Only House Owned by Lincoln Restored in Three-Year Project

The only house Abraham Lincoln ever owned has been reopened to tourists after a $2.2-million renovation to erase the wear and tear caused by a half-million visitors a year.

The two-story brown frame house that Lincoln bought in 1844 had been closed for about a year to complete the remaining structural and cosmetic repairs of a three-year restoration project. It was reopened Thursday in a celebration featuring speeches by state officials, patriotic music and the swearing-in of 112 new U.S. citizens.

Gov. James R. Thompson told the estimated 2,500 people at the ceremony he hoped that tourists who visited the home would be inspired to learn more about Lincoln.

President Reagan, in a congratulatory letter, wrote: “I have always been proud of the fact that I share Illinois roots with our 16th President.”

During the restoration project, historians and architects researched such details as the house’s original wallpaper patterns, the precise shade of brown on the exterior and whether the woodwork was stained, varnished or painted.

The results of the historical sleuthing may be a bit jarring to modern tastes. Patterns of carpet and wallpaper are extremely vivid and no effort seems to have been made to coordinate colors.

Bill Brown, historic furnishings curator for the park service, explained that the period preference for bright colors was based on the fact that aniline dyes were just starting to be commonly used.