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About five kilometers from the White House in Washington, D.C., stands a historic building closely linked to one of America's most famous presidents: Abraham Lincoln. This building, known as President Lincoln's Cottage, is where Lincoln spent about one-fourth of his time while he was in office, making some of his most important decisions there. Washington, D.C., can become extremely hot in the summertime. To escape the worst of the heat, President Lincoln used this country house as a retreat. Each morning and evening, he rode on horseback, without guards, between his two residences. The trip took about thirty minutes one way.
The large house he rode to was located on the grounds of the Soldiers' Home. The house stood on much higher ground than the White House, allowing the wind to keep it cooler. It was also a quiet place, far from the busy city, which provided Lincoln with a space to think. Lincoln spent much of his time at the cottage writing. This work included early versions of what would become one of the most important documents in American history: The Emancipation Proclamation. This document declared that all people held as slaves within the rebellious Southern states during the Civil War were to be set free. The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865.
Troops remained at the Soldiers' Home to protect President Lincoln during this conflict. At first, Lincoln was not pleased to have the soldiers nearby; he did not believe he needed their protection. However, he soon began to enjoy talking with them. In fact, much of what historians know about the president's time at the cottage comes from stories told by those soldiers. Life at the Soldiers' Home also connected Lincoln directly to the reality of the war. The home was originally created for retired and disabled soldiers, but during the Civil War, it became a military hospital and barracks. Seeing wounded soldiers every day was a constant reminder of the human cost of the conflict. This proximity to the troops likely influenced his compassion and determination.