Riding the Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway

Although the state of Illinois may claim to be ‟The Land of Lincoln”, there is little doubt that Kentucky has the bragging rights to the birth and formative years of our sixteenth President of the United States; Abraham Lincoln. This fact became clear to me on my recent ride through Central Kentucky as I explored the rich sites along the Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway. This highway is a seventy- one mile ribbon of asphalt that runs from Hodgenville, Kentucky northeast to Danville. It is dotted with eclectic points of interest including the early years of Abraham Lincoln, the Bourbon Trail, the Civil War, and the Abbey at Gethsemane. If ever a highway was tailored made to my liking this one was.

I was anxious for this ride because I knew it had the potential to be rewarding and personally enriching and I was not disappointed. I would go so far as to say it has been my favorite ride of the season, despite fourteen hours in the saddle in sizzling, triple digit temperatures.

Note: This ride report will focus on the sites dealing with the birth and childhood of Abraham Lincoln.

I left my home in Springfield, Ohio at the crack of dawn, riding four and half hours south to the small town of Hodgenville, Kentucky which is located about an hour southeast of Louisville. It was here the focus of my tour began.

Stop 1: Sinking Creek Farm, Lincoln's Birthplace
On February 12, 1809 Abraham Lincoln was born on SinkingCreek Farm which is located just south of present day Hodgenville, Kentucky. On the day of his birth Dennis Hanks, a first cousin to Lincoln's mother said; "He'll never come to much. Fur I'll tell you he wuz the puniest, cryin'est little youngster I ever saw.”

** T**he Lincoln family had only lived at Sinking Creek for two years when they were forced to leave due to a property dispute. Later, in 1900, a small band of prominent men headed by Mark Twain formed the Lincoln Farm Association, whose sole purpose was to raise money for a memorial to be built on the farm. All of their efforts proved successful for in 1909 Theodore Roosevelt laid the corner stone for the memorial which was completed in 1911.

Upon arriving at the birthplace I stopped in the Visitor Center where the exibits and a brief film acquainted me with all I was about to experience and helped to put Lincoln's early childhood into a proper context. Soon after, I visited the memorial which is located several hundred yards away. As I strolled the serene landscape of Sinking Creek I couldn't help but feel that this massive memorial, built in the neo-classical style, complete with it's fifty-six terraced steps, each representing a year of Lincoln's life, seemed a bit out of place, a bit showy. After about an hour it was time to move on to my second stop of the day, Lincoln's childhood home.

Stop 2: Knob Creek Lincoln's Childhood Home

Forced to move off Sinking Creek farm the Lincoln's rented Knob Creek, a 30 acre farm about nine miles north of his birthplace. A cabin stands on the site that is registered as his boyhood home. ‟My earliest recollection however, is of the Knob Creek place.” Lincoln remarked.

For me one of the great thrills of this stop was to wander some thirty yards away from the cabin and stand in Knob Creek where Lincoln had nearly drowned as a boy.

As I stood in the now dry creek bed I couldn't help but wondered how different our nation would have been if Austin Gollaher, Lincoln's boyhood friend, hadn't saved him from drowning. Here's a reprint of Gollaher's telling of the story.

**Abe's Narrow Escape from Drowning **by Austin Gollaher

I once saved Lincoln's life. We had been going to school together one year; but the next year we had no school, because there were so few scholars to attend, there being only about twenty in the school the year before.

Consequently Abe and I had not much to do; but, as we did not go to school and our mothers were strict with us, we did not get to see each other very often. One Sunday morning my mother waked me up early, saying she was going to see Mrs. Lincoln, and that I could go along. Glad of the chance, I was soon dressed and ready to go. After my mother and I got there, Abe and I played all through the day. While we were wandering up and down the little stream called Knob Creek, Abe said: "Right up there"--pointing to the east--"we saw a covey of partidges yesterday. Let's go over." The stream was too wide for us to jump across. Finally we saw a foot-log, and we concluded to try it. It was narrow, but Abe said, "Let's coon it."

I went first and reach the other side all right. Abe went about half-way across, when he got scared and began trembling. I hollered to him, "Don't look down nor up nor sideways, but look right at me and hold on tight!" But he fell off into the creek, and, as the water was about seven or eight feet deep (I could not swim and neither could Abe), I knew it would do no good for me to go in after him.

So I got a stick--a long water sprout--and held it out to him. He came up, grabbing with both hands, and I put the stick into his hands. He clung to it, and I pulled him out on the bank, almost dead. I got him by the arms and shook him well, and then I rolled him on the ground, when the water poured out of his mouth.

He was all right very soon. We promised each other that we would never tell anybody about it, and never did for years. I never told anyone of it until after Lincoln was killed.

Note: Austin Gollaher was nearly 100 years in 1884 when he told this story. His mind was bright and clear, and he never tired of retelling stories about having fun with Lincoln as a boy. Gollaher lived in the same log house in which he had always lived, a few miles from the old Lincoln place by Knob Creek.

Stop 3: The Lincoln Museum

The Lincoln Museum is located approximately three miles north of Knob Creek and anchors the town square of Hodgenville. The museum includes a dozen dioramas, each depicting key events in Lincoln's life. The second floor exhibits include campaign posters, newspaper clippings, and many other items. In the park across the street from the museum you will find a statue of a younger Lincoln by the famous New York sculpture Adolph A. Weinman. The impressive statue was placed on the square in 1909 to honor the Centennial of Lincoln's birth.

Stop 4: The Talbott Tavern in Bardstown

As the Sinking Creek Farm land dispute when to court, the Lincoln's traveled north to Bardstown, Kentucky to argue their case. During this time the Bardstown courthouse was under construction so the court proceeding were held in a tavern, known today as the Talbott Tavern. Built in 1779 the tavern has been called the oldest western stagecoach stop in America. Through its door have passed a long line of statesmen, soldiers, adventurers, artists, and leaders, records found in the tavern show Abraham Lincoln was nine years old when he spent the night here with his family. Today the Talbott Tavern continues serving weary travelers and serving delicious meals and it is a must stop for lunch, or dinner. I reccommend the pulled pork sandwich and homemade chips!

Original fireplace where the food was prepared and travelrs could warm themselves.

Leaving the knobs of Central Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln went on to be one the most influential leaders in the world, but his character, integrity, and stalwartness, were all forged in his childhood years spent in this gorgeous area. The time I spent exploring these various sites gave me a better understanding and appreciation for Abraham Lincoln and our nations history. Here's a link to assist you with your planning should you decide to visit this historic and ride this enjoyable portion of Central Kentucky known as the Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway.

Keep the Rubber Side Down,

Rick