Lincoln Boyhood Historic Resource Study

The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is historically significant for its association with the early life of Abraham Lincoln and as the final resting place of Nancy Hanks Lincoln. Furthermore, the property retains a high level of integrity with regard to its historic landscape design, and the Memorial Building is an important contributing element to the property's architectural significance. Finally, the property is significant for its association with the development of historic preservation theory over the course of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It began as a shrine to Nancy Hanks Lincoln and, by extension, the cult of motherhood that characterized the Victorian era. During the 1930s, the memorial was transformed to commemorate Lincoln and his lifetime of accomplishments. Thirty years later, the site's programs were expanded to include a parallel interpretive theme with the construction of the Living History Farm. The influences of each interpretive theme are clearly visible upon the extant cultural landscape and contribute to our understanding of the constantly evolving cultural and social phenomena of memorializing important personages in American history.

The memorial's current overall appearance (Figures 25 and 26) has seen few major changes since completion of the addition to the Memorial Building in the mid-1960s. In 1986, the iron gate that once marked the entrance to the park was removed from storage and placed at the east end of the plaza. The most recent alterations have included the replanting of the beds around the allee and removal of an isolated section of State Highway 162 in 1993. This removal included replanting the former east arm of the original cross-axial design with native trees. Several picnic tables were added to the space as well. [236] As a part of the current Historic Resource Study, a comprehensive cultural base map was prepared to identify all of the cultural resources within the memorial property and their relationship to one another (Figure 27). This was accomplished by using the scaled site plan created by McEnaney and overlaying it upon a topographic map that shows the contours of the landscape. A few additional elements beyond those listed by McEnaney also were identified. The dates and architects or landscape architects who were responsible for major features of the memorial are included on the map as well.

Figure 25: Current Site Plan of Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial (McEnaney, 2001: 49) (click on image for an enlargement in a new window)

Figure 26: Current Site Plan of Allee and Plaza (McEnaney, 2001: 51) (click on image for an enlargement in a new window)

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH NEEDS

Some details of the historical development of the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial and the surrounding area have yet to be clarified. A number of the questions will be difficult to answer, and thus care should be taken to present an unbiased accounting during interpretive efforts. Others simply represent gaps in current research that can be addressed through additional documentary efforts.

AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

An area of particular concern in which primary data is lacking relates to the agricultural practices undertaken by early settlers in Spencer County. The use of the natural environment during the pioneer period is not well recorded in historic documents. Information specific to the Lincoln family's farming activities was not discovered during a check of archival repositories in Indianapolis, Rockport, and the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. The State of Indiana apparently did not undertake an agricultural census of the state in 1820 or 1830, the years directly relevant to the Lincoln period of occupation in Spencer County. As previously noted, fires destroyed Spencer County's records dating from the 1810s and 1820s. In any case, written documents typically provide skewed insight into pioneer agriculture because they focused on the foodstuffs and livestock that people raised for their own subsistence or surplus goods sold in the market economy, but they often did not include native flora components that were used to supplement diets. Recent archaeological research indicates that there is little opportunity for reconstructing the Lincoln-era agricultural landscape due to the development of Lincoln City and early landscaping activities conducted as part of the development of the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. [237]

Despite a lack of specific data on the Lincoln family's farming practices and physical landscape of the farm, it is possible to reconstruct the types of environments and corresponding potential subsistence practices by using soil surveys, such as Williamson's 1973 survey of Spencer County. [238] In addition, texts on Indiana plant communities provide extensive information on the natural environment at various periods. Studies such as Petty and Jackson's 1966 discussion of plant communities in Natural Features of Indiana and the 1970 monograph Natural Areas in Indiana and Their Preservation, can be used in tandem with soil surveys to predict with a consistent level of accuracy the natural flora and faunal components that would have occurred when the Lincoln family first arrived. [239]

The resulting taxa lists, when compared with ethnobotanies of Native American tribal groups from the Eastern Woodlands and early historical records, offer insights for developing a comparative analysis of potential Native American and early pioneer uses of comparable environments. [240] Ethnobotanies and soil surveys also assist with developing predictive models for identifying alternate food sources that were used to supplement cultivated products during the frontier period as well as times of crop failures. Finally, a richer, more nuanced analysis can be undertaken of the contributions of women and children to survival strategies, as they typically were responsible for cultivating and gathering plants in both Indian and pioneer societies. The information derived from these analyses can be used to provide a broader interpretive base for educational programs at the Living History Farm and at displays featured at the Memorial Building visitor's center. The data also can be incorporated into interpretive displays that are recommended for the nature trails throughout the property and can be included in the suggested audio tour.

Analysis of agricultural practices also provides an opportunity to begin exploring the cultural affiliations of Indian tribes that historically were associated with southern Indiana. A cultural affiliation study is one in which ethnographic study is undertaken to identify cultural ties among past and present groups that occupied or used, and may still use, the land encompassed by the present memorial and its natural and cultural resources. A study of this type is not know to have been undertaken with regard to the Native American groups who once occupied Spencer County in the contact and pre-contact periods. Information gained from such a study can be incorporated into expanded interpretation and education programs that are designed to shed light on the cultural and historical context within which frontier Indiana evolved and which the Lincoln family encountered upon their arrival in the area.

Figure 27: Comprehensive Cultural Resources Base Map of Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial (Adapted from McEnaney, 2001: 49) (click on image for an enlargement in a new window)

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

In order to develop a full historic context of the socioeconomic and cultural milieu that existed in Spencer County during the early to mid-nineteenth century, the Little Pigeon community's place in the regional market needs to be further examined. This can be accomplished through a closer study of market development in Spencer County, such as at Troy and Rockport, as well as nearby river communities in both Indiana and Kentucky, including Evansville, Owensboro, and Louisville. Among the questions that should be addressed in this study are the level of trade that existed among communities within southern Indiana, and how that trade fit into the overall economy of the region. An area in need of particular attention is the development of industry and manufacturing and the influences these sectors exercised on economic and social development in northern Spencer County. Along the same lines, the impact of the availability of manufactured goods to the county's frontier residents and concomitant changes this caused in their lifestyle also require consideration. A potential model for this type of study is Faragher's Sugar Creek: Life on the Illinois Prairie, which was cited as a part of this report. Furthermore, later technological and transportation advances, such as improvements to the navigability of the Ohio River, construction of canals, and the proliferation of railroads, are in need of further attention.

Consideration of twentieth century economic and social development in northern Spencer County also is in need of further study. Specifically, the impact of the development of the memorial and state park has not previously been analyzed. The full effects of the demolition of many key buildings in Lincoln City, the role played by the Civilian Conservation Corps in local work-relief programs, and the economic and social impact of tourism are among the topics that could be addressed. The influence (if any) on the local economy of 1930s-era and later reforestation and natural conservation efforts is a related subject in need of attention. A fuller explication of all these social and cultural phenomena may provide insight into the motives of the many individuals and organizations that have deemed the Lincoln site worthy of preservation for more than a century, as well as the various approaches that have been taken to preserving the site during that time.

NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION FORM

Information generated as a result of the research conducted for this Historic Resource Study also was used to update and revise the original National Register Nomination Form for the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. This nomination was completed in 1976. While it lists all of the major cultural resources located on the property, it provides very little detailed information concerning the overall landscape design and the relationship of the various major sites, such as the allee, Memorial Building, cemetery, and cabin site memorial, to one another. The original statement of significance also lacks information concerning the period that the site was occupied by the Lincoln family and the development of the overall memorial from the late nineteenth through the twentieth centuries.

