Alerts & Conditions

COVID-19 Information

From time to time, circumstances may necessitate the closing of trails or other actions to ensure visitor and resource safety. As part of your planning, visit this page to get special alerts and information. If you are a frequent visitor, you may want to bookmark this page.

This page was last updated May 27, 2020. All alerts are current.

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May 27

Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Carl Sandburg Home NHS is increasing recreational access on Monday, June 1, 2020. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and is using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

Beginning Monday, June 1, 2020, Carl Sandburg Home NHS will increase access to park trails, most grounds, and parking lots. With public health in mind, the following areas and services will remain closed until further notice: the house, barn and barnyard, restrooms, and other structures, water fountains, Sandburg Home tours, all volunteer shifts, and all summer public programs, festivals, plays, and other special events. The park shuttle will not be running. Bring enough water for your entire visit as water fountains will not be available. Keep in mind that goats will only be visible from the barnyard fence, as the entire barn area will remain closed.

Weekends are busier than weekdays. The hours of 10am-3pm are busy seven days a week.

“Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is a small historic site in a small rural community. Our 90,000 annual visitors come here from every state in the country. Summer is one of our busiest times,” said Superintendent Polly Angelakis. “By working together to follow social distancing and other CDC guidelines, visitors and staff can remain safe. We look forward to seeing our visitors again.”

May 8

The public is reminded that Carl Sandburg Home NHS is completely closed to all park visitors, until further notice. The closure includes the house, barn and barnyard, all grounds, trails, parking lots, restrooms, and other structures. A timeline for reopening is still being determined to ensure a safe and smooth process for staff, visitors and volunteers. We will notify the public when we resume access and will continue to provide park updates on our website, www.nps.gov/carl, and on Facebook. "Although we miss our visitors and volunteers, this is the best way to ensure that when we do re-open we have done so in the safest manner possible. Our goal is that when we do gather together again, no one is missing," said Polly Angelakis, Superintendent. "While we are closed we are focusing on livestock care, goat births and socialization, and completing a number of safety and preservation projects that will enhance our visitors' experience. These projects include: installation of additional security cameras; final steps of Sandburg Home roof repair; pavement repair work; repaving and re-stripping our paved parking lots; installation of trail signs; and assessment of and removal of hazard trees throughout the park."

The NPS is following White House guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach to assist state and local officials in safely reopening their economies, getting people back to work, and continuing to protect American lives. In accordance with this guidance and that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local public health authorities, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service are working to gradually increase access and our services across all units of the National Park System. The NPS will continue to work alongside state and local officials as these changes are implemented.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. Our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance. Decisions on a phased resumption of operations are being made on a park-by-park basis and regularly monitored.

Please check with individual parks for specific details about their operations, including campgrounds. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

March 27
Carl Sandburg Home NHS is announcing additional modifications to operations. Following guidance from the CDC and in consultation with NPS Public Health Service officers, Carl Sandburg Home NHS is temporarily closed, beginning March 28, to all park visitors, until further notice.

The closure includes all grounds, trails, parking lots, restrooms, and other structures. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and will continue to provide park updates on our website, www.nps.gov/carl, and on Facebook.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) continues to work closely with federal, state, and local authorities to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 24, 2020
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is announcing additional modifications to its operations, in support of federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. As of March 24, 2020, all public restrooms in the park are closed.

Most park trails and grounds remain open, except for the following: The grounds and paths surrounding the Sandburg Home are closed due to a roof replacement project. The home may still be viewed from Front Lake, near the main parking lot at the base of the hill. The park has also suspended Sandburg Home tours, access to the barn, goats and farm animals, all special events, all volunteer shifts, and all programs. The park shuttle is not running. Visitors should continue to practice social distancing, pay attention to signs and barriers, and stay out of closed areas.

As conditions change in our nation and region, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site will continue to implement operational changes that help ensure the health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, partners, and local communities. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website, www.nps.gov/carl and on Facebook.

March 20, 2020
A Sandburg Home roof replacement project is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 23. While work is taking place, the entire area surrounding the home will be closed to visitors. Visitors should pay attention to signs and barriers and stay out of closed areas.

In addition, the Sandburg Home and Barn area continue to be closed, following guidance from the CDC and recommendations from state and local public health, in consultation with Public Health Service officers. This includes suspending Sandburg Home tours, access to the goats and farm animals, all special events, all volunteer shifts, and all programs. The park shuttle will not be running. Park restrooms, trails, and grounds (except for the barn) remain open. Updates will be posted to the park website, www.nps.gov/carl and on Facebook.

March 17, 2020
Following guidance from the CDC and recommendations from state and local public health, and in consultation with NPS Public Health Service officers, Carl Sandburg Home NHS will temporarily close the Sandburg Home and Barn area beginning Tuesday, March 17. This includes Sandburg Home tours, the park store, access to the goats and farm animals, all special events, all volunteer shifts, and in-park and off-site programs. Park grounds (except for the barn area), trails, and restrooms will remain open.

The park shuttle will NOT be running.

We will continue to monitor public health guidance will re-open the house and barn when it is safe to do so. Updates will be posted to the park website, www.nps.gov/carl and Facebook @CarlSandburgHomeNHS.