Hours of Operation

Monday – Saturday
Visitor Center: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Cottage Tours: First tour at 10 AM, Last tour at 3 PM
Sunday
Visitor Center: 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Cottage Tours: First Tour at 11 AM, Last tour at 3 PM

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

Cottage Admission and Tours

Admission to the Cottage is by guided tour only and requires a tour ticket. Advanced ticket purchase is strongly recommended, and weekend tours often sell out completely. Unreserved tour tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. Tours begin in the Visitor Education Center and last approximately 1 hour from start to finish.

For ticket prices and to purchase a ticket, click here.
For more information on our tours, click here.

Directions

View Eagle Gate in a larger map

Location: President Lincoln’s Cottage is located on the  Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) campus in Northwest Washington, D.C.

Entrance: The entrance to President Lincoln’s Cottage is through the Eagle Gate, located at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road NW and Upshur Street  NW. The street address is approximately 140 Rock Creek Church Road, N.W., Washington D.C.  20011. NOTE: 3700 North Capitol Street is not an entrance.

For GPS or  Google Maps Users:

Enter “140 Rock Creek Church Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20011″ to map the approximate location of the Eagle Gate entrance. This is not an official street  or mailing address, but is close to the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road  NW and Upshur Street NW.

RAIL: Georgia Avenue/Petworth (Green & Yellow Lines) is 0.8 miles downhill from Eagle Gate and is the closest metro station to President Lincoln’s Cottage. The station is located at the intersection of Georgia Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue, and Rock Creek Church Road. From the Metro exit, walk to Rock Creek Church Road, then head northeast along Rock Creek Church Road for approximately 0.8 miles and turn right into the gates at the intersection of Upshur Street and Rock Creek Church Road. Alternatively, catch the H8 bus (see below) from a stop at the intersection of New Hampshire and Georgia Avenue, just south of the Metro exit.

BUS: The H8 Metro Bus stops at “Rock Creek Church Rd NW and Upshur Street NW” (stop # 1002986) immediately in front of the Eagle Gate entrance. After exiting the bus, the gate will be on the right-hand side of the road.

TIP: Most bus and rail employees are not familiar with specific tourist attractions along their routes. They will need to know the line, route, and  stop you are looking for in order to assist you rather than the name of the site. When in doubt, contact our staff for support (202)-829-0436 x31231.

BIKE: Rent a bike from Capital  Bike Share, at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Rock Creek Church  Road, across from the metro station. On your bike, follow Rock Creek Church  Road to Eagle Gate (about a 0.8 miles).

DRIVE: Driving directions from downtown D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are below.

PARKING: FREE, on-site parking is available adjacent to the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center.

Driving  from Downtown DC:

Drive north on 16th Street NW, 14th Street NW or Georgia Avenue NW. Turn right on Upshur Street NW. Upshur Street  terminates at the gate to the Armed Forces Retirement Home; continue through the gate.

OR

From the Capitol, drive north on North Capitol Street for approximately 3 miles.  You will see the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery on your left. At the bottom of the hill, turn left onto Allison Street. Continue onto Rock Creek Church  Road, NW. Turn left into the gate at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road  and Upshur Street.

Driving  from Maryland:

Take I-495 to Georgia Avenue southbound exit. Travel approximately 5.3  miles south on Georgia Avenue NW (you’re getting close when you pass Buchanon, Allison, and Webster Streets). Turn left on Upshur Street NW. Upshur Street terminates at the gate to the Armed Forces Retirement  Home; continue through the gate.

Driving from Virginia:

Take I-66 eastbound to Constitution Avenue NW. Turn left on 18th Street NW.  Turn right on H Street NW. Turn left on 14th Street NW. Turn right on Upshur Street NW. Upshur Street terminates at the gate to the Armed Forces  Retirement Home; continue through the gate.

TAXI: State to your driver that you’re going to the Armed Forces Retirement Home  (aka “Old Soldiers’ Home”) campus, Eagle Gate entrance. Use the following address: 140 Rock Creek Church Road, NW (intersection of Upshur Street, NW and Rock Creek Church Road, NW). Do not let your driver go to 3700 N. Capitol Street–it is not an entrance. Please use common sense: never get into a cab with a driver that is uncertain about where he or she is going. We cannot be held responsible for cab drivers  who get lost.

Using Uber: Another option for getting to and from the Cottage is using the car service, Uber. This service is slightly more expensive than a taxicab but is generally more reliable.

Before your visit: Learn more about Uber’s services through their website. We recommend signing up via the Uber website before you visit the Cottage, to make the reservation smooth and easy when requesting the car on site.

While you are at the Cottage: Request a car via their mobile website or their mobile app. You will be notified of the approximate arrival time of your Uber car after making the reservation (usually within 15-20 minutes) and will receive a second notification when your car has arrived.

To learn more about Uber services, visit their website: https://www.uber.com/cities/washington-dc#cities

Visitor Guidelines

All tours of the Cottage begin in the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center. While you’re here, please note the following: