August 2020 Newsletter

DIRECTOR’S LETTER

Dear Friends,

President Lincoln’s Cottage has been a witness to over 175 years of turbulent history. Without question, that is true of Abraham Lincoln’s time here, which bookends the Civil War. Our efforts over the past two decades to save this site and resurrect its history in the national consciousness are also bookended by crisis. The capital restoration project launched shortly before the September 11th terrorist attacks. Our grand opening took place in early 2008, just as the Great Recession began to take hold. Now we all face a daunting challenge due to the global pandemic. Throughout it all, this team has been guided by President Lincoln’s example of leadership in crisis, fueled by perseverance, humanity, and a deep sense of purpose.

As soon as we closed to the public mid-March, the team sprang into action, creating new, responsive virtual programs, attending to critical preservation needs, and providing support where we could, such as donating PPE. At the same time, the closure resulted in an entire quarter of lost revenue and the cancellation of our annual preservation fundraiser. Although the Cottage was able to carefully reopen in a limited, exterior-only capacity in July, to continue to fulfill our mission we need your help.

We are the only National Monument in the country that is not part of the federal budget. As a 501(c)3 public charity, we rely on contributions and earned income to carry out our work. Consistently sound, financial management, including clean audits, a strategic reserve, and efficient operations are hallmarks of how we have always operated. Thanks to a PPP loan and a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, President Lincoln’s Cottage is safe—for now. Yet the challenges will certainly outlast what relief we have been able to secure. We are more determined than ever to emerge from this even stronger. Please help us during this extraordinary challenge and make a gift today as your situation allows.Thank you for understanding the importance of President Lincoln’s Cottage to our nation’s history and civic identity. Together we can “strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds” now and for the future.

With appreciation,

-Erin

August Experiences and Safety Measures

This month, we are pleased to offer a cemetery tour, and a storytelling session on the lawn as part of our daily public programming. Learn More

[button link=”https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1006122/president-lincolns-cottage-tours-washington-president-lincolns-cottage-at-the-soldiershome” size=”medium” variation=”green” bgColor=”#b9bf15″ textColor=”#000000″ align=”left” target=”blank”]Buy Tickets (external site)[/button]

Masks are now required by order of the mayor by every visitor over the age of three. We have updated our visitor guidelines to keep our community safe during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Learn more about our current safety measures.

Cycling Lincoln’s Historic Commute

Lincoln’s commutes between the Cottage and the White House were formative. He passed military camps, hospitals, and “contraband camps” where formerly enslaved people lived. He interacted with wounded soldiers, self-emancipated men, women, and children, and even Walt Whitman. On Saturday, August 8th we will be cycling Lincoln’s historic commute with DC Cycling Concierge, learning about 1860’s Washington as we go. Join us!

It’s official: We are an Amazing Place to Bring your Kid

We were thrilled to make the Kids out and About list of best local places to take your kids. Verify this finding by bringing your little ones to our new Summer Social Studies program, offered throughout August!

Store Spotlight: Watercolor Print

Visit our online shop to purchase newly available merchandise including a print of this beautiful watercolor of the Cottage by Milton Shinberg.

President Lincoln’s Cottage in the News

DC Line included our tours as the top history thing to do in their DC Line up.
The American Alliance of Museums published our Q&Abe podcast award in their list of MUSE accolades.
CSPAN repeatedly aired our program on Presidential Leadership with Jared Peatman.
Kids Out And About promoted us as a top place to bring your children

SUPPORT PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S COTTAGE

Support our educational programs, preservation efforts and public events by making a contribution to President Lincoln’s Cottage. Donate online today.

August 6, 2020