Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Reviews

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is one of the nicest museums I have visited. The museum takes you through the cabin where Lincolns life began through his White House years. The statues are so life like and great for photo ops. The theater gives a great show about Lincoln with great special effects and makes characters come to life. The exhibits are very informative. The staff are very friendly and the gift shop is great but somewhat pricy. You need a few hours here. The Libray has exhibits to see. If you want to do study and research you have to get permission.
Would recommend this museum to any history lover, Lincoln fan and to people from say ages 8 and up.

There are numerous exhibits which you traverse in a timeline. Well done and absorbing. The movies are great also. The docents/volunteers are very friendly and informative. I recommend it. We also enjoyed the Illinois music exhibit with the music via headphones.

It's a nice sized museum that doesn't get overwhelming, and the life sized dioramas help you imagine that you were there during Lincoln's day. After we got back, we played a trivia game with family, and we were able to get a question about Ulysses S Grant’s height right because we had stood next to a lifesize figure of him!

I think they also managed to capture the emotional likfe of the president and his family.
The volunteers there were very friendly and helpful

So LOVED the ghosts presentation! This is a WORLD CLASS museum. My hubby and I live in Decatur, and proudly bring our out of town guests to this museum. It is something to be proud of. Things for children, something for everyone. Simply wonderful.

Very informative and well done! Everything that you want to know and more to help you understand who Lincoln was as a person as well as a President! The museum has a unique layout where you can follow the paths through key moments in Lincoln's life from childhood through his funeral. There are also two short films that discuss the events that you will see as you walk through two journeys; the pre-presidency years, and the presidency years. There are holograms in one section that were a bit overwhelming for me as they were all talking at the same time. The first "film" experience reminded me of the Hall of Presidents at Disney. It was very well done.

Springfield was our first overnight stay while driving Route 66 . We visited his home first and then walked back up the street to the museum.
There is a lot to see and do including two theatre style performances which add to your understanding. The museum is laid out in such a way as to allow you to progress through his life from birth to the White House.
As a visitor from the UK it gave me so much more information and history of this period.

I’d also like to thank the staff who from entry to exit were super friendly and helpful.

We had tickets to To The Lincoln Library and Museum and drove over at 9:00 AM on a Sunday. There was a free at least on Sunday parking garage nearby. There were lots of displays, photos and exhibits depicting Lincoln and his family throughout his time in Illinois and Washington DC. It was all very interesting and we spent several hours there.

We have been here 3 times & each visit I appreciate it more. So much to see & learn something new every time I'm there. Highly recommend to all.

We enjoyed the history and learning more about President Lincoln. The displays were well done. Employees were very friendly and helpful

This is WAY overpriced! Then everywhere you turn there are big donation boxes! You walk in and it looks great you have Wax Lincoln sitting on a log in front of the cabin to the left, the White House with his family in front, and a theater to the right and left of the White House. Girls were given a scavenger hunt when they first walked in. We found another one as we entered the log cabin. We asked the docent if the basket on the scavenger hunt was in the cabin she couldn't understand what we were saying and then was confused. I would recommend your docents know the scavenger hunt so they can offer clues or directions to the younger children. I did not like the depiction of the slave auction. I think making a depiction of the 1 in a million situations is beyond what is needed! I did enjoy the view of Frederick Douglass being portrayed in the one theater. It is rarely talked about and his framing of the proclamation is spot on. I did not enjoy the traveling exhibit. The dresses were a favorite with the girls. Overall, I would not return. I did not find it worth the money at all! The best part was the Ghosts theater presentation. Even with that, it was not worth the money! Now I understand why we were one of four families in the entire museum!

This is a fine tribute to a wonderful President who fought long and hard to convince people that human beings should be free and that they are not property. The films are extremely well done and should be watched first, and then tour the museum, beginning with Abe's childhood home. It takes at least two hours to read and absorb all of the memorabilia and the story of Lincoln from his log cabin in Kentucky to Springfield, to the White House. This is a must for all school children and anyone visiting the Springfield area of Illinois. Parking is free in the garage, and tickets are $12-15.

Having seen the tomb and birthplace before, I was excited to visit the museum. It is very well done--excellent use of technology and tells the history very well. Thanks for all your work to make this happen.

Great layout as you went through time of ABE. Modern exhibits--even using holograms to tell the stories. News clippings of the era kept us engaged as well. Well worth the entry fee and 3 hours

The museum and the exhibits were excellent! The detail in the exhibits displayed was very impressive and exceeded our expectations. The volunteers providing information and guidance in the museum added to our experience.

Also the two films were very well done and it helped to do these early in the visit- we did them back to back - we did one at 9:30 and one at 10am. We parked in the parking garage across the street and there was a small change. Overall we spent about 2.5 hours there and learned a lot!

It's an excellent history lesson within this building. It covers all aspects of the president and first lady's lives. Also, very good videos. And, the museum gives some thoughfulness and depth to the complex slavery issue--for the North and for the South.

Great Presidential museum. We have been there a few times and see something new each time. We took friends there and they really enjoyed it. Would highly recommend.

It’s a large museum and attached library. You pay to enter the museum - it’s not clear if you can enter the library for free or it’s included in your ticket - but you only pay once. Inside there are great exhibits. We really liked the replica White House and the Theatre where a 20 minute film shows the key points of Lincoln’s life. Well worth a visit

We had an excellent time. The staff was very knowledgeable and very friendly. Lots of history and the shows were amazing

There is so much to see and read, you could spend a good portion of a day here. The staff was friendly and the museum was very clean. During covid times there weren't many visitors. There are 2 theaters, I would recommend going to both. One is 9 minutes, one is 17 minutes long. Both shows were done remarkably well. We went as a family, husband, wife and adult son. We all enjoyed it.

We really enjoyed the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The exhibits were interesting and varied. We especially liked the holographic movie; so much so we saw it twice during our visit. The museum is divided into sections and were easy to navigate. We spent about 2 hours and saw everything.

Through multiple media: pictures, videos, objects and hologram, the museum presents the life of A Lincoln. Presents well known facts and delves into some interesting back stories. Significant focus on the struggle and opposition he faced as president. Well worth the admission!

There is not much to see at the library: mostly for research.

The live show is a must see. The entire library is amazing in itself but when you add all the extra things there, it was amazing.

Been several times. It is a wonderful place to go and take friends and young people. There are many things to read if you have the time. We come home with something we didn't know every time we go.

If you are visiting Springfield, be sure not to pass this up!! It's quite an illuminating look into Lincoln's life! I very highly recommend seeing the holographic show and the Eyes of Lincoln show while you are there! They are both amazing! There is a vast amount of displays and things to see! They even make it a point to show the struggles, hardships, and adversity he went through all the way up until the tragic end of his life. This is truly an experience that anyone from kids to elderly can enjoy and learn from!

Not much in the way of actual Lincoln documents or belongings on display. Lots of dioramas and wax-like figures. A bit elementary and therefore a bit pricey.

The exhibits are informative and well done. If you want to see a movie do that first since they are shown at specific times. After you see the movies you choose, do the self guided tour of the exhibits. There is so much information you will want to allow plenty of time. After the tour be sure to see the "Music in Illinois " exhibit. It takes more time than you might think, so plan on a while. Obtain headphones from the docent, then enter the exhibit room. The exhibits are extensive and we'll done, and there are 13 listening stations with different types of music. Cross the street to the library, where there is very little to see but still worth visiting. There is an "Adlai Stevenson room" and the library books are visible through glass walls. The highlight in this building is definitely the desk on which Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Such a well planned museum! It takes the bits and pieces of Lincoln’s life that we learned in our high school history books, and brings it all together to present the story of a very complex man, from his birth in a log cabin to his assassination, and many of the formative events in his life along the way. If you are history buffs like us, I recommend allowing at least 3 hours to see the exhibits, so that you have time to read everything, watch the videos included in some of the exhibits, and not feel rushed. The 4 minute film that condenses every battle of the Civil War (and their casualties) into an evolving timeline is not to be missed. We actually watched it twice. A friend who previously visited the museum had encouraged us to watch Ghosts in the Library (in the Holavision Theater) and the Lincoln’s Eyes film (in the Union Theater) before starting through the exhibits, and that was an excellent suggestion. That allowed us to take our time during the rest of our visit without having to worry about running back to the lobby to catch these special presentations. Show times are staggered, which allowed us to move quickly from one to the other. We parked for free one block away on the ground level of the parking deck. Highly recommend combining the museum with a visit to the Lincoln National Historic Site a few blocks away, as well as to his family’s tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery (and snag a docent tour of the tomb if at all possible, very informative).

This museum was spectacular! I don’t want to give away any details as I did not look at picture’s ahead of time and I was in awe! When in my amazement I said something to my husband he knew some of what to expect because he looked ahead of the visit! Better if you only research the times, price, directions! We visited on a Sunday and found street parking and the Museum was not that busy!

Enjoyed the museum thoroughly. If you love Lincoln as I do then it is a must do event. However, be careful where you park and walk near the museum. Witnessed an assault next to the parking garage for the museum.

This has to be one of the best museums in the country! An outstanding presentation of the 16th President. Plan on 2 to 2 1/2 hours in the museum.

This is a wonderful library! Many of the libraries we have visited have displays which required a lot of written explanation which is boring for kids but not this library. They have dioramas illustrating key portions of Lincoln's life with life-size mannequins. Some displays feature sound. They also have a few docents describing the scenes and answering questions. The library is divided into two sections - pre-presidential years and White House years. Short movies are shown in two theaters. One is "Ghosts of the Library" a 9 minute presentation which is narrated by a hologram. The other is a 17 minute movie in the Union Theater which includes special effects. All in all, this is an impressive, entertaining and fun way to learn history. Open daily 9-5.

My wife said that every young person should go to this museum. I agree.

But it is not just for kids. The museum's displays are a tremendous reminder of the opposition and hate Lincoln faced. Everyone today honors Lincoln, but he was despised by a huge number of people when he was alive. We were struck by the parallels to today. The country was more divided in Lincoln's day (obviously), but it survived and what was right prevailed.

This is one of the best museums we have ever visited.

Go and take the kids!

Our family was going to St. Louis, MO and on our journey made a stop here to go to this museum. We have been to a lot of museums in our lives with our children, this one is by far the best one we have experienced. We were all emotionally impacted by this museum and the history of Abe Lincoln. If you are by this Museum and have the chance to go, do not pass it up, it will not disappoint. We actually went Aug 2017.

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Very well curated. Make sure that you see both shows in addition to walking through all exhibits! Kids (ages 16 & 12) seemed to enjoy as well.

what a great informative fun museum.....so well done.....I loved Ghosts in the Library. And when you walked thru the White House, so many room, depicting all points of President Lincolns Presidency.....Loved this....so many exhibits, we actually stayed for 4 hours, but, you could do it a lot less...my husband is a history enthusiast. & I enjoyed it all to.....very clean...well spread out. a lot of little theaters depicting different parts of Abes life.... I also enjoy the movie...the civil war in 4 minutes, showing all the battles/casualities...in a 4 minute time frame on a map. very cool.....I was amazed how many I did know.......everywhere we went, such friendly volunteers/employees....this is a must, and im telling all to make the visit to Springfield to see this beautiful, fabulous museum.

I've been to many presidential museums and this ranks among the top. It's well laid out with lots of wonderful information. All the employees and volunteers were helpful and friendly. Well worth your time and small admittance fee.

This museum was really cool! There were replicas of every stage of Lincolns life! There was plenty of information to read along the way. They also had a couple different plays/shows for you to watch. Overall a great place to learn more about Lincoln and his life!

Great museum to visit and learn about the early life of Abe Lincoln until his death. A few videos are shown that explained various aspects of his life. Very professionally organized and visual effects are amazing. This place was a treat for our trip cross country.

Excellent! We really enjoyed our visit to this fun & informative museum. Lots of exhibits, many utilizing modern technology, which makes things so much more realistic. Museum employees were kind & helpful. Everything was spotlessly clean. It took us a little more than 3 hours and we certainly didn’t read everything. Don’t miss either of the theater presentations. Both were excellent; The Ghosts in the Library was so moving in had me in tears.

Very well done & displayed for the time era. Very informative. Ghost hologram especially enjoyed as well as the depiction of Abe bringing his boys into the law office on any given day. Our only disappointment would be the final stroll thru the gift shop upon exiting only to see a Michelle Obama book on display in the middle of ALL BOOKS Abraham Lincoln related. This book has NO BUSINESS being on display in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library/Museum, IMO.

This presidential museum tells the story of Lincoln's life from his log cabin days of growing up to his assassination in Washington D. C. It also provides insight into some of the political and cultural issues he confronted.

It's great experience.. gives a lot of information about Lincoln and his life, his family.
Many Inspiring One-Of-A-Kind Exhibits On Lincoln’s Life.
It's must visit place in Springfield, IL

Visited this Presidential Library while on a roadtrip. Friendly staff members and very welcoming. Everyrhing you want to know about Abe Lincoln, this is the place to go.

You really do learn a lot about Lincoln as a person at this museum. It is basically split up into two parts: his childhood up until his election and then his White House years til his death. There are additionally two theater experiences and one treasures gallery. I highly recommend both theater experiences - they run every 30 or 60 minutes and the daily scheduled are clearly posted when you get there so you can plan accordingly. I went with my 16 year old and both of us took our time reading everything. She got a student discount and I felt the admission prices were not expensive and definitely worth the value.

What emotions as you walk through this museum about the life of Mr. Lincoln.
Unmissable activity not to be missed.
The staff very kind, who did everything to make us have a pleasant time finding us translations into French.
Thank you very much:)

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum provides so much more than just reading or watching biography. Full of exhibits and some interactive experience with experts. We very much enjoyed our visit

I especially liked the two shows. The whole museum was very interesting and very well done. The pictures and displays were great.

Every American should visit this museum honoring our 16th president, the greatest president this country ever had. You'll see the White House while the Lincolns resided there, a cabin like Abe was raised in, and a special exhibit that changes from time to time. There are two theaters with presentations that are interesting, informative and very moving. I cannot recommend the ALPLM enough.

The entire experience was amazing. My husband and I were transported back in time and we felt as if we were experiencing the past. The volunteers were so helpful, kind and knowledgeable. I hope every person has the opportunity to visit this museum.

An excellent museum highlighting many aspects of Lincoln’s life and his challenging presidency. A nice balance with exhibits, artifacts, and movies that tell his story.

This museum is definitely worth the time and money. The movies especially are wonderful. We may go back- there is almost more than you can see in one visit. The train station across the street, which is included in the price of the museum is also worth a visit. If you're there for lunch, stroll to town & try the Feed Store.

Highly impressive museum that walks you through most of Abraham Lincoln's life; from boyhood through his death. Museum breaks up the information into various bite-size pieces, so you can more easily digest the information. Lots of impressive displays to see, and the use of artistry and technology adds so much more to the experience. Similarly, the two theater experiences were a nice break from walking and reading.

Staff were both friendly and informative. Had a nice discussion with a few of the different museum employees during the 2-3 hours that we were there.

We went here when we were young. Maybe 30 years ago? We came again. And OMG, we forgot how high tech and cool it is. It is an extreme history lesson. Every school student, and everyone for that matter needs to do this.

This is place that you’ll love if you’re an American historian as well as another location to check off your bucket list. Briefly, it’s a walk through museum with wax figures, tutorial kiosks, paintings and writings. There’s also a special effects film about the tribulations that Abraham Lincoln experienced during his life and presidency.

Outstanding! Unique & Disneyesque presentation of Abraham Lincoln's boyhood, presidency with its political cartoonists and vocal critics, elaborate scenes from his death at The Ford Theatre to his final resting place, solider death count per week/second with changing boundaries during the Civil War, Mary Todd Lincoln's rivals, special items from his presidency, and a couple of must see videos. The staff is friendly and helpful, even helping us take a photo with the Lincolns as they prepared to leave for D.C. I've been to seven presidential libraries/museums and this is a must see. It will give you greater insight & appreciation into Lincolns difficult life & presidency, possible reasons for the choices he made and pride in being an American. Excellent & creative presentation!

We took a solo self guided tour of the two square block buildings and signage of Lincoln’s growing up place. Buildings are pretty well restored, but you could not go in or even look it. Still, interesting.

Wonderful experience visiting this Abraham Lincoln library and Museum. Learn so much of the history of Lincoln’s time.

Outstanding museum. I only went for my son but I am SO glad I did. This museum was incredible! I learned SO much about Abraham Lincoln. The museum did a great job. I loved it so much- I will be back. Excellent details of Abraham life & what he went through to accomplish so much. Great details & props.

Little hard to get here and out of downtown with all the road construction, but the museum itself is great. Very big and detailed, multiple exhibits incuding multiple not just about Lincoln.

Well worth your time. Beautifully presented exhibits and films. The "Whitehouse" exhibit is outstanding! We also enjoyed the current "sounds" exhibit showcasing musicians from Illinois.

This a fantastic Museum. I would go again there was so much to see and we didn't have enough time and we had small children with us who got bored

Wonderful-- Beautifully done and so interesting. Allow at least a few hours. Great films and such insight into the time period.

There are many wonderful sections of the library. The holograms performance is amazing. Going through the timeline beginning in the log cabin and ending with the Lincoln assassination is amazing.
What's sad is the amount of hate that is shown between pro and anti slavery sides, the media commentary, and politics. Somewhat unrelated, but equally disturbing is the Illinois exhibit showing survivors of the Holocaust and other ethnic cleansings
There is a parking garage nearby that is free.

One of the best museums I've been in especially for Lincoln fans. I especially love the Holavision Theatre. Don't miss it.

This museum is a love letter to the life of Abe Lincoln. It presents his life from birth to death and in between. In my experience, this museum is a bridge to us, the modern people, to Lincoln, his family and his genius.

I must say I didn't have a clue going in how much I was going to like it.

You just know that this museum was curated, designed, managed and toured by people who are not only experts in history but have a deep passion to convey it.

There is a free parking garage on the northwest corner of 6th and Madison. The Lincoln "campus" is on the southeast corner of that intersection. The Library has 2 primary "journeys." The first follows Lincoln's pre-presidential years. The second covers Lincoln's presidency. There are 2 theaters: the "Ghost Theater" and the "Union Theater." It is recommended that you go to the "Ghost" and then immediately go to the "Union." Beyond this, there are several galleries with artifacts and other educational information. There is a gift shop.

A tour of the Abraham Lincoln Museum is well worth the price of admission. Be sure to allow time to see the 2 "movies". These are state-of-the-art productions that have Broadway calibre effects. As for the Library, it's off-limits to most visitors due to security concerns for the documents that are housed there. Often some of the documents are moved to the Museum where they can be viewed by the public. If you are a science geek be sure to ask about the fire fighting system in the Library.

This was a highlight of our Mid-West trip! I love the videos depicting Lincoln's life, and work! Very engaging!!

We've driven past Springfield numerous times. Finally stopped to see this. Should have stopped years ago! Excellent displays to show the life of one of our most famous Presidents. We watched two movies - always a great help to see life on the big screen. Plan on 3 hours to take it all in.

One of the displays I found most interesting was "The Civil War in 4 minutes." This video showed the growth and decline of Confederate territory with cannons firing to show the significant battles. A box in the bottom corner showed Confederate and Union casualties as the war progressed. Another exhibit I found fascinating was the imagining of the 1860 election as if it were a modern campaign. There are 3 short movies visitors can watch. All are worth watching. One is a continuously running movie describing the creation of the museum and exhibits. Another describes the value of learning history. The third is a portrait of Lincoln. There is some loud gunfire during the Civil War section. The last 2 movies are only at set times, so plan your exploring around them. The museum has a large gift shop for those who want a souvenir of a book, stove pipe hat or other item. To avoid rushing through, plan at least 2 hours for a visit including the 3 movies. and looking at the gift shop.

A beautiful museum/library/theatre(s).
No expense has been spared to make your visit educational/entertaning. The volunteers are gems of knowledge and graceful hosts.

Parkin is a breeze and almost right next door to th Library.

To keep it short and sweet this museum tells the whole story of President Lincoln. The wax figures, the posters, the letters, the film, the civil war, the political atmosphere all bring it together in a sobering way. We were there for 90 minutes, but we needed twice that much time. It's alot to take in and all worthwhile.

A very well done and well thought out experience. From the theaters to the displays. The entire life of Abraham is presented from growing up in poverty to becoming president. Very enjoyable

Movies were fantastic and informative. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Free garage parking and a downtown location made visiting even better. We got our tickets online, check in was easy and quick. Highly recommend a stop here. We were there for about 2 hours. You could spend an hour to three here depending how quickly you move through the museum.

This is a really, really well done museum. I learned several things about Lincoln, and not all of them good, as the museum does not portray him as faultless, and it does not at all shy away from the fact that he had many detractors in life. I actually found the hall full of copies of critical editorial cartoons especially fascinating. The museum really made me appreciate what a challenging life and presidency Lincoln had (of course I knew his presidency was challenging, but the museum does a great job of highlighting the pressures that were coming at him from all sides). The recreation of the room where he lay in state was genuinely moving.

Be sure to see both theater shows. They are timed to show right after each other, so you can watch both in less than 30 minutes. They are not your average boring, dry museum movies. While they are a little cheesy in order to appeal to all ages, I still very much enjoyed them as an adult, and learned from both of them, and they do an excellent job of incorporating modern technology and being engaging.

Disney Imagineers were employed to help design this museum and while actual artifacts are limited in number, the dioramas are really well done. Favorite part was probably The Ghosts of the Library.

Spent 4 hours on this fantastic experiential museum and the time flew by. There are several live actors and musicians in several theaters interpreting Lincoln and his times. Do not miss the 20 minute one man play of Walt Whitman as a hospital volunteer. It was great!
Those looking for Lincoln's to phat and other objects will need to do to DC, but there are a lot of original letters and ephemera on display.
Walk thru the room covered in blown up political c as cartoons of Lincoln to put into perspective how actually our current political climate is .

Good, informative museum. Parking is free in garage and tickets are also free (for the time being) with proof of vaccine. We spent 2.5 hrs in here including seeing the two movies. Children appeared attentive but not impressed. I would recommend more for adults.

Our family (with an eleven year old and thirteen year old) thoroughly enjoyed it. We took about 3 hours to tour the museum, reading a lot, but not everything, plus a little extra time for the gift store. It was entertaining and educational. They have a “Be a History Detective for the day” worksheet that was fun.

This was an astounding experience! One of the best museums we have ever been to! It really gave such a deeper understanding of the difficulties that Lincoln faced and triumphed over. The museum itself is incredible with 2 large theaters displaying hi-tech movies and the various exhibits are stunning and highly informative. Springfield can be incredibly proud of this amazing tribute to our greatest President!

Very informative and easy to follow information about Abraham Lincoln, covering much of his life prior to and during the Presidency, as well as that of his widow's sad history and his surviving son, Robert.

I visited the Lincoln Museum on August 13, 2021 on a last minute trip through Springfield. It was on a Friday and the museum offered 1/2 price entrance tickets. I really enjoyed the White House Years portion of the museum. Very happy I got to visit this place !!

This is an excellent museum, nice exhibits, cool artifacts, and a pretty neat show called Ghost of the Library. My one complaint is that the county in Indiana that Abraham Lincoln grew up in (today known as Spencer County) didn’t seem to be mentioned anywhere in the museum. The only reference I found was Little Pigeon Creek (which to be fair is in Spencer County). Overall, this is a fantastic museum and if you are in the area you really need to swing by. The staff is also extremely friendly.

*Note: I visited in August of 2021 ,so it is possible that Spencer County might be mentioned in the museum now.

The exhibits were very informative. It was easy to go through each phase of the life of Abraham Lincoln. The area of the civil war with all the photo's really bought to your mind the horrors of war.

Interesting place! It has stunning displays on the war, Lincoln’s thought process, the grief they endured, and Mary’s dresses.

I honestly can't recommend this any higher. This is a MUST-SEE when in Springfield! See the theatre to the right of the White House first, then see the show in the far left theater before going into the White House. And do see the Thomas Lincoln replica too! I went to his actual log cabin the next day...simply amazing!