As this Historic Resource Study demonstrates, the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is historically significant for its association with the early life of Abraham Lincoln and as the final resting place of Nancy Hanks Lincoln. Furthermore, the property retains a high level of integrity with regard to Olmsted's and Hibben's landscape designs, and Richard Bishop's Memorial Building is an important contributing element to the property's architectural significance. Finally, the property is significant for its association with the development of historic preservation theory over the course of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It began as a shrine to Nancy Hanks Lincoln and, by extension, the cult of motherhood that characterized the Victorian era. During the 1930s, the memorial was transformed to commemorate Lincoln and his lifetime of accomplishments. Thirty years later, the site's programs were expanded to include a parallel interpretive theme with the construction of the Living History Farm. The influences of each interpretive theme are clearly visible upon the extant cultural landscape and contribute to our understanding of the constantly evolving cultural and social phenomena of memorializing important personages in American history. Both the description (Section 7) and statement of significance (Section 8) were revised with continuation sheets to provide a fuller narrative of the property's physical appearance and its historical significance. Major bibliographical references (Section 9) also were provided, as well as updated photographs of the memorial's key sites. All of these sections are included as an addendum to this report.

ADDITIONAL INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS

Using currently available knowledge as well as information derived from the aforementioned recommended further studies, a range of options are available for enhancing the interpretive programs at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. The goals of such programs are to enhance the visitor experience at the site and to provide a full understanding of the historical, social, cultural, and natural significance of the assorted resources that are featured. An audio tour, interpretive displays, and brochures are suggested for several aspects of the Memorial that presently are under-represented in the current interpretive program. Educational materials such as these have several advantages. Their format and uses will be familiar to much of the visiting public; they are generally cost effective and easily updated or revised to meet changing needs; they can convey a large volume of diverse material that can be tailored to specific audiences; and they do not constitute major intrusions upon the cultural landscape. The cultural resources and physical landscape at the Memorial are quite diverse and offer visitors a potentially wide range of sights and experiences. It is recommended that a common design theme and color palette be developed to link these materials visually and provide consistent reference points for visitors as they explore the various sites.

AUDIO TOUR

An audio tour is perhaps the best vehicle available to inform visitors about the interrelationships of the park's various elements, which are dispersed across the park's extensive acreage. As opposed to videos, the audio tour has the advantage of allowing visitors to stand before the actual resource being discussed and to start and stop the narrative to meet their own needs. Consequently, a feasibility study for an audio tour is recommended to determine if this type of media would help visitors to understand the relationship between the memorials and the living history farm. Such a tour could explain early efforts to memorialize Nancy Hanks Lincoln and the evolution of the site from a rural cemetery commemorating the cult of motherhood into a national memorial honoring Abraham Lincoln.

The audio tour also could be used to expand upon the history of the Lincolns' occupation of the farmstead. It would allow the visitor to view the cabin site while providing insight into the use of the space, including the number of people who often lived within a cabin of this size and the types of furnishing commonly owned by a nineteenth century farm family. The audio tour could discuss why the Lincolns left Kentucky for Indiana and introduce some of the hardships encountered by pioneers, such as milk sickness. Interpreters at the Living History Farm can elaborate on both of these aspects. Further emphasis on the remainder of the farmstead could be incorporated into the tour as well, along with discussion of the changing landscape of Spencer County, including the reforestation of this area and the removal of buildings associated with Lincoln City.

The cassettes, cassette players, and headphones used for the audio tour could be rented on a deposit basis, both in an effort to pay for their cost and to ensure their timely return. Conceivably, the cassettes also may be a vehicle for the visually impaired who would, of necessity, also need a guide with them.

TRAIL OF TWELVE STONES

This wooded Trail serves to link the cemetery to the cabin site and also has the important symbolic function of allegorically illustrating the different stages and events of Abraham Lincoln's life. The Trail features a collection of stones taken from places that were associated with Lincoln, such as the building that housed his law office in Springfield, Illinois, and the White House. Each stone was placed upon a small base with a metal plaque that identified its origin. The displays were envisioned as small shrines to Lincoln, and stone benches were placed alongside several to provide visitors with an opportunity to rest and reflect. All of the stones are extant, but some are believed to have been moved from their original locations during the development of the Living History Farm in 1968. A number of stone culverts constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the mid-1930s are extant along the Trail, as well as some later (and unobtrusive) culverts and water bars. [241]

