Secrets And Stories – Hildene, The Lincoln Family HOme
The Hidden Histories, Family Legacies, and Whispered Tales Behind the Lincoln Family Estate
Hildene means “hill and valley,” a fitting name for this mountaintop retreat overlooking Vermont’s Battenkill Valley. Built in 1905, it became the summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln—the only child of Abraham Lincoln to survive into adulthood.
Robert first visited Manchester in 1863 with his mother Mary Todd Lincoln and brother Tad. Years later, as president of the Pullman Company, he purchased this land and created the estate that would remain in the Lincoln family for generations.
A vintage car rests beside Hildene on a foggy day—reminding visitors that every corner of this estate holds a story waiting to be uncovered.
🏡 Family Threads: From Robert to Peggy
Hildene remained a Lincoln residence until 1975, with its last family occupant being Mary Lincoln Beckwith, affectionately known as Peggy. She inherited the estate in 1938 and was known locally for her fierce independence—often seen wearing overalls, farming her land, or piloting one of her own airplanes. Locals still recall her flying overhead or driving her tractor in overalls—“She didn’t care for parties,” one neighbor remembered, “but she loved her land.”
After Peggy’s passing, Hildene was nearly lost. It had been willed to the Church of Christ, Scientist, which intended to sell the property. But in 1978, the Friends of Hildene formed, raised the necessary funds, and rescued the estate from redevelopment, preserving it as a historical treasure.
🌸Gardens Like Stained Glass Ga
One of Hildene’s most beloved features is its formal parterre garden, designed by Jessie Lincoln Beckwith in 1907. Seen from the mansion’s second floor, the clipped privet hedges and vibrant flower beds resemble a stained-glass window—a breathtaking view, especially when the century-old peonies bloom in June.
The parterre garden at Hildene, designed in 1907, blooms like a stained-glass window beneath the mansion’s second-floor view.
🐐 Farm, Sustainability & “Values into Action”
Today, Hildene isn’t just about the past. Its lower grounds feature wetlands, meadows, a solar-powered goat dairy, a cheese-making operation, and even a restored 1832 schoolhouse.
These additions aren’t just decorative—they support Hildene’s modern mission: teaching sustainability, conservation, and social responsibility. A partnership with local students at Burr & Burton Academy turns history into hands-on experience.
Hildene’s working farm blends history and sustainability, offering hands-on lessons in agriculture, conservation, and community values.
🎩 Lincoln Relics & Railroad Tales
Inside the mansion, visitors discover a wealth of personal artifacts and family heirlooms, including:
A Bible once gifted to Abraham Lincoln, with a documented history of ownership
Toys that belonged to Lincoln’s sons, Willie and Tad
Furniture and possessions used by Robert and Jessie Lincoln
A restored Pullman Palace Car, the 1903 Sunbeam, honoring Robert’s career with the Pullman Company
Inside Hildene, rooms filled with original furnishings and heirlooms—including items once belonging to Abraham Lincoln—offer a deeply personal glimpse into the family’s story.
Hildene also features a moving exhibit, “The American Ideal: Abraham Lincoln and the Second Inaugural,” which includes a mirror from the White House, a stovepipe hat, and reflections on Lincoln’s vision of equality and unity.
Nearby, the “Many Voices” exhibit explores the legacy of African American Pullman porters, offering a deeper understanding of labor history and racial justice—an essential part of Lincoln’s broader legacy.
👻 Whispers & Haunted Hallways
As with many historic homes, rumors of ghostly visitors have followed Hildene through the years. On the third floor, guests and staff have reported seeing a woman and child moving quietly through hallways—often associated with Mary Todd Lincoln and one of her sons.
Visitors have also noted cold spots, fleeting shadows, and soft whispers, all adding to the atmosphere of mystery and memory. Paranormal groups have visited, though no official tours highlight these stories—adding to the mystery that floats just beneath the surface.
Rumors of whispered voices and fleeting figures echo through Hildene’s upper halls, where some say the spirits of the Lincoln family still walk.
🏛️ Community Rally: A Home Saved by the People
Perhaps the most powerful story isn’t spectral—it’s civic. When the estate faced sale in the late 1970s, the people of Manchester came together to form the Friends of Hildene. Their mission was clear: protect the estate, preserve the Lincoln legacy, and open its doors to future generations.
That effort not only saved the mansion but launched an ongoing legacy of restoration, education, and outreach. Today, Hildene is home to Lincoln Hall, a visitor and education center opened in 2024 to host exhibits, talks, and expanded programming.
🕜 Why Hildene Matters Today
Hildene is more than a pretty house on a hill. It’s a living expression of “Values into Action”—the phrase that guides its mission today. With its pull between past and present, grandeur and grassroots, it offers something rare: a place where history, sustainability, and social conscience intersect.
Modern programs at Hildene, like this lecture in Lincoln Hall, bring history to life—blending education, reflection, and civic engagement in the spirit of the Lincoln legacy.
✍️ Looking Back (and Forward)
From whispers in the halls to the laughter of school groups exploring the dairy farm, Hildene is alive with stories. The legacy of Robert, Peggy, and even Abraham Lincoln lingers in its artifacts, its gardens, and its mission.
It’s a home of quiet strength, bold history, and a community that refused to let the past fade. Whether you come for the view, the ghost stories, or the Lincoln lore, Hildene always has one more secret to share.