Wow!! Classy, informative and just the right size. Everyone should see this. If you know a lot about Lincoln, you’ll learn more. If you don’t know much, it’s the perfect introduction. Well laid out. Easy to navigate. The two movies are powerful.

All the history....wow! This place was amazing. We were there in 2005 and they have added so much more. This is a must see.

Highly recommend! Staff are fantastic, the museum is so clean and fresh, a relaxed atmosphere and enjoyable experience. A great learning opportunity about history.

Great! Free parking at the parking garage across the street from the museum. The security staff was really friendly checking our bags. The staff was wonderful guiding us and telling us about the museum. We only paid for our son and the rest of us got in free. For the month of June 2021 you can get in free by showing you vaccine card. You just need a picture of your vaccine card. We spent 2 hours here. Our tween and teen liked the movies but didn’t seem interested in the rest of museum. Overall we had a good time.

We've been to several "Presidential Libraries", and they never disappoint; however, Lincoln's is the best by far due to the man himself, the tumultous times he served through, and the genius of the folks who planned and run this museum. It is so well-designed to lead a visitor through superb visual and tactil exhibits that make Lincoln's story come to life in poignant, sometimes humorous, often deeply moving ways. From his "log-cabin boyhood" to his lawyering days in Springfield to the trials of leading a divided nation through an awful Civil War, displays of artifacts enhanced by artistic renderings and historical voices greet you at every turn--and the result is a powerful and educational walk through some very important history worth remembering. Just go enjoy and be inspired!

Cliff Notes version of history in a Disney style / Wax Museum. We were really disappointed, we had planned to spend all afternoon, but it was a tiny museum. We've been to FDR, JFK etc libraries and had GREAT galleries that gave DEPTH to their subjects. This was like a children's book version of history and the movies were annoying, one was a ghost story about the importance of having an archive, it had very little to do with Lincoln, y'know the guy the PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY is supposed to be centered around... the other was narrated by a portrait artist that was obsessed with sound effects and the subwoofer. Incredibly disappointed, you will too, trust me.

This is a great museum. We loved the two "movies". There was a ranger explaining about Mr. Lincoln's boyhood in a log cabin in Indiana, and he was very informative.
Unfortunately, they didn't have a special exhibit when we visited. The last time we were there, they had an exhibit on the assassination which was very good. They have a large gift shop.

Really enjoyed the museum. Learned many new facts. Very nice hologram program and very nice movies.

Big history fan and this was high on the list to see. Arrived in Springfield late and guard and manager on duty were cool enough to let us in. Museum in broken into two parts and I was mostly interested in seeing the White House/War Days. Not disappointed. Lots to do and see and we tried to cram as much as we could in under an hour. War exhibits were very interesting and Ford's Theater just the same. Highlight was the full size front of the White House and the incredible artwork on the walls. We actually made it to his tomb the next morning. If you're in the area put in on your list to see.

This fascinating museum will keep you occupied for a long time. There is so much to see and read, and learn about Lincoln.

Really enjoyed our afternoon here. It was educational but also a lot of fun. The employees were helpful and friendly. For example there is a certain order that you should view everything in and the staff is very helpful in guiding everyone to the right areas. Our teens said that the cabin, the tv news room and the show Ghosts of the Library were their favorite parts. This place really exceeded expectations. If you find yourself in Springfield, IL definitely check it out !

All around great museum. Exhibits have enough reading for the readers. Enough interactive for the visual. Enough facts and history not to overwhelm the visitor. Wonderful activities to engage the children. One of the best presidential museums I have visited.

There is always something new to learn in this museum no matter how many times you go. Fascinating artifacts with a hands on approach for any age.

I was with my mom and sister and I had been here 11 years ago but I didn't mind visiting again. It was fun to see how much my mom and sister enjoyed it, especially the hologram presentation.

My family loved this museum. They had wonderful multi-media exhibits. We learned so much about President Lincoln. They have exhibits from his childhood to his White House years. The museum is set up to follow the progression of his life. You also learn about the Civil War. My favorite exhibit was a four minute movie showing the troop movement of the Civil War.

This was an excellent museum with high quality exhibits. It was a bit smaller than I expected and it was a 1/2 day excursion for us (approximately 3-3.5 hours, including the small exhibit area in the adjacent library). It was my favorite site in Springfield. If you like museums, this is a must-see when in Springfield.

This museum for Abraham Lincoln is breathtaking. The exhibits of his life and shows are wonderful! You really learn a lot.

This is a fantastic museum to learn and relearn about President Lincoln’s life and presidency. We have been to 7 presidential museums and this is one of our favorites. The staff was helpful and friendly—even recommended a great little place for lunch nearby. The theater presentations were both excellent, in message and audio/visual appeal. Don’t miss the hologram theater! Because of the lack of artifacts from the time, there are life size dioramas, visuals, items to touch, and recreated scenes, including a walk through Lincoln’s boyhood cabin. Because the museum used a variety of ways to take you back to The 1800’s, the reading material is more supportive and perhaps a deeper dive. But you can learn a ton without reading a lot—which is perfect for all ages and interests. The State of Sound exhibit was well worth our time as well. If you are interested in popular music (rock, blues, jazz, rap, etc.) save some time to visit this temporary exhibit. We spent 3 hours in the museum (reading most everything) and an hour in the State of Sound exhibit.

Hands down, this is the highlight of my Springfield trip. Do not miss the two movies - the Holavision Theater show was one of the best performances I have seen! I loved the combination of a live actor with the Holavision technology! I was hooked. I recommend watching the two shows then going through Journey 1: Presidential Years then Journey 2: White House Years followed by the Treasurers Gallery. Due to Covid, Mrs. Lincoln's Attic and Subway resturant were closed. The temporary exhibit in the Illinois Gallery focused on music. You can easily spend two hours or more here. Tickets are timed entry. In June 2021, I was able to get my timed ticket for free online since I am vaccinated. When I arrived, security looked inside my purse and I gave my printout confirmation of my reservation to the ticket booth and showed a picture of my vaccination card.

As a history teacher, I appreciated the ability to take pictures to share with my students. Non-flash photography is allowed except in the theatres. The museum has careful attention to detail throughout. I really appreciated the complete picture it gives of Lincoln, including the political cartoons and commentary of his day (not everyone was a fan) and the conflicting views of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, opened in 2004 and 2005 and quickly became America's most visited state-controlled presidential museum with more than three million visitors in its first seven years. Located at 212 North 6th Street, at the northeast corner of 6th and Jefferson, near several other Lincoln cultural sites, it documents the life of the 16th President of the United States and the course of the Civil War. The museum contains several priceless artifacts, including the original hand-written version of the Gettysburg Address and a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. It also contains life-size dioramas of Lincoln's boyhood home, areas of the White House, the presidential box at Ford's Theatre, settings of key events in Lincoln's life, his glasses and shaving mirror, Mary Todd Lincoln's music box and wedding dress and items from the Lincolns' White House china. One of the most interesting permanent exhibits, "Campaign of 1860," includes modern-style television updates on the campaign's progress from the late Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert. Another must-see exhibit, "The Civil War in Four Minutes," features a large animated map that displays the changing battle lines of the Civil War. Adjacent to the museum is the Lincoln Presidential Library, a research library which houses books, papers and artifacts related to Lincoln's life and the Civil War. There is so much to see. Take enough time to see it all.

I came to Springfield as a child on a field trip to visit Lincoln’s tomb and I know we went to a museum but this one is much nicer and more relevant. The shows were VERY impressive, do not miss them! Even the kids will like them. I was surprised with how large the exhibits were. I would plan on spending about two - three hours here. Great day trip for the entire family.

Definitely a standout in the museum category. Incredibly informative and well done exhibits. Both shows are also well worth watching. Suggest going early to avoid the crowds.

This is not the typical museum experience. You learn so much in a short amount of time and don’t even realize it. It’s a moving experience for all.

The museum is wonderful yet not overwhelming. It has a bright and airy central plaza with all the exhibits branching off of it.
The hologram shows are not to be missed, outstanding.
We learned a lot about or 16th president on this trip, and the museum was a large part of that. Not to be missed!

The two movie narrators both looked like they were actually standing in front of us. The effects were realistic. The chairs vibrate in the second theater. The life like, life size Lincoln family figures and the large White House are impressive. The children liked the attic play room. The Lincoln family cabin was realistic. There were many artifacts to see and captions to read. Subway is on site for a meal. The WWII exhibit and videos was still on site in the third area and was excellent. The Christmas tree was beautiful. We visited after New Years. The museum wasn't crowded.

One of the best museums we have visited. The building is beautiful, the staff very friendly and informative and the exhibits were interesting and well done. The Holavision Theater was amazing and the actor, Ted, was an excellent

performer. We also enjoyed the Union Theater and learned some history while being entertained. A must see experience for anyone traveling near Springfield.

Great museum! Of course, the Lincoln information was great, but they also have a comprehensive set of exhibits on the Civil War. You arriving thinking you already know alot about the Lincoln presidency, and are pleasantly surprised by learning more.

We also enjoyed the temporary exhibit on Illinois musicians.

Super friendly docents.

I had no idea just how much impact Lincoln has made on our lives. My 2 hour tour of the Presidential Museum in his honor revealed so many amazing revelations of his amazing leadership and much more.
Did you know that he and his wife Mary buried 3 of their sons before President Lincoln’s assassination?
Do you know that in 1860 when he ran for president-there were 4 parties actively vying for the position? Lincoln only received 39% of the popular vote. 😮

Point is - the Lincoln Museum is a powerful and poignant experience that every American citizen should invest the time & resources to visit!

It’s a MUST SEE!
Great information in amazing interactive displays and presentations. Best shows: the ghost of library show, the White House experience and so much more.

After leaving you will have a greater appreciation for the tremendous sacrifices that Lincoln made to preserve the republic to only be assassinated for his stands on slavery and state rights. He brought our country through the first and only civil war.

We paid $15/each for the privilege of taking this opportunity. It was with much more than that! Also - free parking at the 3 story structure at corner of 6th and Madison.

Also - great efforts are made to insure every guest is COVID safe: temperature is taken upon entry to museum; a questionnaire of current health taken; masks are mandatory; social distancing strictly adhered to.

We felt safe and had a marvelous time. We will be back!

My wife and I recently went to the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library. We took advantage of the free parking offered by the museum and walked across the street to the museum. The museum was very good. We toured every area and learned much about the man, his family, career and what he accomplished as President. We especially liked the Journey 1 – Pre-Presidential Years and Journey 2 – The White House Years. These areas were very informative and educational. We also enjoyed the Union Theatre video – Lincoln’s Eyes and the Ghosts of the Library. It was all very good and well done.

The library was open but we were not allowed to view anything unless we had special authorization which we did not have. It would have been nice if they had a display of some of their many Lincoln documents, photographs, and artifacts that they have stored there.

Overall, it was a great educational experience. We highly recommend touring the museum first to learn more about this incredible President and then go to his home which is operated by the National Park Service. The museum sets the stage to learn even more about this amazing President at his Home.

So informative, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Park down the block in the parking ramp, currently free but will soon become a pay to park. Still worth it just a short walk to the Museum.
$15 per adult for 2 1/2 hrs of intriguing and fun facts.
The theatres are wonderful. Abundant and knowledgeable tour guides who answer any questions you may have.
After our time there, they directed us to our next landmark and also lunch!

Highly recommend this museum. Not only it is educational, but the production quality of the two theater presentation were very impressive. While, not a super large museum, it does a wonderful job illustrating the life of Prez. Lincoln early life through he assassination. And can easily be toured with in the 2 hours. Our family arrived at the museum at 12:30 and finished with plenty of time to visit his home which is a couple of blocks from the museum, and then drive out to his Tomb, which is around 15 minute drive from the museum.

We so enjoyed this Lincoln Museum in Springfield. They have some unique displays and it is all so well done. The theaters have presentations that are interesting and well done. The staff there was welcoming and helped us know what all to find on our visit there. The price is good for what you see. We went on a Sunday morning and it was not crowded at all. Highly recommend this museum!

