Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Kentucky. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Abraham Lincoln Birthplace the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:57 AM | 8:37 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:48 PM | 244° | 9h 51m |
| February | 7:33 AM | 8:09 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:22 PM | 255° | 10h 49m |
| March | 7:55 AM | 8:29 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:50 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 7:08 AM | 7:44 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:18 PM | 283° | 13h 10m |
| May | 6:34 AM | 7:11 AM | 8:08 PM | 8:46 PM | 295° | 14h 11m |
| June | 6:22 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:27 PM | 9:06 PM | 301° | 14h 45m |
| July | 6:34 AM | 7:12 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:05 PM | 298° | 14h 31m |
| August | 6:59 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:37 PM | 289° | 13h 38m |
| September | 7:25 AM | 8:00 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:52 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:51 AM | 8:27 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:07 PM | 260° | 11h 15m |
| November | 7:23 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:33 PM | 247° | 10h 10m |
| December | 7:51 AM | 8:32 AM | 4:45 PM | 5:26 PM | 241° | 9h 35m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.5859, -85.6733); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Abraham Lincoln Birthplace, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:41 AM – 6:01 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:48 AM – 6:18 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:51 AM – 5:31 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| May | 12:50 AM – 4:40 AM | 3.8 | 24° |
| June | 11:00 PM – 4:20 AM | 5.3 | 24° |
| July | 10:54 PM – 2:54 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| August | 10:14 PM – 12:54 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 9:21 PM – 10:51 PM | 1.5 | 20° |
| October | 8:34 PM – 8:54 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
There are four distinct seasons in Central Kentucky. However, temperature and weather conditions can vary widely within those seasons. Spring and Fall are generally pleasant with frequent rain showers. Summer is usually hot and humid. Winter is moderately cold with mixed precipitation.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (70%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
The Birthplace Unit of the park is located approximately 2 miles south of the town of Hodgenville on U.S. Highway 31E South. The Boyhood Home Unit at Knob Creek is located approximately 10 miles northeast of the Birthplace Unit of the park.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
KY
KY
KY
IN
KY/TN
TN