The Trail's setting is quite bucolic and conducive to an unhurried meandering through the landscape. Typical visitors, however, are believed likely to lack sufficient background information to appreciate the Trail's original purpose and its association with early twentieth century historic preservation and commemoration practices. To provide a more informative visitor's experience, a brochure is recommended to be developed that pertains exclusively to the Trail of Twelve Stones. It should include a map of the Trail's route and information about accessibility and distance to other attractions, such as the Living History Farm. The brochure is suggested to include a brief thumbnail sketch for each stone that is located along the trail, including those, such as the Culver Stone, that were not part of the trail's original conception. Information concerning the Indiana Lincoln Union, which sponsored the Trail's development, and landscape architect Edson Nott, who designed the Trail, also would be appropriate to include in the brochure.

This brochure can be used to complement the information provided in the recommended audio tour. In addition, the Trail is recommended to be slightly modified with the use of low-profile interpretive displays at a series of unobtrusive locations. Information contained on the displays panels could focus on aspects of Lincoln's life and career that relate directly to the buildings and sites from which the stones were taken, and can include historic photos of these locations. The commemorative efforts that led to the creation of the trail also could be explained. The integrity of the present trail should be maintained, however, and the trail's original purpose of providing a pilgrimage for visitors should be respected.

A variety of materials are available to use for the interpretive displays. Engraved limestone and cast stone would be appropriate to the setting, as similar materials are used throughout the Memorial grounds and they will blend effectively with the natural environment. Bronze plaques and acid-etched metal signs also are options that could be explored. It is recommended that the services of a landscape architect should be retained to create a design theme for the displays, to develop a range of sign and display panel designs, and to provide a plan for installing the displays at appropriate locations along the Trail. The design theme also should be complementary to the graphic design used for the suggested Trail brochure.

NATURE TRAILS

The nature trails within the park's boundaries represent an opportunity to incorporate additional interpretive materials such as display panels and labeled plantings of native vegetation. A trail head or orientation point is recommended to include a large display panel with an overall trail map depicted. This sign could be a full-color, computer-generated image on a resin-backed material that could be cut into any shape designed. A sign of this type is somewhat less expensive to produce than stone, metal, or etched wood signs, which is an important consideration given that this sign likely will change more often over the years to reflect new points of observation and interpretation. Resin-backed signs also have the advantage of being durable and resistant to vandalism, weathering, and discoloration. They would be appropriate to use for other display panels included along the nature trails. Mounting the signs on naturalistic bases, such as wood or stone, would help the panels to blend unobtrusively into the natural environment.

Information included on the display panels can be focused on the various topics discussed within this report. For example, a series of panels concerning environmental history could discuss the effects of glaciation, the ecology that existed during the precontact period, the destructive effects of nineteenth century agriculture, and twentieth century reforestation programs. Similarly, Native American habitation of the area could be described, with information provided on the impact that displacement and migration had on tribes in the area, traditional lifeways of tribes present during the contact period, and social and trade relationships Indian tribes conducted among themselves and with Euroamerican explorers and traders. Labeled plantings of native vegetation can give visitors an idea of the types of plants cultivated by Native Americans and those brought to the area by American settlers. A comparison of these plants with the types of vegetation that presently predominates in the park would offer a vivid illustration of the scale of the transformations that human endeavors can have on a landscape. Information gained from the recommended use of soil surveys and ethnobotanies to reconstruct the pioneer-era natural landscape will be especially helpful in developing these displays.

As with the Trail of Twelve Stones, it is recommended that the services of a landscape architect should be retained to create a consistent design theme for the displays, to develop a range of sign and display panel designs, and to provide a plan for installing the displays at appropriate locations along the trails. In addition, a brochure that pertains specifically to the natural trails also is recommended. This brochure should present the overall trail system and accessibility information, including trail distances and their location with reference to other major features, such as the allee and the Living History Farm. Topics that should be discussed in the brochure include the locations of former farmsteads and Lincoln City resources, natural features such as springs and land forms, the reforestation program of the 1930s, and the historic landscape designs that have been developed over the years and their impact upon the topography at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.