Wow! What an incredible effort to accurately recount history in a well-rounded and multi approach way. As a tour guide at a presidential home myself, I have high standards for interpreting history as it occurred; the good and bad. This museum is top notch. The video programs used state of the art design and special effects were astounding. Well done. I love the learning experience offered here. The volunteer docents were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable without being overbearing. I feel that this would be a great activity, even for kids preteen and up. Lots of reading opportunities. It was a cold and windy Sunday when we visited - it was not crowded at all which allowed us to take our time and really soak in the historical information at our own pace. This definitely breaks down the parts of Abraham Lincoln’s life from birth to death and helps lay out his political campaign and presidency. Thank you for hosting us for a few hours. We spent about three hours here and that was just the museum, not the library.

We so enjoyed this museum. So much to do and see. The videos were all great, very well done. Informative and entertaining. Made us want to go to his burial site as well, so we rushed over. We learn so much about Lincoln when we are young, but there was still so much to learn in this museum. To see it ALL you need more than 3 hours.

Way more than 5 Stars folks! They make leaning fun and encourage children with their Trivia questions and fabulous Hologram! From start to finish, this is an unbelievable experience. Every part is well done and tops the next exhibit. For sure allow 3 hours. My husband would still be there if they hadn’t asked him to politely leave after closing. Look for the hidden Lincoln Penny! The price of admission is worth every Lincoln Penny. Added bonus is live music inside the atrium with guitar and banjo playing. Dang Covid has the Subway restaurant inside still shuttered. The entire staff was friendly and happy to answer any questions. Run. Don’t walk to this place!

I have been a volunteer at the museum since 2014. I have met visitors from six continents. The changing exhibits in the Illinois Gallery are always amazing. Currently the "Here I Have Lived" exhibit features 24 famous people from Illinois. The title of the exhibit is based on Lincoln's Farewell speech when he and his family left the Great Western Depot for Washington, D.C. I speak German and French which comes in handy when we have busloads of foreign visitors. Sharing stories about Lincoln and his family with visitors is a great joy for me. I taught U.S. History 1850-1960. We spent a month on the Civil War. I made a PowerPoint for my students titled Abraham Lincoln, His Life, Career, and Legacy. I have shown it to groups all over Illinois. There is a Dymaxium car designed by R. Buckminster Fuller in the Plaza.

This museum was an amazing experience! The volunteers are so welcoming and friendly and share little tidbits of info you won’t find on the exhibits. The 2 hologram shows are a must see and do an amazing job of transporting you back to Lincoln’s day. And we were struck at the similarities of the turmoil of that day compared with our current turmoil...lots of parallels. The museum is just laid out so well and it’s easy to stroll through the corridors and take it all in. A fantastic museum all around!! FYI, the cafe is still not open, so would have maybe had a snack before we went, had we known. But we were told there were several good restaurants within walking distance. We just didn’t have time to add that.

This was only my second presidential museum and library to visit and I must say, I was impressed. There is so much history wrapped into the various scenes and scenarios presented in photo, video, live action, and display. I learned things during this visit that I don’t recall hearing of in history classes.

I wonder if I'm being too harsh here because I had high hopes for this museum, and as we approached and entered I got even more eager. The building is impressive, and the museum layout is well conceived. But details were sufficient to make me wonder what the curators are thinking?

The museum is arrayed around a rotnda, We'd gotten our free tickets online so entering was smooth, and an eager guide greeted us and explained (perhaps a little too thoroughly) what the different attractions were.

We started in one of the theater,where a short holographic video eambledd through explanations fo what the museum does, to what some scholars must think as they uncover new historical documents, ending with a non-sequitur. Nort very informative.

Then on to the second theater, where a multi-screen presentation covered Lincoln's history in about 15 minutes. Anyone who's watched the Civil War series on PBS and History aleady knew this. The show was punctuated by special effects to simulate lightning and artillery fire and other spectacle--and they even made the floor shake beneath us to simulate artillery strikes. I cna't help but wonder if, despite the poiite warning that there will be loud noises and strobe effects, if they've had episodes of some of our honored veterans having a PTSD meltdown, esp. when the floor shakes (hey don't warn about that).

This is the crux of my disappointment. The museum is more concerned with spectacle than with eucation. It was reinforced as I continued through.

Two historical displays are at opposite ends of the rotunda. One has a facade that replicates Lincoln's boyhood hom in Indiana, the other the facade of the White House. Both lead you through several rooms illustrating Lincoln's early life and then his time in the Presidency.

So I entered the log cabin and found the one-room where Lincoln and his family lived when he was about ten--and I couldn't see because, as a guide explained, "ir's night, they're all asleep". Cute. When I'm in a museum I want to see the displays, and ry night vision has faded to zero witrh age--so I was afraid ro walk because I coudn'r see the floor. Why do so many museums think rhat deep gloom is appropriate?

And so it continued. The presidential rooms behind the White House facade were in some cases, pointless in others, For instance, one room shows Lincoln at a table with is cabinet members--life sized statues--discussing the Emancipation Proclamation. Placards idenrified each man and summarized his opinion about the proclamation. That was excellent--except again for lighting, which left Lincoln's face in such shadow that I thought he was blak. However, the next room had video images of actors shouting the various positions all on top of one another--cacaphony and a wastre of rtime and money.

The exhibit that I admired most wa a rare special display of some of the museums most prized artifacts--in another damnably dark room, in class cases with poorly-placed plavard. I had to use my Pixel phone to read the descriptions and to then get a properly illuminated sight of the items. If you don't have either a phone like mine or great night vision, you're out of luck.

We've been to several presidential museums. This one is the most disappointing.

As Illinois residents, we have been proud to take family visitors to the museum. The exhibits and programs are inspiring and enjoyable for them. However, the café almost ruined the day. One child ordered macaroni and cheese. When he tasted it, he said it was terrible. His father tasted it and agreed. It seemed to have been overcooked into mush. The cafeteria worker was quite rude and refused to replace the uneaten and inedible dish. That's a terrible way to treat a customer and a visitor to our state. It literally and figuratively leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Very informative history of Lincoln's life. A great way for a non-American to find out more about Lincoln and the chronology of the US Civil War.

The museum is situated downtown Springfield, IL and admission is USD 15 for adults.

Very friendly staff and volunteers gave good information on arrival. Also an interesting introduction was given in the theatre, using modern technology, which worked very well. We followed two journeys through the museum, the first one with exhibits from Lincoln’s life before he became President, the second with exhibits from his Presidential years. The latter journey obviously included some interesting exhibits about the Civil War.

It should be mentioned that it is also possible to take a closer look at a few interesting exhibits in the lobby area at the Presidential Library across the street. Admission is free and a very friendly team member gave good information about some of the interesting exhibits, such as a copy of one of the original handwritten copies of the Gettysburg Address.

It is possible to spend several hours at the museum and we chose to take a lunch break between the two journeys. Also a well stocked gift shop should be mentioned.

We really enjoyed our visit here.

This is probably the best Presidential museum!
Visitors of all ages will find their curiosity about President Lincoln and his family sparked by the diverse exhibits, dioramas, artifacts, holographic shows, and more.

The museum excels in presenting some of the debates/decisions that Lincoln and the nation faced, without drowning visitors in too many details, etc. It also presents the human aspects of the legendary Lincoln and his family.

Well worth several hours.

I've been to a lot of good museums in my day, but this one takes the cake. It's so well done! It's worth every penny of the admission price.

We stopped at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum on our Route 66 trip. The museum was great. There were many interesting exhibits and lot of good information.

It’s fairly new, first opened in 2005. The staff are friendly and eager to explain all of the areas to go to. The museum was great and they had 2 theaters about Abraham Lincoln. There’s actually artifacts there. It’s not a big Presidential library and museum like others I have been to but it’s still a great place to go if you’re in Springfield, IL. The tickets were from $15 for adults and some discounts applied for seniors and veterans. There’s a cafeteria but it was closed for refurbishment I believe. The gift store area was big but didn’t have a lot of stuff that we wanted to buy. In all, it’s a good place to go.

We visited while in town, and the staff at the library was very friendly, it was large. The museum was a big building but the presentations seemed geared more toward school age children overall. The informative movies gave info about his life and presidency, and some of the challenges he faced. For Abe being the most written about president, I would have expected more detailed info for adults, and some more personal artifacts too. The pictures of him without a hat, when younger were something different.

We spent 3 hours immersed in the years of Lincoln. Two 15-20 minute theatre presentations. Rest is walk-through information. Very important in understanding the Civil War/ black history/politics of the time.
Lincoln was in an awful situation- stuck through it to save our country. Not any less angst than in today’s current climate. Amazing! Many political cartoons tell the story of the hatred of President Lincoln at the time and immediate reversal of the vitriol against him on the fifth day after the South’s surrender when he was murdered. May he rest in peace! God bless his tenacity !

I wasn't expecting much, but was I ever wrong! The museum was so interesting. We spent at least 2 hours there. The exhibits were very well done. The presentations were entertaining. Excellent museum. Highly recommend.

The museum was quite fun and interesting. Lots of history of Abraham Lincoln to learn here about. They were also very good with the Covid-19 guidelines, with the temperature checks. Overall, a great museum visit.

Great experience! Learned lots of new history about Lincoln. A must visit if you are in Springfield, IL.

My wife and I visited for the first time and the staff were wonderful and we enjoyed the whole experience that was offered

Excellent museum, great staff, and engaging displays. I think the people that don’t enjoy the site largely don’t understand what it is supposed to be. This a great place to think about the impact of our greatest President and introduce him to all ages. For those saying it’s all lights and thrills and could only entertain children, my wife, and two of our friends, visited and our ages range from 35 to 41, I guess we’re giant children. Anyways, the museum is incredible and well worth the price. Honestly, they could charge more and it would still be worth it. Thanks for a great day out!

This isn't just any presidential museum - this is the most modern "Disney-like" presidential museum. Add Abraham Lincoln, or greatest president, and you have an important stop to make.

This is a terrific Museum! It does a wonderful job of presenting Lincoln's life story, from his youth through his presidency and assassination. Interesting and creative exhibits, photos, documents, life size and realistic human figures, and two relatively short but excellent movies. Also, friendly and helpful docents. When you have finished visiting the Museum (allow yourself a good couple of hours), walk across the street to the Library where (at least right now) you can view a small collection of original documents as well as the desk on which Lincoln wrote his first Inaugural Address.

We'd never heard of this Museum until we decided to stop over in Springfield on a road trip, and found out about it on a Google search of things to do in the city. We are SO glad we visited!

Nice museum with a few "films" and great exhibits. Exceeded our expectations. All ages will enjoy.

The museum had a thorough exhibit of the Lincoln years, and we really enjoyed the additional exhibit on holocausts that have occurred in various parts of the world.

We had a wonderfully informative time at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Entrance was free for us as they are currently offering free entry for persons vaccinated for COVID-19.

There were very few people at the museum at the time we went (Monday morning), so we were able to see both holographic presentations, tour all exhibits, and still be out in time for lunch.

For anyone at all interested in US history, this is a must see exhibit. We found many of the exhibits to be absolutely fascinating. We were astonished to learn that Lincoln's funeral train traveled almost 1700 miles and traveled through 180 cities!

Lincoln Museum is very nice place to visit during staying in Springfield. Very informative about the life history of Lincoln. Whitehouse presentation is excellent.

I've been to this museum 3 times. Once on a fourth grade field trip (in 2008), once when I was in Springfield for surgery (2017), and another time less than a year ago. I enjoyed every experience! The museum is very immersive and interesting to all ages. I appreciated in my 2017 visit how accommodating the museum was for those of us who have mobility issues. At the time, I was in a wheelchair and the museum was fairly easy to navigate in one. A lot of places aren't, so it was a nice relief, especially to someone who only temporarily needed the chair and hadn't learned quite how to navigate with it yet. I would recommend adults and children alike to visit this museum.

The attention to detail, was amazing. It is a museum that is very memorable, educational and informative.
Each of the movies were good to see, even the one were the curator and staff critique every face of the museum and how they put it together, the one thing that stood out to me was when they said most museums build a building and then fill it with artifacts, but this museum they figured out what they were going to put in it and how it was going to be presented and then they built the building around it I thought that was amazing. They never settle for anything, everything had to be as close to the real thing as possible.
It is the best museum of its size!

Staff was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the museum. The museum is divided very much into pre presidential years and presidential years. Pre presidential portion of museum is too dark to fully enjoy being there.

This museum is excellent for all ages! It is totally engaging with many scenes from his life recreated and dramatized. It reminded me of what a true leader looks like...honest, principled, visionary...humane. He had such difficult decisions to make and bore personal responsibility for the grief and hardship the people of our country experienced. I wish he could come back now.

A beautiful museum. Be sure to see the movie presentations. They offer an educators discount. Apply on line for the discount.

An almost overwhelming exhibit of Lincoln history. But well-worth it. If you have to choose between this and the Lincoln home, choose this, hand-down. You will probably end up going through portions twice, there is so much to see!

The exhibits are imaginatively done and the docents were very, very helpful. December was obviously a great time to go, as there were absolutely no crowds.

After we fed a meter for street parking, we learned that since Covid, the town has suspended charging for on-street parking. We had no problem finding parking. There is also a parking garage so it should be a problem for anyone.

Walk a block to the Old Capitol - it's well worth it.

Displays and information were well done. Gave you a great picture of Lincoln's life. Well worth the time.

We had family living in Indiana and drove through Springfield, IL on our way to visit them. Every time we went through, we commented that we needed to allow time to visit Lincoln's Presidential Museum. We made our last trip through this spring before our family moved, and were not disappointed! The museum is wonderfully historic and informative. We learned so much! The theaters were wonderful -- we loved both the shows! I would highly recommend stopping and exploring the Lincoln Presidential Museum!

The museumis truly fascinating and informative. One could spend many hours just browsing through the rooms and exhibits.

This museum was a surprise. Each exhibit, was different from the one before it, and after it and each one was phenomenal. The hologram of ghosts was one of the best 3-D exhibits I’ve ever seen. The nightly news recap of the 1860 election, a parody, was also absolutely wonderful.

Great time good tour and all of that .Liked the capital and all the power behinf it. Good thing i am here

Absolute a must stop. Very clean establishment. Informative. Very friendly staff. It is an easy to navigate process. The parking garage is about a block from the museum.

This is a MUST do experience for anyone visiting Springfield, IL. I have been here multiple times and it is always a joy to come back to the musuem. There are exhibits that do change and many of the actual artifacts on display rotate in and out of the exhibit hall. I would recommend during the main, permanent exhibits in this order--doing so tells the story of both the library/museum and Lincoln in a logical order. The order is: 1) Ghosts in the Library (why this place is important. 2) Lincoln's Eyes (Why Lincoln is still important) 3) The Log Cabin walkthrough exhibit (tells the story of Loncoln's life and rise to the White House) and finally 4) The White House walkthrough exhibit (examines and explores the actual Lincoln Presidency and his death). Now you can do the permanent exnibits in any order you want, but this order seems to make the most sense in terms of telling the story of Lincoln in a logical way. Enjoy your visit--you will be glad you came!

My wife and I visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois, shortly after it opened in 2004, then returned to visit the museum after it opened a year later. Since then, we have visited on two other occasions. Located at 212 North 6th Street, it documents the life of the 16th president of the United States and the course of the Civil War. One of the most visited of all presidential libraries, it contains life-size dioramas of Lincoln's boyhood home, areas of the White House, the presidential box at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. where he was assassinated, settings of key events in Lincoln's life, pictures, artifacts and other memorabilia. The collection includes such priceless items as the original hand-written copy of the Gettysburg Address, a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln's glasses, his saving mirror, Mary Todd Lincoln's music box, items from her set of White House china and her wedding dress. The complex, which includes a restaurant, features three separate buildings, each covering a city block, with an enclosed walkway above street level connecting the library and the museum. The permanent exhibits are divided into two stages of Lincoln's life -- "Journey One: The Pre-Presidential Years" and "Journey Two: The Presidential Years." One of the most interesting exhibits, "Campaign of 1860," includes modern television updates on the campaign's progress from the late Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert. Civil War buffs will enjoy another exhibit, "The Civil War in Four Minutes," a large animated map which displays the changing battle lines of the Civil War in four minutes.

Wonderful place to take kids!
Our granddaughters: 15, 9, & 3 all had fun learning and exploring. They each had their own favorite areas and were excited with the many different experiences at the museum.
Definitely looking forward to returning.

What an excellent museum. Very beautifuly done with lots of info of Lincoln and his time from childhood to death. There is a move and a live interpitation of Lincolns life, a replica of his childhood cabin. The White House has the dresses of Mary Todd and the women that were at the inauguration. Then it takes you into his presidency and the Civel War, then his death. Loved the whole museum. The library was across the street, but we were told that he died before they started doing presidential libraries so the museum is what they are doing for him, and the library is just a library.

Very informative and a lot of fun.
Some of it was slightly haphazard. There were two films, one with avatars and they seemed very jingoistic to us; half expected The Star Spangled Banner at the end.

The other film was excellent, showing the journey through Lincoln’s life from his Kentucky cabin to his death.
We spent a couple of hours and learned a lot.
Very knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic staff.

This was a complete contrast to the guy on the door over the road at the library who barked “What do you want?” when we wandered in. We were going to ask if we could make an appointment to see one of the rare copies of the Abolition Amendment but his attitude put us right off. Maybe his customer care course was interrupted by Covid …

Wow! Modern, immersive museum. Great exhibits on Lincoln's early life, the white house, and then death. Great use of lighting, sound, figures, and artifacts to tell an engaging and immersive story. If you have time for only one movie, make it Ghosts of the Museum. I did both movies and if you hit Ghosts you can book it across the atrium to the Eyes of Lincoln to hit both in a short span. The additional Illinois gallery was okay but skippable.

It was a great experience. Great man, great exhibits.

Only concern, security seemed too lax. These days, this is not a good practice.

the museum will appeal to all family members, all ages. Sections are excellent whether or not you have previously been a Lincoln admirer.

A must see if you come to Springfield to study Lincoln. This is the definitative collection of Lincoln's books, papers, and documents lovingly gathered by those who regard him as a hero, but also realize that Lincoln had many detractors during his presidency. How lucky we American patriots are to have had Abe save our nation at this critical juncture of American history.

My favorite parts were the "Ghosts of Library"
and "Through the Eyes of Lincoln". These shows made Lincoln come alive and gave relevance to the historical data.

Absolutely one of the best museums I have ever been to. The holovision effects were amazing. Each area had something special about it. We stayed for three hours and the time flew by. Very well done. The volunteer staff also added to the experience.

One of our country’s great museums.
I would rank it on par with the National WW2 museum.
Make sure to walk Next door to the library to see their Lincoln exhibits also.

This is an awesome museum full of history about Abraham Lincoln. Even for those who are not history buffs, this is an awesome museum. It’s a must see in Springfield!

The two "movie" theaters are a must. The rest is good, the staff was very helpful is offering good starting spots and telling us about the 2 pathways.

I highly recommend visiting this place. It is so well put together. There are movies to watch, which teaches you about the history of Abraham Lincoln's life and also many artifacts to see. This is a must see for anyone!

Bring the kids, it’s not really a boring museum. It’s a great experience, and if you’re not careful, you’ll learn something new.

Be sure to go to the hologram experience, Ghosts of the Museum. It’s great!

Educational and very interesting. Unique presentations and attention holding presentations. Worthwhile visit for all Americans

Wifey and I visited ALL the Presidential Museums and Libraries.

Had a nice Museum visit here. Lots of history, learned so much. Library is for research and may be by appointment only.

Between videos and diaramas, the museum puts on a really nice visual display.

We parked on the street for free. Meters were not being enforced.

I would give this a 5 star, but their gift shop brought it down. Plenty of t-shirts depicting RBG, books by Michelle Obama and Chelsea Clinton, but nothing about Sandra Day O'Connor the FIRST female supreme court justice, or any conservative women!

An absolutely awesome tribute to President Lincoln & his legacy. My recommendation - start with the Ghosts of the Library film (~10 min) & then follow with Lincoln’s Eyes (film, ~10 min) before starting into the exhibits. Excellent background information, even for people fairly knowledgeable about Lincoln. This is a DO NOT MISS experience for history buffs!

We visited saint Louis and drove here for a day. Lots of information and very well displayed. I wished I would have got the interactive sheet for the girls but didn’t see it until we left.

The Museum is wonderful! We spent several hours seeing everything and watching the various presentations. This visit has explained Lincoln's philosophies and piqued our interest in learning more about him as well as Mary Todd Lincoln. Except for the first floor, The Presidential Library is open only for research by appointment. There are sculptures and some other information on the small area here available to view. We toured Pres. Lincoln's home first, then here, then his tomb. Plan on spending five plus hours so see all of this

This was a very interesting museum about Abraham Lincoln and I enjoyed it. There was a lot of history about him and it was very well done. The museum was broken down into different parts of his life. They had an exhibit with photos of the family that change from black and white to color and then they move when you stand in front of them – very cool! Be sure to watch the movie before you start. We went early and it wasn’t very crowded. There is a parking garage across the street for a charge or you can find parking on the street for free. They also have a café where we had lunch.

We found the museum to be fascinating. There was so much history surrounding Lincoln that we never knew. Loved the Ghosts in the library exhibit. It was spell binding.

A definite must see if you’re in the area.

My second visit to this museum. First was with my husband and kids a few years ago. This time with my sister. We both have a love for President Lincoln, and I love studying American history. But this museum succeeded in teaching me more. Showed different points of view, including those of Lincoln’s contemporaries ... thought-provoking. The walk through his life, shown in life-size scenes, is well-done. Lots of reading in plaques balanced out by videos, sound bites, visual presentations, etc. Young children will love Mrs. Lincoln’s Attic, a place where they can relax and play while being exposed to a taste of Lincoln’s life and times. Visit at your own pace - can see it all in an hour or two, or take more time to really soak it all in, like we did. There is a
Subway onsite for lunch, but we didn’t stop. Location is great ... easy access to parking dark and other sites in town and to interstate for travel. Entry fee is minimal.

I’m from Northern IL and I can’t believe I’ve never been to Springfield before. This was a Lincoln Tour with a local park district. This day trip was amazing. Loved this museum.

What a wonderful museum! Very informative and emotional -- watch the shows at the theatre. Borders on hagiography, but a good reminder of the perils of a house divided in our times.

If you are a history buff and like learning about Abraham Lincoln, this is the spot for you. Try to go during "Lincoln Days: History Comes Alive!". Actors in period costumes roam the area, giving tours and informative interpretations. The museum itself is very nice and has a program that is a mix of a real person and holograms which is fascinating! The library itself is across the street and has some items displayed on the walls in the lobby, but it is essentially a research facility, but anyone can use it with a reservation.

Awesome place to visit!! Stopped on a whim and was not disappointed. Lots to see and very informative. Staff helpful and friendly

Excellent museum with wonderful shows and great displays. Highly recommend taking the time to see the shows. Staff was incredible. Takes 2-3 hours but well worth it. Lots of Lincoln history to see surrounding the museum

Really incredible museum. There is so much to learn about but it doesn't feel overwhelming because there are so many displays, audio clips, and pictures to pair alongside the text. The museum has a temporary exhibit that doesn't always relate to Abraham Lincoln or his era, but it was interesting to check out at the end. It is also worth crossing the street to see the library after going through the museum, because there are a few more informative displays over there on the first floor.

It was fantastic definitely go to the two movies however if I had young children I would skip Theater #2. I loved the experiences.

A must see in Springfield. I took my wife there for her first time and she said she absolutely enjoyed it would love to visit again.

The best Presidential Library of any we visited. Outstanding exhibits, friendly informative staff, and store. Explore the area, pleasant time walking the town, Lincoln's home, then short drive to tomb.

I followed what other reviewers suggested and did the ghost therater first. It was amazing! Very much so a see first item. The rest of the self guided tour was also great . Lots of information and great presentation.

Walk back through the life & times of one of the most pivotal figures in American history. It’s surprising how much negative rhetoric existed at that time about Lincoln as a prez. Fascinating history!

Was traveling close by and decided to take a side trip to see the Lincoln Museum. So glad we took the afternoon to visit. It was very awe inspiring. The tragedies that the Lincoln family faced were so great. The story was so well told in each area.

