Alerts & Conditions

COVID-19 Information

This page was last updated October 10, 2020. All alerts are current.

The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. Based on guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, access to the park is as follows:

Open: Parking lots, trails, most grounds, restrooms at top of hill near Sandburg Home.

Closed: Barn and barnyard, Sandburg Home, restrooms near front lake, and other structures, water fountains (except for water bottle filling station at top of the hill), visitor shuttle, and special events.

While the listed areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased, and services may be limited. When recreating, please follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, and avoid crowding and high-risk outdoor activities.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.

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October 10

Ranger-led porch talks will be available at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm on the following Saturdays: October 10, 17, 24, and 31. Visitors should meet in front of the Sandburg Home for a 20-minute talk about Carl Sandburg’s writings and the Sandburg family. These free programs are offered to celebrate the 52nd Anniversary of the park, which was established on October 17, 1968. Visitors are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines when visiting the park.

In addition, the park will open access to park restrooms at the top of the hill near the Sandburg Home beginning Saturday, October 10. These restrooms will remain open throughout the winter.

August 25
Beginning Friday, August 28, and continuing through Sunday, November 1, 2020, Carl Sandburg Home NHS will add visitor information and park store services on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, in a tent outside the Sandburg Home garage. Staff will answer questions and help visitors plan their visit. Visitors will also be able to purchase items from the park store, participate in the Jr. Ranger program, and more. After November 1, as the park shifts into winter operations, hours will vary based on weather and staffing.


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.”

Although the park closed to visitors on March 28, staff remained onsite and focused on livestock care, goat births and socialization, and completing several preservation and visitor safety projects. These projects included: installation of additional security cameras; final steps of Sandburg Home roof repair; pavement repair work; re-paving and re-striping paved parking lots; installation of trail signs; and assessment of and removal of hazard trees throughout the park. Staff also added social distancing reminders throughout the park.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Carl Sandburg Home NHS, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and are regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.

We have engaging virtual tours of Carl Sandburg Home NHS, all of the time, so for people who are still home schooling or not traveling at this time check them out.

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website www.nps.gov/carl and Facebook. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.