Last updated: June 4, 2024
Place
Site Bulletin, Knob Creek
Recollections of Knob Creek
In his 1860 campaign autobiography, Abraham Lincoln wrote, quote I was born February 12th 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. My earliest recollection, however is of the knob Creek place.” Lincoln recounted events from his boyhood new year spent in the beautiful farm valley. Some memories stood out more than others: like the time here called planting pumpkin seeds in the fertile bottomland of knob Creek only to see the laborers of his small hands washed away by flash flood he recalled falling into the waters of the same stream and almost drowning before being pulled to safety by his friend, Austin Gallagher. He remembered his baby brother, Thomas, dying from an unknown illness and being laid to rest in the Redmond family cemetery on a hill overlooking the valley.
Life at Knob Creek Farm
The family left their sinking spring farm due to an unstable land title. Abraham Lincoln’s father, Thomas, at least 30 acres at knob Creek from George Lindsey, a local farmer. 3 fields lay between the surrounding knobs. These fields provided fertile land for corn crops, and the trees on the hill supplied wood for their cabin’s fire. Nancy Lincoln probably found berries and herbs to supplement the family’s diet. The daily struggles for survival on the Kentucky frontier helped to shape the character and attitudes of Abraham Lincoln’s adulthood. It was while living at Knob Creek that young Abraham’s curious, ambitious mind was first stimulated. He and his older sister, Sara, walked two miles to the little “blab school” at Athertonville in order to learn “readin’, writin’, and cipherin’ to the rule of three.” It was also at the Knob Creek that Abraham witnessed the cruel practice of human ownership.
Slavery in Kentucky
Many of the Lincolns’ neighbors were farmers and leaseholders like themselves. Slavery was not as prevalent on such small landholdings as on farms of the deep South. However, some neighbors did own slaves. As a young boy, Lincoln may have seen slaves taken down the road in front of the family cabin. The Lincoln family moved their church membership to a Separate Baptist congregation over their disapproval of slave ownership. Lincoln would write how his family had “removed to what is now Spencer County, Indiana… partly on account of slavery…” these events so affected him that while he was president he would write to A.G. Hodges, the editor of Frankfort’s Commonwealth, “If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think and feel.”
Knob Creek after the Lincolns
In 1815, Thomas Lincoln lost his legal pursuit to regain the sinking spring farm. Meanwhile, the Lincolns and nine of their neighbors were facing eviction as the result of a lawsuit brought by a group asserting a prior claim to 10,000 acers f the Knob Creek valley. In the winter of 1816, the small family packed their belongings, and said good-bye to friends and lft Knob Creek – the only Kentucky home Lincoln could remember.The real nature of knob Creek continued the farm passed through several families’ hands. Automobiles became affordable and federal Road Act of 1916 improved Kentucky’s highways. Tourism flourished and people began visiting LaRue county and the birthplace memorial. The Lincoln Trail was established as a way for travelers to follow the same route the Lincoln family took through Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.Hattie Howell Howard was one of the many people in the area seeking to memorialize Lincoln and create a career in tourism. In 1928, Hattie and her husband Chester purchased the Knob Creek property. In 1931, they moved logs from a cabin which once belonged to the Gollaher family, onto the site. They constructed an adjacent building to supply refreshments and gas to travelers. For many years live entertainment and dancing was enjoyed by tourists and locals alike at the tavern. The Boyhood Home became a successful tourist site and began to garner recognition for its significance in Lincoln’s Life. The Boy Scouts began using the site as a stopping point on their Lincoln Heritage Trail hike from Elizabethtown to Hodgenville. However, it became apparent to the Howard family that more hand to be done to ensure the long-term future of the Boyhood Home site.
A Secure Future
A group of Howard family members successfully worked toward having the site listed on the national register of historic place in 1988. A friends group formed to secure long term preservation of the Lincoln Boyhood Home at Knob Creek. Members of the community worked with local, state, and national organizations to have the Knob Creek site donated to the federal government. Congress authorized the acquisition of the site on November 6, 1998 and the management on November 6, 2001.
Visiting Knob Creek Today
Today’s visitor has the chance to walk in the boyhood footsteps of America’s 16th President. The Lincoln Boyhood Home at Knob Creek has a diversity of plants, wildlife and topography to stimulate the senses. National Park Service personnel plant a garden each spring that is representative of what the Lincolns might have planted. Knob Creek offers wonderful opportunities for bird watching and other wildlife viewing. A nature trail is maintained along the pristine waters of Knob Creek, A hiking train offers the chance to hike t the top of adjacent knob where an overlook allows a magnificent view of the surrounding valley. Interpretive talks are held during the summer.When visiting, the National Park Service asks you to take measures to protect yourself and the park’s resources. Please do not enter areas or buildings that are closed to the public. Use caution when entering or leaving the parking area. Stay alert for poison ivy, ticks, and venomous snakes. Slippery rocks and unstable banks may be present along the stream. Help us protect wildlife, plants, cultural or natural features by preserving them or future generations. Picnicking is allowed in designated areas. Open fires are not permitted.
