Lincoln Pioneer Village
928 Fairground Drive, Rockport
Pioneering Vision
In Spencer County, Lincoln Pioneer Village tells the unique American story of both the frontier life that shaped a young Abraham Lincoln and a community determined to preserve that history. Now, the Village needs vision and funding for that story to continue.
From 1816 to 1830, the Lincoln family lived and worked in the rugged landscape of southwestern Indiana, experiences that helped form Abraham’s character, values, and worldview. Area residents began memorializing the influential president’s life in the county as early as 1872, just seven years after his assassination, founding Lincoln City on land where the Lincolns once lived.
The vision for Lincoln Pioneer Village originated with George Henry Honig, a nationally acclaimed sculptor born in nearby Rockport in 1874. Although his artistic career took him across the country, Honig remained deeply devoted to his hometown. Inspired by Lincoln’s legacy, he imagined a place where visitors could learn about the president’s Indiana experience and the realities of pioneer life. Built through the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, the project provided jobs, attracted tourists, and united locals who donated timber from their land, heirlooms from their homes, and countless hours of labor to bring the Village to life.
Today, the site is in danger of falling into neglect, threatened by funding challenges, aging structures, and the loss of people with specialized knowledge needed to care for it. Preserving this nationally significant landmark will require sustained investment, dedicated stewardship, and renewed efforts to share its rich history.
Stephanie Richard
Director
Indiana Landmarks Southwest Field Office
812-449-8928
srichard@indianalandmarks.org
Cathy Kirkpatrick
Mayor
City of Rockport
812-649-2242 ext. 2
mayor@rockport.in.gov
Saving threatened buildings takes teamwork. You can be a part of that team. Reach out to local leaders. Let them know these buildings are important to you. And support state and local preservation groups.