The House That A Lincoln Built - Hildene

House Museum

Feb 11

Robert Lincoln, the only child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, retained the architecture firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge to built his summer home on 392 acres in Manchester, Vermont. Lincoln had served as Secretary of War and Minister to the Court of St. James, and made his fortune as a lawyer before becoming President of the Pullman Company. Robert Lincoln and his wife, Mary Harlan Lincoln, lived at Hildene in high style. When Robert died, control passed to Mary, and when Mary died she left it to daughter Mamie, and then her daughter Peggy Beckwith, who was the last Lincoln descendant to live at Hildene. Peggy was a loner, hoarder and an animal lover, and ran Hildene into the ground. Raccoons, mice and rabbits had soiled the carpets, left claw marks on the wood paneling, and nested in the pipe organ. Peggy died in 1975, leaving Hildene with decades of neglect, to a Christian Science Church that did not have the resources to maintain the 24-room Georgian Colonial mansion built in 1905.

Here is what caught my eye. I hope you enjoy!

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A view of the house on approach

The rear view of the Georgian Revival-style home from the formal gardens

French doors, floor to ceiling windows, shutters and dormers

The grand staircase in the entrance hall

Entrance hall

The parlor

The dining room

Dining room

Kitchen stove

Kitchen refrigerator and cabinets

Kitchen meal prep area

First floor guest bedroom

Robert Lincoln’s library

History or Abraham Lincoln buffs will love the President Lincoln-related documents and memorabilia.

Main staircase landing

View of the entrance hall from staircase landing

Mary Lincoln’s bedroom

Mary Lincoln’s sitting room

Nanny’s room

Bathroom

Walk-in linen room for storage, mending and ironing

Mamie’s bedroom

Robert Lincoln’s bedroom

Robert Lincoln’s room

The butler’s room

The view of the rear formal gardens from the house

The luxurious, private 1903 wooden Pullman palace railroad car, Sunbeam

Notice the stained glass windows in this beautifully restored piece of history.

The private railroad car had a terrace in the rear.

Luxurious accommodations included lounge / dining area, two private rooms, bathroom, kitchen and crews’ quarters.

Pictured here are the railroad train staff.

Fortunately, the newly formed non-profit Friends of Hildene was able to purchase the home and restored it to its former glory as it is today on 412 acres with a carriage barn, farm and the 1903 Pullman car. The property now also has a goat dairy and cheese making operation, and a portion of the property functions as a campus for environmental and agricultural education for high school students.

What you should know:

Tickets are only bought on-site at the Welcome Center.
Tickets include parking, house and garden, farm and Pullman car.
All tours are self-guided.
Picnicking is allowed.
There are walking trails.
They are open year-round and closed major Holidays (check website for days/hours).
Restrooms are available.
You could spend a few hours to the entire day.

Location:

1005 Hildene Road, Manchester, Vermont 05254

For more information: Hildene