Carrigan House: Lincoln Home National Historic Site

RATIO Architects, Inc.

At the request of the National Park Service, Midwest Regional Office, RATIO Architects, Inc., in conjunction with H.F. Lenz Company, The Jaeger Company, and Lawson Elser, Inc., has prepared this Historic Structure Report for the non-extant Carrigan House, within Lincoln Home National Historic Site (lincoln Home NHS) in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln Home NHS was establi shed with the goal of preserving and interpreting the Lincoln Home to the time period of his residency, incorporating the neighborhood he knew and departed from to take the office of President of the United States in 1861 including its relevance to a deeper understanding of Lincoln in American heritage. The visitor is led to an appreciation of Lincoln's life and involvement in this community, where he developed into the statesman known throughout the world. Lincoln Home National Historic Site is within the original blocks of the Elijah lies Addition to the City of Springfield. Lincoln Home NHS encompasses four residential blocks in downtown Springfield, Illinois, from Capitol Avenue on the north to Edwards Street on the South and from Seventh Street on the west to Ninth Street on the east. Abraham and Mary Lincoln purchased the house on the comer of Eighth and Jackson in 1844 and lived at this location until they departed for Washington, D.C. in 186 1, afler Mr. Lincoln 's election to the Presidency. This is the only residence the Lincolns ever owned. The park was established in 1972, when the National Park Service acquired the Li nco ln Home and other state-owned property through donation from the state of Illinois. The city of Springfield also donated property including the streets and alleys. The remainder of the fo ur blocks was purchased from private property holders. The goal as stated in the Master Plan of 1970 is to " fa ithfully restore the neighborhood to establi sh the proper setting circa 1860." The Master Plan reconunends restoration of the extant historic structures and reconstruction of the Burch and Can-igan 1·louses based upon available evidence. The Arnold house was restored in 1997, leaving the Burch and Carri gan sites yet to be addressed. The pU'l'ose for the reconstructions is to enable the visi tor to better understand the envirorunental context in which Abraham Lincoln was a part from his law practice in Springfield to the Presidency. In order to achieve this goal, historic structure reports for the non-extant Burch House located directly across the street from the Lincoln Home and the non-extant Carrigan House located directly next door were created to provide a basis for the eventual reconstruction of both structures to their 1860 appearances. The Historic Structure Report (HSR) will be a readily accessible reference document for the National Park Service, Lincoln Home NHS stafl~ and professionals working on or using the reconstructed structures. It will also be used as a tool in interpretation of the neighborhood based on hi storical and phys ical evidence. The HSR contains a bibliography of archival documentation relevant to the structure and be a resource for further research and investi gation.

Carrigan House: Lincoln Home National Historic Site

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