Local historic house

Harlan-Lincoln House

About 1.5 miles from the grounds

The 1876 Harlan-Lincoln House interprets Iowa Senator James Harlan, his daughter Mary Harlan Lincoln, Robert Todd Lincoln, and their descendants through the family’s Mount Pleasant home and surviving artifacts.

The place

About Harlan-Lincoln House

James Harlan built the house in 1876 after retiring from the United States Senate. Harlan had also served as Secretary of the Interior and as president of Iowa Wesleyan University, embedding the property in Mount Pleasant’s educational and political history.

Harlan’s daughter Mary married Robert Todd Lincoln, the only child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to adulthood. Their family connection brought correspondence, clothing, mourning objects, and other artifacts into the Mount Pleasant story.

The site is careful about what did not happen: neither Abraham Lincoln nor Mary Todd Lincoln visited this house. Interpretation focuses on James and Mary Harlan, Robert Todd Lincoln, their children, and the evidence preserved through the family.

Current public tours are limited. From March through October the house publishes Wednesday and Saturday hours from 2–4 p.m.; all other days and the November–February period require an appointment made at least 48 hours ahead.

What stands out

Two-family story

Follow the Harlan and Lincoln connection through James Harlan, Mary Harlan Lincoln, Robert Todd Lincoln, and their children.

Original family objects

Interpretation includes family clothing, mourning material, documents, and personal objects tied to the people who used the house.

Mount Pleasant context

Connect national political history to James Harlan’s work at Iowa Wesleyan and his life in the local community.

Evidence over legend

The site explicitly separates the real family connection from the false idea that Abraham or Mary Todd Lincoln visited the 1876 house.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a Midwest Electric Railway trip

Midwest Electric Railway puts Mount Pleasant’s preservation culture into motion during the Reunion; this stop extends that locally specific story rather than sending visitors to a generic chain or distant regional attraction. The house adds a walk-through local story about education, politics, family, and national memory roughly 1.5 miles from the Old Threshers grounds.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • March–OctoberWednesday and Saturday, 2–4 p.m.; other days are by appointment with at least 48 hours’ notice.
  • November–FebruaryAppointment only, with at least 48 hours’ notice.
  • AdmissionThe site requests donations rather than publishing a required general-admission price.
  • Tour timeThe official tour page recommends planning about one hour.
  • ParkingUse the parking area on the north side of the house, as directed by the official tour page.
  • AccessibilityThe first floor is accessible. The only restroom is on the second floor, so it is not accessible.
  • DistanceRoughly 1.5 miles straight-line from the Old Threshers grounds; use current directions and allow for event traffic.
  • Accuracy noteNeither Abraham Lincoln nor Mary Todd Lincoln visited this house. Its Lincoln connection runs through Mary Harlan and Robert Todd Lincoln.

Return to the rail campus

Add Richard E. Oetken Heritage Museums

Contrast political and family history with the traction engines, railways, and agricultural technology preserved at Old Threshers.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

Did Abraham Lincoln live in or visit this house?

No. The official site says neither Abraham Lincoln nor Mary Todd Lincoln visited. The connection is through their son Robert Todd Lincoln and his wife Mary Harlan Lincoln.

When can I tour without an appointment?

From March through October, the house publishes Wednesday and Saturday hours from 2–4 p.m.

How far ahead must I request another time?

The official tour page requires at least 48 hours’ notice for appointments outside public hours and throughout November–February.

Is the house accessible?

The first floor is accessible, but the only restroom is on the second floor and is not accessible.

What does a visit cost?

The current site requests donations and does not publish a mandatory ordinary admission price.

How long does a tour take?

The official tour page recommends allowing about one hour.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-14. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.