Hildene Review

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Hildene

Fodor's Review:

The "Lincoln Family Home" is a twofold treat, providing historical insight into the life of the Lincolns while escorting you into the lavish Manchester life of the 1900s. Abraham had only one son who survived to adulthood, Robert Todd Lincoln, who served as secretary of war and head of the Pullman Company. Robert bought the beautifully preserved 412-acre estate and built a 24-room mansion where he and his descendants lived from 1903-75. The entire grounds are open for exploration—you can hike, picnic, and ski; use the astronomical observatory; loll across beautiful gardens; and walk through the sturdy Georgian-revival house, which holds the family's original furniture, books, and possessions. One of three surviving stovepipe hats owned by Abraham Lincoln and Robert's Harvard yearbook are among the treasures you'll find. When the 1,000-pipe aeolian organ is played, the music reverberates as though from the mansion's very bones. The highlight, though, may be the elaborate formal gardens: in June a thousand peonies bloom. When snow conditions permit, you can cross-country ski and snowshoe on the property. Robert's carriage house now houses the attractive gift shop and visitor center that showcases his daughter's 1928 vintage Franklin.

  • Cost: Tour $12.50, grounds pass $5
  • Open: Daily 9:30-4:30
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