Title:
The Lincoln Cabin at the Forbes House Museum
Collection:
Lincoln Collection
Object ID:
2014.051
Object Name:
Photograph
Date:
c.1924
Description:
Black and white photograph of the exterior of Mary Bowditch Forbes' re—creation of Lincoln's log cabin.
Additional Information:
An exact 16 x 18 ft. replica of the Hodgenville, Kentucky birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln, the constructed of the FHM Lincoln Cabin began in 1923 and completed in 1924. The cornerstone was laid on 19 November 1923, by Mrs. George L. Torbert, who saw Lincoln nominated. The logs were hewn by carpenter, Thomas Murdock, using an 1809 ax to authenticate the appearance of the logs (Lincoln was born in the Hodgenville, KY cabin in 1809).
Mary Bowditch Forbes, daughter and granddaughter of China Trade merchants, commissioned the building of the cabin, sending Murdock to Kentucky to obtain the exact building specifications. Along with the carpenter's plans, he presented Ms. Forbes with some red Kentucky clay and saplings from the region.
The cabin was restored in summer 2012 by a team comprised of architects, contractors, Civil War historians, and museum volunteers led by Anthony DiOrio of Bearfort Lodge, NJ, who invented a chinking recipe (the red clay mortar holding the logs together) to resist long New England winters and endure the test of time.
Mary Bowditch Forbes, daughter and granddaughter of China Trade merchants, commissioned the building of the cabin, sending Murdock to Kentucky to obtain the exact building specifications. Along with the carpenter's plans, he presented Ms. Forbes with some red Kentucky clay and saplings from the region.
The cabin was restored in summer 2012 by a team comprised of architects, contractors, Civil War historians, and museum volunteers led by Anthony DiOrio of Bearfort Lodge, NJ, who invented a chinking recipe (the red clay mortar holding the logs together) to resist long New England winters and endure the test of time.
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2014.051 exterior of log cabin
2014.051 exterior of log cabin