The “shows” or videos, (not sure what you would call them?) were so entertaining and very well produced. I kept telling my husband I felt like I was at Disney at the hall of presidents. The Ghost production was so interesting. Not sure how they did the special effects but it was really fun to watch.

Every person who worked there were so nice and helpful. If you have questions, there are plenty of people who can help you out. Even “Mary Todd” was walking around. Had fun getting pictures with the President and his family.

This really is a must see attraction. For us it was a trip well worth it!

When my family entered, we didn't realize what an amazing experience awaited us. This museum is a superb pairing of education and entertainment. I learned so much about the Civil War, about the job of historians, and about the White House Meanwhile, the theatrical values were jaw-dropping, especially the holograms. The map and the staff will keep you oriented.

Very friendly and informative staff who enjoy answering questions. Many photos and exhibits related to The Lincoln family during their time in Springfield and Washington. The political cartoons provide amazing insight into life in 1860s. You can stroll at your own pace and see everything. Plan to spend about 3ish hours if you really want to see, read, and enjoy everything. Didn't even realize I had been there that long. Make sure to visit Lincoln's home about 5 blocks away. The Family Tomb is a couple miles away. Both are worth the time to visit while you are there.

This is an excellent museum. I was very impressed with how the employees go out of there way to make sure you are getting the full experience of what the museum has to offer. Highly recommend!!

I am a world traveler and have never seen a museum lie this. When I was in the room of his funeral I felt like I was seeing Kennedy's funeral which was based on Lincoln's You really need a day to see most of this museum. I enjoyed the 1860 night election returns

Our family really enjoyed this- It was so interesting and the hologram movies are so good! The library is closed during covid but the museum is a fun afternoon.

Springfield is not a vacation hot-spot but definitely worth a side trip to visit the museum. You don't have to be a history buff but it's impossible to be well-versed in American history without a knowledge of Lincoln and his life. Great displays focusing on his early life, presidential years and the Civil War.

One of the Best Museums We’ve visited in a long time. The life of Lincoln is fascinating enough but the visual and audio experience here makes it fantastic. We’ll definitely come back in the future.

I really enjoyed this museum. All the staff was really friendly and the exhibits were great. There was lots of historical info. My favorite was the political cartoon section. We often hear how everyone loved Lincoln, not that there were people unhappy about his views. The mock White House was really awesome! The cost is $15 which I feel is fair. Yes you can take photographs without flash.

My wife and I were there on Saturday. We had driven from Fort Wayne, Indiana to visit another Lincoln site. We have a phenomenal genealogy library in Fort Wayne along with the new Lincoln library. But when I walked in the door and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum there in Springfield, Illinois. I did not get what I expected. I got a lot more. From the life-size statues in the middle of the atrium, then walking through the childhood home re-created. Then off to the next portion, and then a union theater presentation. It was so realistic that I sat and I wept after I left. I went to the next presentation and duly did the same thing. I was told by the hotel where we stayed that there were three things that we needed to do in this was probably the top of the list, other than to visit Lincoln's tomb. The other presentation I will spoil it for anyone but again it was very emotionally drawing, but not draining. A lot of thought his gone into this building and the exhibitions that are shown tremendous amounts of thought of how to put together both the life-sized statues of the individuals shown. Their eyes are so lifelike. You see two generals off in one corner conversing. I'm 65 years old and have been a lifelong genealogist and family historian writing my family's history and I went back to our hotel room and had so much to think about and my wife who is 10 years younger than I am, said she was wowed beyond expectation. She was still overwhelmed with her sensories.
We are planning on coming back later this summer. Because we didn't get to see everything we wanted to see in Springfield. We did see the ghost tour which was phenomenal. And everywhere we went. They talked up the library. I was asked when I came back home to Fort Wayne whether was worth it and I said I would pay to hundred dollars per ticket to walk through those doors again. What I learned on top of what I already knew. I'm still writing notes about. Please keep up the excellent work. Please continue to work as you have obviously done with your volunteers. There excellently trained. In your gift shop. I brought home a lot of goodies for my grandkids and I'm encouraging my daughter and her husband to make the trip from South Carolina to go see this once-in-a-lifetime Museum and Library. I'm hoping the next time that we go that the governor of Illinois will have lifted his closures and modified his guidelines.
Otherwise, keep up the great work. What you have is a real gem for the United States.

A truly immersive and moving experience. This is so much more than a 'museum' with two exceptional theatre shows, beautifully executed wax figures and settings and clear compelling information. I learnt so much about Lincoln, his times and achievements as well as the political adversity he faced. Expected to spend a couple of hours here and ended up spending three. A definite must see. Also do not miss the Lincoln monument and tomb a short drive away. Elizabeth (a 20 year veteran of the museum) was truly wonderful and deserves a special mention.

This was my second visit to the museum and I confess that I always learn something new such richness and details of the information that the museum presents. Worth a lot and a pity. I went with my wife and two young daughters (9 and 12 years old) and they were entertained during the visit. At the reception they took two sheets from the "History detective" programs and were filling as they explored the museum. In the end they delivered and received a button of "Junior Park Ranger". It was very interesting. I recommend spending the day in the museum, volunteers and very attentive staff all the time, especially Tim Antonacci who welcomed us very well. Besides everything else, the story of Abraham Lincoln is wonderful.

Interesting presentation of President Lincoln’s life and abrupt ending. More ‘Disney’ than dusty artifacts. Dark, loud and a good amount of volunteers willing to help. Excellent customer service from the front desk to the security guard at the entry. A lot of reading, but very interesting display of famous people from this area.

The museum takes you through the life of Abraham Lincoln from his early days to his assassination. Great detail is given to the exhibits and lots of amazing information. We had 2 kids 2 teens and 2 adults and we all thoroughly enjoyed it! My favorite was Ghosts of the Museum screening. You must Absolutely sit for a showing, I can’t recommend it enough!

There was so much to see that I didn't have time to get through it all in the couple hours I had. I'll definitely have to go back with my children to learn about such an important figure in American History. There are even special exhibits and artifacts that have been added after covid as a special treat for visitors.

Everything about this experience is first-rate. The building is beautifully designed and organized and very user friendly. Using artifacts, papers, and state of the art multi-media, President Lincoln’s story is revealed. One of the greatest stories in American history. Family-friendly. Happy trails.

We have been to a few presidential museums, but this is the best one so far. all the exhibits are fantastic and the detail that they put into the exhibits really helps to enhance your experience here. Pleasantly surprised with the overall experience. Parking directly across the street in a garage or nearby street metered parking. Definitely a must see if in the Springfield area.

Extremely well done with informative displays. The docents were excellent, eager to talk to visitors. Although I was familiar with some of Lincoln’s story, I learned a lot about his early life and his presidency. The political scene in Lincoln’s time was fraught with controversy, not unlike what we see today.
Well worth a stop!

Like most people, we knew a lot about Lincoln; he grew up in a log cabin, read by the fire, taught himself to read, was elected to the Illinois Legislature, and became our 16th President, he was the President during the Civil War, and John Wilkes Booth assassinated him.

Have I missed out on what he did, especially as President? My history teachers needed to experience this Museum. This exhibit is spectacular! We spent 3 hours there and learned much more about the forces in play before and after the Civil War. Many personal written notes from both the North and the South. We observed two excellent presentations, which included unbelievable holograms. There is a 4-minute video graphic which last 4 minutes that shows the Civil War graphically and provides the statistics of 650,000 deaths over time of the war. Extremely well done.

Very nicely done Presidential Library & Museum on Lincoln. Very informative in such a small area. The movies, there are 2, were really done well.

Great museum that covers the President's entire life from beginning to end. The exhibits are well done and very interactive.

This review is for the museum. Do know that the library is currently closed to visitors.

This is an outstanding museum. Well laid out and well thought out. I realized that his presidency and a recent presidency were more similar than I would have thought. Lincoln was destroyed in the press before the election. Lots of negative politic cartoons, opinion pieces and even “fake” news. You will learn a lot here. Spend the day, it is worth it.

What a treasure! We were blown away by this place - it is absolutely excellent - "Disney Quality!" I am encouraging everyone I know to visit this hidden gem. We had no idea it was even here and just stopped on our way home from Texas to Wisconsin. If you have an ounce of interest in American history, you will not be disappointed!

We made it to the museum, but the library is across the street where we were told its primary use is for research.
The museum is truly a living history of Lincoln's life. I heard several people say when directed to one of the two movies they sust didn't have time. What a big mistake. The second movie was good, but the first movie was one of the best holographed shows I have ever seen. You really will not know what is real and what is not. Had to be one of the highlights of the museum.

Very well done, especially the films. I was very disappointed that I could not purchase a copy of Tim Russert’s 1860 election parody.

Very disappointed. The ghosts of Lincoln show was so cut down it wasn't worth it. The other theater was ok but not as good as I've seen here before. I was just very disappointed

Friendly and informative staff. Great exhibits on the Lincoln's life from childhood to the White House. The theater productions are first rate as well.

My favorite part was pretty much everything! They did a phenomenal job when they built this. The curators were friendly and knowledgeable. The displays were so lifelike and engaging. The movies were very informative. I had never known Abraham was kicked by a horse, nor did I know that one of his eyes was off to the side because of it. I learned so much while there. It was very interesting to see all the propaganda that was out during his lifetime. It really relates to today. The museum is a must see for adults and children.

The Ghosts of the Library
Very well done & entertaining
The museum as a whole is great
Everything you’d want to know about
our greatest president

Beautiful, educational and interesting! Our group ranged from 5 to 35 and everyone loved it. There’s a neat play area for kids and an awesome presentation for all ages.

Fantastic museum! Learned lots and I thought I already knew plenty about one of our greatest presidents. Displays are life-like, engaging and informative! Don't miss the Ghosts in the Library presentation; it's pretty amazing! In fact, don't miss any of the theater presentations. We spent three hours...could've done more. Well-worth your time.

Nice visit. The decor of the museum is really amazing. Don't forget to pose with Lincoln's family in front of the white house when enter. A little disappointed with lack of details about his road to the presidency and the lack of display of documents. Also more about the Civil War would be great. Disappointed that main theater was closed. 'Ghosts of the Library' ok but short. Appreciate that government shutdown did not affect being able to visit.

This is a must for any American! Excellent exhibits on all aspects of Lincolns life snd death. Make sure you see the 2 movies, they are worth the short time of each.

I visited this museum not long after it first opened and have been wanting to come back ever since. The second visit did not disappoint - though it was during COVID times, so some adjustments were to be expected.

I missed having access to a temporary traveling exhibit, but the museum's permanent exhibits do an excellent job of conveying Lincoln's life, trials, and accomplishments. With attendance limited by reservation-only, I had more space to linger, read, and really take it all in - so there's also a benefit to visiting now.

I enjoy the varied media through which Lincon's story is conveyed. Even if you don't stop to read every word, you'll be immersed in his world.

As other reviewers have noted, it would be nice if the museum had more of Lincoln's personal artifacts on display in the Treasure's Gallery. A lot of the great things I saw there last time (like one of his hats with worn marks where his fingers had so often lifted it!) must have been part of traveling displays, so I look forward to those starting up again.

The museum is definitely worth a visit right now for the chance to explore without crowds - and then come back when it's in full swing again.

It was horrible we went as a big home school group and the staff was just very rode. Like the first movie we went to we had on mom who had a sleeping baby in a stroller and they wouldn't let her in because it was a fire hazard and we had called ahead and asked when we went in that we could bring in a stroller and a first we thought that it was a actual fire hazard and the man was just being a jerk about it then they let a woman in a electric cart go in and then wouldn't let her in after that after that we had a dad run out to go to the bathroom and come back right before the show began and they wouldn't let him in even though he had already went in and his family was in there and even after that they wouldn't let him in and that would be ok I guess if they nice about it but they are absolute jerks. There is a lot more incidents but this is already long so that's it to recap the staff are jerks except for a couple older staff members they don't let family members stay together and won't let people with sleeping baby's in strollers come in and way more.

Recently the museum split from the fund raisin arm. Thus items have been removed from the museum.
The gift shop is pathetic. President Lincoln hated the name Abe, yet the gift shop is full of Abe items (expensive!).

