Museum Object from Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Illinois

In celebration of the National Park Service Centennial in 2016, this exhibit showcases one object from the Lincoln Home National Historic Site.

National Park Service, Museum Management Program

Stereoscope (1857) by Patented by Jas. Lee and A. BeckarsNational Park Service, Museum Management Program

Abraham Lincoln, the only US president to hold a patent, was always interested in the latest technology like his stereoscope.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site, LIHO 273

To operate, cards containing identical photographs pasted side-by-side were placed inside on holders. The viewer looked through the eye holes at the image which took on a three-dimensional appearance, and turned the knob to see the next image. This very expensive toy made the Lincoln boys the envy of the neighborhood.

Credits: Story

Park museum staff from Lincoln Home National Historic Site

National Park Service, Museum Management Program Staff: Amber Dumler, Stephen Damm, Ron Wilson, and Joan Bacharach

Credits: All media

The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

National Park Service, Museum Management Program

Stories from National Park Service, Museum Management Program

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