DC (almost annual) Lincoln Cottage Hike

Approx. 5 or 7 miles mostly on sidewalks. 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 an informative guided tour which I encourage participants to take 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. There is also a very informative small Museum in the Visitors Center.
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 the 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 primarily using Georgia Avenue. You can also go to the Georgia-Petworth Green line Metro (.75 miles) to return downtown or can go a bit further 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 to the Visitor’s Center and also to take the walking tour. Always have water, comfortable clothing and shoes. Given the amount of snow/sleet/water the ground has been enduring, I strongly suggest waterproof shoes and maybe even a hiking stick.
A $2/person voluntary donation is requested. Your donation funds SCPRO leader training and administrative costs. Donate in cash (exact change) at the trailhead.
The meeting time and place (to accommodate the wider perimeter for the President’s security) is: 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. Lafayette Park is sometimes cordoned off; sometimes not.
Though not necessary to participate, if you wish to become a Sierra Club member to help save our world, click “join” on the Virginia Sierra Club website: [http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia