tours to highlight different aspects of Lincoln's stays here. Sometimes the focus of the tour is on presidents other than Lincoln, as he was not the only president to make this beautiful cottage his summer home. As an added bonus, there's s small free museum you can also visit on site in the visitor's center. Most of it focuses on Lincoln's presidency (not surprisingly). There is another exhibit about modern day slavery which is very, very moving. I highly recommend it. Lincoln's Cottage may not be one fo the freebies in DC, nor is it terribly convenient to access, but it is well-worth the trip. If you have a car, there's plenty of on-site parking available. Otherwise, you'll need to hike from one of the metro lines.

This tour is unlike any other I have experienced. The unique use of technology (audio and video) throughout the tour was well done, and whom ever thought the series of lectures out to correspond with the room themes is a genius. Tour guides are kind, knowledgeable, and courteous. This is also the only historic house tour that I've been on that has an elevator to second floor. ++make sure you book at least a week or two in advance... this fills up fast!

With its location a bit off the beaten path (3 miles north of the Capitol), the Cottage is often overlooked as a tourist destination. Selfishly, I am glad it is--this is a great place to introduce to your visitors, a real hidden gem: This, after all, was the 19th-century equivalent to Camp David, a summer retreat of five US Presidents, including Lincoln during the Civil War. When Lincoln stayed here, war plans, drafting of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the dramatic reelection campaign all occurred within these walls. Access to the Cottage is available only through one-hour guided tours, and, at $15 for adults and so many great free museums to choose from in DC, it may seem steep. Having visited the place, though, I felt good supporting it and its mission (the museum runs a number of free programs for local schools, for example). We always reserve tickets in advance online or, for tours on the same day, by phone: http://lincolncottage.org/tickets/ Finding the Cottage is a bit tricky--do get the directions from the museum's website: http://lincolncottage.org/visit/plan-a-visit/ The Cottage is located on the grounds of the Soldiers' Home, the Army's first national nursing home, still in operation. This location is meaningful: War was never too far from Lincoln here--he was surrounded by veterans and members of the military guard. As he sat in his Cottage library, the view outside was of the growing national cemetery: 5,000 Civil War soldiers were buried here between 1861 and 1864, until a larger cemetery was established over Robert E. Lee's Arlington farm. The Lincolns saw 30 to 40 military funerals out of their Cottage windows every week (the cemetery is open to the public and is only minutes away from the Cottage). As you arrive on the grounds, pick up your tickets at the Visitors' Center across from the Cottage (the Cottage is impossible to miss--there is a lifesize statue of Lincoln and his horse in front of it: that's how he commuted to the White House every day; to ensure that the dimensions of the statue are right, measurements were taken of Lincoln's clothing). There are a number of interesting exhibits at the Visitors' Center, and that's where the tours begin. No photography is allowed inside the Cottage, but there isn't much to photograph: there is virtually no furniture. There are no records of exactly what the Lincolns brought with them when they stayed here. Instead of stuffing the place with period furniture, walls in each room were stripped to their Lincoln-era appearance, and the story is driven by recollections of what occurred here--recordings of people's memories of the conversations that took place there, of Lincoln's own words, and impressions of people who met him at the Cottage. The experience of the Cottage is very different from what you get at other presidential homes like Mount Vernon or Monticello, but I found it even more moving, somehow. My favorite room is Lincoln's library, where 23 layers of paint were removed to uncover the horizontal ghost lines of bookshelves that once held documents, law books, and Lincoln's beloved tomes of Shakespearean plays. This spare decor is surprisingly impactful. Here is what you may expect when visiting the Cottage and the US National Cemetery nearby: http://transplantedtatar.com/2013/02/04/a-presidents-sanctuary-lincolns-cottage/

A must in today's world. Curtis was amazing and three days later we are still talking about him. The home is fine, but not super exciting, but the knowledge and connection to today was great. I was impressed with the videos and audios presented.

If you've lived in the D.C. area for more than 5 years, as I have, you might be wondering why you haven't heard of this place. It turns out it only opened for tours in 2008. This year on my birthday I had my Dad in town, who enjoys historical sites but has seen all the old standbys. When I saw the half-price ticket offer through LivingSocial, that sealed the deal. We hopped a cab up to Lincoln's Cottage (on a cold winter's day I wouldn't recommend walking from the metro) and were immediately impressed by the expansive, beautiful grounds (the snow-covered scenery didn't hurt). As others have noted, this tour is different from your typical tour of a historic home. But, for someone who is easily overwhelmed with visual interest in a museum and too many items to read, I enjoyed this departure from the norm. We had a fantastic, knowledgeable tour guide who, cheesy as it sounds to say, really made Lincoln's stories come to life, including everyday anecdotes that made you feel you got to know Lincoln a bit, not just as a U.S. President, but as a person. Something about the imagery invoked by the tour -- standing outside of Lincoln's cottage and seeing the view he had every day of the cemetery just across the way -- instills a powerful sense of the issues our country faced in the Civil War era. There are chairs (that you can actually sit on!) in most of the rooms of the cottage tour. There's a perk of not having much, if any, period furniture pieces ;) I didn't see a cafe, but the gift shop inside the Visitor Center has a few snack items. Our cabbie had a little trouble identifying the place on the drive there. I found it helpful to instruct him to take Upshur St across until it dead ends at the grounds entrance. Lyft had no problem picking us up for the return trip (after answering a few questions at the entrance gate -- thankfully just steps from the Visitor Center). Bottom line: worth the trek to see it at least once!