(Almost) Annual Lincoln Cottage Hike

Approx. 5 or 7 miles. This (almost annual) hike will approximate the route that President Lincoln took from the White House to his summer “cottage” on the grounds of the Old Soldier’s Home, with a few detours to recreate something of the greener routes that Lincoln rode 100+ years ago. We’ll also visit the Adams Memorial in Rock Creek Church cemetery.

The Cottage offers a informative guided tour which I encourage participants to consider taking at 1pm. There is also now an option to do a “landscape tour” of Lincoln’s Wild Home, a self -guided app-based tour of 1.5 miles around the grounds. There are fees for both. The Cottage tour is $15. The walking tour is $10 unless you also buy the guided Cottage tour, when it is $7. Advance registration is available through the website: https://www.lincolncottage.org/visit/ I suggest that anyone considering this outing go to the website.

I will lead us from a new start area on the north side of Lafayette Park across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. There will be stops for commentary along the way. Going north we will go past the Cottage and on to Rock Creek Church Cemetery and Adams Memorial. We then return to the Visitor Center at the Cottage where the official hike will end. This will allow those who want to tour the Cottage to do so and/or to take the “Lincoln’s Wild Home” walk. It should not be difficult for hikers to retrace their steps to return to the White House area using primarily Georgia Avenue. You can also go to the Georgia-Petworth Green line Metro (.75 miles) to return downtown or can go a bit further north to connect with the Red line at Ft. Totten.

I suggest that hikers bring a brown bag lunch or snacks to eat near the Cottage or consider a local restaurant. Bring a photo ID, which may be needed for entry and also to take the walking tour. Always have water and comfortable clothing and shoes.

A $2/person donation is requested. Your donation funds SCPRO leader training and administrative costs. Donate in cash at the trailhead or via PayPal (send money to [ECommerce@SierraPotomac.org](http://ECommerce@sierrapotomac.org/) using “Friends and Family” as the payment type).
You need not be a Sierra Club member to participate, but we encourage you to become a Sierra Club member by clicking “join” on the Virginia Sierra Club website: [http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia](http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia)

Our adjusted meeting place (to accommodate dismantling the Inaugural construction and perhaps for a wider perimeter for the President’s security): 9:45 a.m. at the northeast corner of Lafayette Park at H Street NW and Madison/15th St. near the Thaddeus Kosciusko National Memorial. I will wear a red parka.