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Washington, D. C., The Old Soldiers' Home, Lincoln's Cottage, 1898, Historic Photo

Washington, D. C., The Old Soldiers' Home, Lincoln's Cottage, 1898, historic photo

A historic photo view of the Old Soldiers' Home at Washington D.C. The building at the left was originally constructed in 1842 as the home of George Riggs, a wealthy Washington, D.C. banker. In 1851, Riggs sold the home and surrounding grounds in 1851 to the United States Government to serve as a home for old and disabled soldiers. The large stone building at the right opened in 1857 as a new and expanded facility to serve as a home for the soldiers. After the soldiers were moved to the new building, the building at the left began to be used as a summer retreat for the President of the United States who at the time was James Buchanan. Abraham Lincoln also frequently used the home as a retreat during his terms as President. It is believed that the final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation was written by Lincoln while staying at this home. It also believed that Lincoln made his last visit to the home on the day before his assassination. After Lincoln, Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and Chester A. Arthur also used the home as a retreat from the White House which is located three miles away.

The grounds of the Old Soldiers' Home continue to be in use and is now known as the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH). Both of these buildings are still standing on the grounds of the facility located at the intersection of Upshur Street and Rock Creek Church Road NW, Washington, D.C. The older home is now known as President Lincoln's Cottage and is open to the public.

This photo is by Detroit Photographic Co., 1898.

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