This museum was a hit with our entire family (ages 8-71). There are nice displays of different parts of Lincoln's life for younger children to observe and lots of information to read for older children/adults. Be sure not to miss the Ghosts of the Library presentation as it is amazing!! The Lincoln Eyes presentation might be a little scary for young children as there are explosion noises/flashing lights/vibrations.

This is an awesome museum and experience. There are a couple of short, very well done movies, in addition to multiple exhibits and incredible artifacts. Just go and come away with a great appreciation of what this leader is all about.

Excellent visit - very well laid out story of Lincoln’s life and presidency - very touching place to teach kids about our American History and the transformative impact Lincoln had on our country! I think everyone should visit and remember the sacrifices this country made to abolish slavery and the start of the 13th Amendment!

Great experience. Helpful and knowledgeable guides. Very interesting and quality exhibits for all ages, We spent about 2 1/2 hours there with the exhibits. Don't miss the 9 then the 18 minute presentations in the beginning. Don't bother to go across the street to the Library. There is very little there to see unless you make an appointment to research in the library. The greeter was very friendly and welcoming, but a little old man told us in two areas we couldn't look at things. We felt very un-welcomed in the small statue room, the only interesting part, so we left the building after a few minutes there.

The museum is quite beautiful. The staff is very friendly.
I would highly recommend this as a place to visit.

This is perhaps the best Museum I have ever been in. So much to see, so many videos, so close an encounter with the exhibits. So much history explained with a very good and easy to understand timeline. Just an excellent experience. I loved it.

Great museum with high end holographic movies and considerable information you likely did not learn in school. If you don't have grandchildren to take, take your parents, they will love it.

Grew up in Illinois before built. Left Illinois in 1971 and only return home to visit family. Visited the Lincoln Library and Museum and loved it!

This was my third visit to the museum and I learn something new every time! It is one of the best museums that I have been to! I highly recommend visiting it!

A truly outstanding museum with state of the art displays and performances. This museum has a combination of wax figures, building and room mockups, historical tableaus and an absolutely fantastic performance of combined live performers and holograms. The history traces both Lincoln's life, but focuses on his time as president. Definitely visit if you are any were near Springfield.

We loved this Museum. Different areas relate to different time periods of Lincoln’s life. Lots of history, artifacts and displays. Very well done. We spent a few hours in there. We did have a few school tour groups and dogged them the best we could? majority could care less were they were. We walked over to the Library across the street afterwards, Although it looks great, but after spending 3 hours in the Museum there’s wasn’t much left to see. The Inaugural desk is in there. There is also an active library in there as well.

You can walk through and look, but not read, AND watch a couple of the short videos in an hour but we took almost 3, leaving just before it closes at 5 PM. Marvelous museum providing lots we did not know about his entire life. Probably best for children older than 10.

Excellent experience- very impressive for both the adults and teens in the group. The movie experiences were an unexpected surprise! We got here around 3pm so only had 2 hours, we felt we saw it all, but could have taken more time if we had arrived earlier.

This past May (my mother's birthday month) my brother Paul and my sister Rhonda flew (from Colorado and Utah) in to surprise our mother for her 70th birthday. We told her that she could choose any place to that she had not been to and we would drive her there just to help her celebrate. She choose Springfield, IL and to go through the Abraham Presidential Library and Museum. Wow, we were all surprised at how much there was to see and observe about Mr. Lincoln. The displays seem to come to life as they focussed on this special President who played a huge role in shaping this nation. Helping to make this Museum so special were the intelligent and well-schooled guides who answered questions of the curious and helped to keep the large amount of tourist on a lively schedule. My siblings and I were also impressed and this preview that we did with mom encourage all of us to come back during the summer and share it with our spouses and children. Not only did we surprise out mother....but we really surprise out children with this entertaining and educational experience!

History becomes alive in this museum from his childhood through his funeral. Mary Todd's dresses are on display, as well as other wives of upcoming political dreamers. Witness the political cartoons and newspaper accounts of how both Abraham and Mary were made fun of, ridiculed, and thought of as backwoods people. Only in death, did the tide turn for Abraham and poor Mary slid into a great depression.

Visiting during COVID and with so much social discord going on made this visit inspiring. The Museum is well done with a bit of a Disney production. His youth, days In Springfield, and the years of his Presidency are well presented. The hall of negative and hostile political cartoons are almost a reflection of todays political drama. The true greatness of Lincoln is clearly presented.

Each room is fascinating. Enter the log cabin, which leads to room after room of profound exhibits. One room explains Lincoln's election campaign as though it were being covered by a modern-day TV news anchor. Another movie describes the war's timeline, on a scale of one-second of film = one-week of war. (The movie is jaw-dropping.) As for the two theater presentations, just go see them; I won't drop any spoilers here.

I have read a lot about President Abe Lincoln's life, but to see his actual home, and the wax figures of him and his family made it almost come alive. Seeing the wax figure of Mary Todd Lincoln dressed in black mourning the loss of her son made this mother and grandmother cry. I can't imagine going through what all they did. This museum is very nicely done. It makes me, as an American, proud that Abe Lincoln did so much for others.

We ran out of time and would have liked to travel slower through the different areas of the museam. But the pictured theater with the hologram individual was amazing! As was LIncoln's boyhood home and the presidential area. Many scenes set up in what appeared to be a smaller space.

This is a really nicely done Library and Museum. It is very kid friendly and educational too. We learned several things about President Lincoln and his personal journey through life.

Its $15 to get in ($12 for us olds) and its the entire history of Abraham Lincoln from birth to death with films, wax figures, lots of reading and interactive activities. Spend about 2-3 hours there depending on your interest level. Free parking about a block away in a garage. Great gift shop. Take lots of pictures. Its well worth the stop

So glad that we stopped by! The staff were all very friendly. The museum is awesome. High quality displays about an important era in United States history. Many of the audio/visual displays reminded me of exhibits at Disney World in regards to interesting projections, sound quality, and presentation. Adult price was $15. The gift shop is large and has some really neat items for sale. The public parking garage was about 2 blocks away and was free the day we visited (not sure if it’s free all of the time).

Great museum
Interactive displays
Excellent hologram movies
Loved the if the Lincoln election was held today on CNN
Helpful knowledgable staff

Skip the library (though the stephens annex was interesting)

This was a little underwhelming compared to similar museums. Maybe it was a little too high tech. It lacked a large collection of genuine artifacts. It was still interesting and informative.

The gift shop was nothing to what it used to be. The restaurant was gone. The large auditorium was closed. The children areas did not exist. Wish I would have kept the memories and skipped going again.

We took our kids on a fall field trip to Springfield , with this being one of our stops on our tour of the Lincoln site in the area. Such a beautifully planned out museum, to honor such a great man and president. They go through every major stage of his impressive life, with interactive and impressive walk through areas, such as his boyhood cabin, his days in the White House, ending with his tragic murder and death. There is also this show, with some impressive holographic effects. It’s not an overly large museum, and could be finished easily in an afternoon, but you do need to purchase tickets for this one, where the rest of the Lincoln sites are free.

My Tractorman and I really enjoyed it very much. The two theatre performances were exceptional. Learned some things I did not and found that it was not overwhelming like some museums. Hope to come back in the area to hit some of the other sites. Parking on the streets with meters.

I really enjoyed visiting the Abraham Lincoln Museum. Beautiful building with friendly staff. Exhibits were great and very informative.

I'm a total museum geek (100+ visited) and I was completely blown away by the quality and design of the experience here. It really shows what a museum in the digital age can (and should) be.
There is something here for everyone. It reminds me of what Disney's EPCOT was trying to do when it first opened in combining education with entertainment. Even if you're not the museum-type, you will still enjoy your experience and leave with an appreciation of Lincoln. You absolutely won't want to miss the two theater shows. They aren't your typical museum movies - they have special immersive effects that, again, you typically only see in theme park attractions. Start with the "ghosts of the library" show.

Those who already have a rich understanding of Lincoln may be a bit disappointed since the content is more aimed at those with either a foundational or moderate knowledge of him. This also isn't a traditional museum with galleries - it is more of an immersive walk-through exhibition with a handful of traditional galleries along the way. There are surprises around every corner as you walk through the chronology of Lincoln's life. I also appreciate the connection to today's political narrative and framing Lincoln as a nuanced (and deeply human) individual as opposed to a mythical, larger-than-life legend.

Tip: Part of the immersive nature of the experience is sound piped into the different areas of the galleries. If you're used to traditional museums and like to read everything in relative quiet (or have anyone in your party with sensory sensitivities), you may want to bring noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs to enjoy your experience. The 2nd theatre show (between the cabin and the White House) uses strobe lights and seat vibration so it may be too much for some.

Highly recommended and well worth the day-trip from Chicago for those visiting IL.

Great museum for Lincoln history. All of the displays are very well thought out and informative. We did all of the theater presentation, and they all had great information presented. I was a little disappointed that the majority of the staff all just sat around in the main lobby chatting while we we completing our self-guided tour. It gave me a sense that they were bored and had nothing to do. The various areas inside the museum had great artifacts/replicas of a lot of historical items associated with Lincoln, and they were all informative and interesting.

I was a history teacher and librarian for 38 years. The so-called "museum" is not really a museum. It's a multi-media theme park experience. I regret the twelve bucks and twenty minutes I wasted there. The presidential library next door is also a study in laziness as far as having anything interesting to share with the public. It may contain important artifacts, but they are not on display save, for some reproductions of correspondence by Lincoln and his family. Old Abe would be mighty embarrassed at all of this. He deserves far better.

Loved the museum. Learned so much about President Lincoln that I didn't know. The library is closed because of Covid. All covid protections were in place. Temperature taken, no tickets sold at door, 6 feet spacing and not many humans inside. Enjoyed it and felt safe.

We went to see the Library & Museum. Everything is so nicely displayed. Learned a lot. We're trying to visit all of the Presidential museums and this is one of the best we have seen. It's right in town, easy access.

Enjoyed this museum from the time I walked inside and was greeted by friendly and informative staff. The displays are beautiful to look at and do a great job at showing sides of the Lincoln family that aren't well known.
There was a school group of 4th or 5th graders who were engaged in what they were learning.

This is a wonderful and welcoming experience, not just an artifact museum. Visitors are individually greeted in the plaza by a docent, who explain how you should traverse through the various rooms and exhibits. It's a very different and personalized approach. Following the greeting, be sure to ask the docent to take your picture with Abe's family in the center of the plaza. Do not miss Ghosts of the Library - a dramatic and magical special effects presentation that captures the mystery and exciting sense of discovery. This is unbelievable and worthy of admission alone. After you are wowed by Ghosts, proceed through the journeys of Abe's life, from boyhood all the way to Ford's theater. You feel like you're walking through history, as each scene uses amazing life size characterizations. This is a great museum, using the best of technology to enhance your visit.

We had a great visit! The displays and theater shows were very well done, informative and thought provoking. Lots to learn about Lincoln and the context of his presidency.

Staff was very helpful in guiding our visit. For our first travel in Covid-19 times, we felt comfortable most of the visit. Some areas got crowded, particularly after shows, so we just stepped aside until things quieted down. Took about 2.5 hours for our visit.

Highly recommend this museum. Darci was the highlight of our visit! She was friendly, informative, knowledgeable and accommodating. Wanted her boss to know she was top notch!!

Our whole family thoroughly enjoyed the museum. We got there at 1pm., and didn't leave until closing time (5pm)! . It has a cabin made to look like the one Lincoln grew up in, and very realistic replicas of different rooms in the White House.There is a lot to read, so if you're the type that likes to read thoroughly (like us) plan on spending 4-5 hours here. We thought the price was very reasonable, and agreed that it was one of the best museums we've been to.

This is a must do if you have kids and want to teach them about the life of Abe Lincoln. The museum offers an immersive experience where you can walk through and “experience “ his life. We loved every second of it and definitely recommend checking it out.

We made it to the museum, but the library is across the stree where we were told its primary is used for research. The museum is truly a living history of the life of Lincoln. I heardseveral people say when directed to one of the movies that they just didn't have the time. What a big mistake. The second movie was good, but the first movie was one of the best holographed shows I have ever seen. You really will not know what is real and what is not. Had to be one of the highlights of the museum. The staff was very friendly and did a great job in directing you to various venues.

