Nail
1840-1860

Square cut nails were used throughout the construction of the Lincoln Home from its initial building in 1839 through the modern restoration in 1988.  This nail was found in the backyard.

Iron. L 7.3 cm, W .4 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 4649

Mouse Nest
1874

During the 1987-88 restoration, a mouse nest was found in the ceiling over the Lincolns’ front door.  In the nest were newspapers, ribbon, wallpaper, and three mummified mice.  Although the newspapers were dated in the 1870’s, meaning the mice did not live in the house when the Lincolns lived there; they were voted by visitors in 2004 as their favorite “Lincoln artifact.”

Bones, skin, teeth. L 6.35, W 2.5 cm
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6680

Matting Fragment
c 1860

During spring housekeeping, the heavy wool wall-to-wall carpets were pulled up and replaced with woven straw matting.  The matting was less likely to attract bugs coming in the open windows, and made the room feel cooler, but still protected the wooden floors.  At the end of summer, the matting was pulled up and thrown away and the carpets were reinstalled.  This matting sample was found under floor boards in the Lincolns’ front parlor.

Straw. WT: 8 grams
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6676.

Lath
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 6682