We are truly delighted, with this retreat... and each day, brings its visitors.

— Mary Lincoln, 1862

Self-Guided Eco-Tour

As the first building with U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) status at a National Trust Historic Site, the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center plays a prominent role in the National Trust’s Sustainability Program, which is designed to promote the understanding of historic buildings as significant environmental, economic, social, and cultural resources.  

The sustainable rehabilitation of the Visitor Education Center was made possible through the support of United Technologies Corporation.

Self-Guided Eco-Tour

Visitors to President Lincoln's Cottage may take a self-guided eco-tour of select "green" features visible in public areas of the Visitor Education Center.

Reusable copies of the self-guided tour brochure are available at the admissions desk in the Visitor Education Center.

For a sneak peak, you may download the Eco Tour Brochure.pdf (520KB).

Podcasts

This podcast features an in-depth interview with Barbara Campagna, National Trust for Historic Preservation's Graham Gund Architect and compliments the self-guided tour brochure.

Hear about the sustainable design at this site, a discussion of how techniques can be adapted to other historic sites, and a defense of "green" historic windows.

(Approximate run time: 10 minutes)

The exhibit panel, self-guided tour brochure, and podcast were supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Additional Articles and Resources

 

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