Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home

About

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home is a large historic estate in Manchester, Vermont, associated with Robert Todd Lincoln and the Lincoln family legacy. The property includes the family home, a restored Pullman palace car, working farm areas, formal and natural landscapes, a welcome center, educational programs, and miles of walking trails. A visit can range from a focused historic-house tour to a broader estate experience with gardens, farm areas, transportation between venues, and outdoor viewpoints. Because Hildene spans hundreds of acres with historic buildings and varied terrain, accessibility depends heavily on which parts of the estate a visitor wants to experience. Hildene publishes a detailed accessibility guide with venue-by-venue notes, which makes it possible to plan with more precision than many historic sites offer.

Accessibility

Hildene publishes a detailed accessibility guide covering paths, transportation, the Welcome Center, the Lincoln family home, Pullman Car Sunbeam, Hildene Farm, and Dene Farm. The guide says the Welcome Center has a level entrance and fully accessible restrooms.

For the Lincoln family home, Hildene lists an ADA ramp on the east side of the house and says only the first floor is wheelchair accessible. The guide notes that some doorways are less than 30 inches wide, thresholds are present, and a photo album of the second floor is available.

Hildene says two wheelchairs are available at the house on a first-come, first-served basis. It also describes seasonal trams and transportation options, including special assistance trams from mid-May through October and a van by request during colder months.

The guide is candid about mixed terrain and partial access. Pathways range from level to steep and include asphalt, sure pack, dirt, brick, stamped concrete, and gradients. The Pullman car platform is wheelchair accessible, but the car interior is not wide enough for wheelchairs or walkers; the Dene Farm area includes ADA-accessible sure-pack pathways and an ADA-accessible floating boardwalk.

More accessible places in Vermont

• Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (Woodstock)
• ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (Burlington)
• Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium (St. Johnsbury)
• Montshire Museum of Science (Norwich)
• VINS Nature Center (Quechee)
• Vermont State House (Montpelier)

Photo credits

• Hildene mansion's rear facade rises behind a manicured garden with hedges and a central path.: Jonathan Ralton, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• A paved gravel driveway curves up to Hildene's columned entrance portico and front lawn.: Justjoshfunk111, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• A brick walkway lined with flower beds leads to Hildene mansion's front entrance.: Rolf Müller, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)