To view the full site bulletin in PDF format visit: https://www.nps.gov/abli/planyourvisit/upload/Knob-Creek-Brochure-508.pdf
In his 1860 campaign autobiography, Abraham Lincoln wrote, quote I was born February 12th 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. My earliest recollection, however is of the knob Creek place.” Lincoln recounted events from his boyhood new year spent in the beautiful farm valley. Some memories stood out more than others: like the time here called planting pumpkin seeds in the fertile bottomland of knob Creek only to see the laborers of his small hands washed away by flash flood he recalled falling into the waters of the same stream and almost drowning before being pulled to safety by his friend, Austin Gallagher. He remembered his baby brother, Thomas, dying from an unknown illness and being laid to rest in the Redmond family cemetery on a hill overlooking the valley.
Life at Knob Creek Farm
The family left their sinking spring farm due to an unstable land title. Abraham Lincoln’s father, Thomas, at least 30 acres at knob Creek from George Lindsey, a local farmer. 3 fields lay between the surrounding knobs. These fields provided fertile land for corn crops, and the trees on the hill supplied wood for their cabin’s fire. Nancy Lincoln probably found berries and herbs to supplement the family’s diet. The daily struggles for survival on the Kentucky frontier helped to shape the character and attitudes of Abraham Lincoln’s adulthood. It was while living at Knob Creek that young Abraham’s curious, ambitious mind was first stimulated. He and his older sister, Sara, walked two miles to the little “blab school” at Athertonville in order to learn “readin’, writin’, and cipherin’ to the rule of three.” It was also at the Knob Creek that Abraham witnessed the cruel practice of human ownership.
Slavery in Kentucky
Many of the Lincolns’ neighbors were farmers and leaseholders like themselves. Slavery was not as prevalent on such small landholdings as on farms of the deep South. However, some neighbors did own slaves. As a young boy, Lincoln may have seen slaves taken down the road in front of the family cabin. The Lincoln family moved their church membership to a Separate Baptist congregation over their disapproval of slave ownership. Lincoln would write how his family had “removed to what is now Spencer County, Indiana… partly on account of slavery…” these events so affected him that while he was president he would write to A.G. Hodges, the editor of Frankfort’s Commonwealth, “If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think and feel.”
Knob Creek after the Lincolns
In 1815, Thomas Lincoln lost his legal pursuit to regain the sinking spring farm. Meanwhile, the Lincolns and nine of their neighbors were facing eviction as the result of a lawsuit brought by a group asserting a prior claim to 10,000 acers f the Knob Creek valley. In the winter of 1816, the small family packed their belongings, and said good-bye to friends and lft Knob Creek – the only Kentucky home Lincoln could remember.The real nature of knob Creek continued the farm passed through several families’ hands. Automobiles became affordable and federal Road Act of 1916 improved Kentucky’s highways. Tourism flourished and people began visiting LaRue county and the birthplace memorial. The Lincoln Trail was established as a way for travelers to follow the same route the Lincoln family took through Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.Hattie Howell Howard was one of the many people in the area seeking to memorialize Lincoln and create a career in tourism. In 1928, Hattie and her husband Chester purchased the Knob Creek property. In 1931, they moved logs from a cabin which once belonged to the Gollaher family, onto the site. They constructed an adjacent building to supply refreshments and gas to travelers. For many years live entertainment and dancing was enjoyed by tourists and locals alike at the tavern. The Boyhood Home became a successful tourist site and began to garner recognition for its significance in Lincoln’s Life. The Boy Scouts began using the site as a stopping point on their Lincoln Heritage Trail hike from Elizabethtown to Hodgenville. However, it became apparent to the Howard family that more hand to be done to ensure the long-term future of the Boyhood Home site.
A Secure Future
A group of Howard family members successfully worked toward having the site listed on the national register of historic place in 1988. A friends group formed to secure long term preservation of the Lincoln Boyhood Home at Knob Creek. Members of the community worked with local, state, and national organizations to have the Knob Creek site donated to the federal government. Congress authorized the acquisition of the site on November 6, 1998 and the management on November 6, 2001.
Visiting Knob Creek Today
Today’s visitor has the chance to walk in the boyhood footsteps of America’s 16th President. The Lincoln Boyhood Home at Knob Creek has a diversity of plants, wildlife and topography to stimulate the senses. National Park Service personnel plant a garden each spring that is representative of what the Lincolns might have planted. Knob Creek offers wonderful opportunities for bird watching and other wildlife viewing. A nature trail is maintained along the pristine waters of Knob Creek, A hiking train offers the chance to hike t the top of adjacent knob where an overlook allows a magnificent view of the surrounding valley. Interpretive talks are held during the summer.When visiting, the National Park Service asks you to take measures to protect yourself and the park’s resources. Please do not enter areas or buildings that are closed to the public. Use caution when entering or leaving the parking area. Stay alert for poison ivy, ticks, and venomous snakes. Slippery rocks and unstable banks may be present along the stream. Help us protect wildlife, plants, cultural or natural features by preserving them or future generations. Picnicking is allowed in designated areas. Open fires are not permitted.
To view the full site bulletin in PDF format visit: https://www.nps.gov/abli/planyourvisit/upload/Knob-Creek-Brochure-508.pdf