We enjoyed the museum, but would have loved to have seen more original artifacts connected to Lincoln’s life and less scenes with dioramas and rubber figures. The kids lost interest in several of the areas due to the large amount of reading required.

There was one smaller room with about a dozen or so cases of real artifacts from Lincoln’s life and death. This was our favorite part of the museum.

Some of the areas were dark, and some of the background noises that were intended to demonstrate the chaos of the time became an annoying distraction. As a result, we rushed through these areas since it was hard to concentrate on the exhibits.

We went on a Monday when the museum was supposed to be less busy, but it was still crowded. We found ourselves being herded like cattle from one thing to the next, without much opportunity to really read about an attraction or enjoy it. People were either moving very slowly in front of us, or very impatiently behind us. An employee reprimanded me for trying to go back to look at an item in a case that was literally two steps backwards! I couldn’t see it the first time because someone cut in front of us, and we never did get a chance to go back and see it. I feel like if I paid a good amount of money to enter the museum, I should be allowed to go back two steps and look at an item I missed. The only really friendly employees we encountered were the ones who greeted us as we came in, and the lady outside the White House.

I do feel like the museum did a good job of representing Lincoln as a real person with real life every day struggles, and we did learn some new facts about his life.

It’s definitely a museum that is one and done for us. I’m thankful for the experience, but I wouldn’t drive the 4 hours it took us to get there again just to go back.

The library was a bit of a disappointment. You must be a researcher to even see their vast collection of Lincoln documents. I understand it’s important to protect these valuable pieces of history, but it seems like the library could hire someone to create exhibits of these documents and give tours teaching about them. It was the first Presidential Library our family had ever visited, and we found it disappointing.

The security guards at the library were very friendly and knowledgeable and directed us to areas that we could publicly see. We were so thankful for that.

Overall, it’s not a bad museum to experience once. You gain new knowledge about Lincoln’s life and struggles. Skip the library if you’re not a researcher with an appointment.

Wonderful experience even though the main theatre is being renovated! Due to that our tickets were discounted. Even so, we still were impressed with the quality and integrity of the exhibits! Arrived about 2:30 on a weekday and stayed until just before closing. Not crowded which allowed us to spend as much time as we wanted to look over everything! Learned so much about Lincoln, his life and family !

I have been to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library many times, and I have loved every trip. It is so well done, and the story that it tells of the Abe and the Civil War is stunning.

To be short, if you want to understand this period of US history, you really need to check out this museum.

First class experience. All of the staff were friendly and so helpful. The displays were phenomenal. We brought our 13 year old and 9 year old grandchildren with us and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit!

Well laid out modern displays, knowledgeable and helpful guides. Film gave good synopsis of
Lincoln biography, but second film was exceptional in reflecting on why studying this history is important.

I've been to the LBJ, Carter, and Eisenhower Presidential Museums in addition to this one, and this is the best (although Eisenhower's comes close). Lots of information on Lincoln, family friendly, and helpful staff. Some of the exhibits are permanent, some get rotated through. Two theaters included with admission, both are excellent shows. Visits in November are often rewarded with seeing a copy of The Gettysburg Address, written in Lincoln's own hand. Between Thanksgiving and early January a good Christmas display, often with Civil War re-enactors.
Although the name of the site includes a reference to the Presidential Library, the Library portion is primarily a reference service, usually with nothing to appeal to most visitors.

There are very few artifacts. The “museum” does a good job telling the story of Lincoln’s life with words, reproductions, model figures, and video. It teaches a lot. But actual objects from Lincoln’s life and period are absent.

Wow! This was a very unexpected intriguing experience. Even my 8 and 7 year olds found it interesting. The museum walks you through Lincolns life, starting as a young boy up until his assassination. The exhibits told such vivid stories, and the employees were happy to share stories and explanations as well. The gift shop was priced outrageously, they did have a penny press, tho!

this is probably the top attraction in town and for good reason. This is more than your typical run of the mill museum , its more of a walk through and hands on experience . most everything here focuses on abraham lincoln as the name immplies.

We visited here in april ,got our tickets on line do to covid restrictions and after checking in entered the rotunda to the exhibits. there are two video presentations here both worth checking out. i would see the library one first.

The walk through exhibits explore lincolns life as a young boy up to his political career just before getting elected president . the second walk through starts with a display of the frist lady dresses and continues with life in the white house to just after lincolns death.

There are plenty of photo ops here to take part in and photography is allowed. There are alot of authentic items here to see as well including early notes and papers to clothing and household items.

This museum is small and only has a few rooms and shows to see so you will only need 2 or 3 hours to see everything. you will want to see everything for it is all very well done and in such a way that will be both educational and entertaining .

As stated early in my review we were here during covid times so the restaurant was closed and the kids play area were closed also. good news the bathrooms were accessible. And they of course had the gift shop open. most items here can be found in and around town for a better price so if your willing to shop around town anyway wait to buy your souvenir someplace elce.

Excellent exhibits: attractive, ample info that flows, clever (journalist Tim Russert faux coverage of 1860 Election Night & the distinctions across the multiple presidential candidates with Lincoln declared the winner at the end), realistic log cabin at night complete with someone snoring and a young Abe reading, excellent description of events that bring them to life. MUST SEE short movie that sets the visit.

I would hesitate to bring someone younger than 10 yrs old. Aside from the log cabin, the exhibits are not created for very young attendees. The gift shop has several children books and toys that deliver the info for the young.

This was a very amazing and educational experience.
So beautifully put together to tell about the life of Mr Lincoln.
This is an easy self guided trip through the stages of his life.
I highly recommend this to anyone.

We spent about 3 hours touring the museum. Both video presentations were entertaining and informative. The White House years section really drove home how unpopular Lincoln was, and how unkind people were to him. The parts about his time before the presidency were also interesting.

This is my second visit, and my family’s first. I was told that it sounded boring. Well let’s just say no one was bored!!!! A truly amazing experience and I’ll for sure be back again and again.

You know it's a good museum when a 16 year old really enjoys the place. There is a ton of information as you would expect. Do not miss either movie, they are really well done. I really liked the side of the younger Lincoln with the cabin as I visited both the Lincoln Birthplace and Lincoln Boyhood Home locations last fall. My daughter liked the White House side. There is also an area with artifacts or a gallery as they call it. We did all of it in about 2 1/2 hours, which included the gift shop, which is really good.

When we went, we had to make reservations in advance because of the social distancing issues and we did have to get our temps checked and answer some questions. The usual for 2020, but we should all be used to that by now.

Great visit.

This museum is one of the best laid out, most teachable museums we’ve ever been in! Fine portrayal of Abe Lincoln. Such a man of integrity in such a brutal land! You won’t be sorry if you stop there. It can be done in 2 hours but allow 3 hours to really be able to digest everything.

This museum was excellent. We learned many historical facts about Lincoln, and the exhibits were well done and informative. A must see for those who respect one of our greatest presidents.

We went to this as we just missed the opening many years ago. We both enjoyed it - lots to see and it appears very good for children. Free parking too.

Second stop on our roadtrip across the USA, and one we would do again in a heartbeat. My family learned so much about Lincoln's life and the lasting impression he left on our country. The exhibits are fantastically done, and kept the attention of all my kids (16, 14, 12, 9). The theater productions are NOT to be missed. The special effects in both shows are super impressive; the 10 min., Ghosts of the Library, show ranks up there with some of my favorite Broadway/Disney productions, it was that good. My youngest left the theater saying, "That show messed with my brain!" 😉 The employees were also very friendly and knowledgeable. But in all honesty, just showing my kids that if Lincoln was able to push through all the adversity he encountered and persevered, my children can, too! It was an ABEmazing museum and we give it 5 stars!

Must see when in Springfield. History regarding President Lincoln presented in special ways like hollogram, 4D theater, sounds. All staff are very nice. We took 2 hours or so to finish checking everything.

Imagine piecing together the life of a man who seemed hated and irrelevant upon his assassination and death, only to become one of the most impactful men in history as time passed. This museum does an excellent job of creating a portrait of the man who became President just as a Civil war began, states wanted to secede over slavery, and his second child died just 2-weeks into his presidency. We thought we knew quite a bit about Lincoln, but feel so much more educated now! Using movies, video and artifacts, it's like they transported us into the 1800s. Fascinating Tim Russet exhibit of how he would have covered the first Lincoln election. Well worth the trip.

We were amazed at how well this museum was set up. Movies, displays, artifacts, etc. were just top rate. The history is presented in a very realistic way. No "fluff". Everything good, bad or indifferent is presented very fairly. It is so refreshing to see history depicted and explained as it actually happened. Some museums feel that have to slant things to satisfy a certain group of people. Not here - we praise the historians that have put this museum together.

This museum is a first class attraction. So much information in a beautiful facility. Happily it was very empty when we were there. I can imagine it being less fun with crowds, as some of the signage and exhibits are small and would be hard to access.
The movie about Lincoln's life before his presidency was excellent!
And don't miss the Lincoln Home Historic Site a few blocks away.

I have visited six presidential libraries, and this is by far the most disappointing for an adult to visit, offering the least actual historical substance. The Lincoln museum seems overwhelmingly geared toward families, with flash and fun that may be great for trying to get kids excited about history. But the museum has little to give anyone seeking solid insight into Lincoln's history. The "treasures" section is a deep letdown; Lincoln's briefcase is the one truly meaningful artifact, but otherwise, the documents and exhibits are not exciting. The "exhibits" are dominated by Disney-style dioramas with only thin content; so for instance, there is a full-room diorama of Lincoln's two kids clowning around his law office (with an annoying soundtrack), but the museum tells us next to nothing about Lincoln's actual work in the law, or how that fit into the wider scope of his life. There is extensive attention devoted to the administration's debate over releasing the Emancipation Proclamation (some wasted space, such as an impossible-to-understand multi-track audio argument) - but then there is almost no information about any of the hundreds of other decisions, policies, or issues that Lincoln faced in his years as President. Of the two multi-media presentations, "Ghosts of the Library" is quite well-done, in both substance and presentation - but "Lincoln's Eyes" is marred by kitschy tricks such as shaking seats, strobe lights, and loud noises - again, very little thoughtful value. In all other Presidential libraries, i came out feeling that I had learned new and important lessons about these figures and their times; with the Lincoln library, I came out painfully frustrated. As one final insult, the cafe had one of the worst bratwursts I have ever had the misfortune to eat, with extremely tough casing (but the staff were very nice).

What a terrific museum! We were met at the entrance by an extremely friendly and knowledgeable guide who pointed out everything we could see and do. A lot of it is immersive--you can walk through replicas of Lincoln's boyhood log cabin and a cabinet meeting. The challenges he faced with the Emancipation Proclamation are vividly portrayed. Bonus: a musician playing period music in the lobby. Extra, super-special bonus: a short-term exhibit on Illinois's contributions to American music in all forms, with both artifacts and rare videos. Combine this with visits to the Lincoln Home and other Lincoln sites, and you have a great full-day visit to Springfield.

One of the best museums I’ve ever been to. So much history on Lincoln’s life. The displays were so well done. You can really get a feel for Lincoln’s whole life. You have to stop in if you are in Springfield.

This was a very good way to learn a lot about Abraham Lincoln and his time. The exhibition is very well presented. The staff were helpful. Unfortunately we came just before four so we only had one hour. Be sure to have more time than us - you will need it

Have been to several Presidential Library's and this one is amongst the best......look at the web site as its very current

Excellent films and displays. Could have spent more than a whole day here. It's right across the street from the Presidential Library. They don't validate parking (garage across the street).

A brilliant museum - lots of fun, history, and a great opportunity to learn a lot about Lincoln. While not an official Presidential Museum - it is, in every regard, a wonderful, well done museum.

One gets a complete feel for Lincoln - his entire life but especially his Presidency and the Civil war.

Be sure and see the films.

There is a nice gift shop - quite large, actually. Parking is very cheap across the street.

Go Enjoy!

Well laid out museum with amazing special effects inside two presentation halls. Very comprehensive story of Lincoln's life told clearly and in an interesting way

This is what Presidential Museums should be! There was so much information about the life and Presidency of Abraham Lincoln present using up-to-date technology. It is one of the must-do experiences in Springfield, IL.