Step back in time and explore Log Cabin and Beyond, a special exhibit honoring our 16th President and First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln. Follow Abraham Lincoln’s journey from his humble beginnings in Kentucky and Indiana to his early work in Illinois, his decades as a lawyer, and his path to the White House after the 1860 election. Along the way, discover how his life intersected with the broader world of the early 19th century through a comparative historical timeline.
The display features carefully curated period artifacts—including a traveler’s writing chest, sewing and hygiene items, Civil War–era currency and papers, historic food staples, and objects reflecting the realities of slavery. Visitors can also view a copy of Lincoln’s 1845 letter to Hennepin resident Williamson Durley and take home a recipe card for Mary Lincoln’s White Cake.
The interpretive panels for Log Cabin and Beyond were researched and developed by Rachael Blomquist. The artifacts displayed were photographed from the Lincoln Legacy Kits, courtesy of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.