Lincoln State Park: How Our Childhood Shapes Us
Lincoln State Park is an awesome park for history, hiking, the lake, the amphitheater, and all the nearby fun you’ll find in Santa Claus! Before he was the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln was a kid growing up in southern Indiana on this very property! From ages 7 to 21, he was shaped by his experiences in the forests and farmlands of our state. Those formative moments from his childhood developed him into our country's leader. In the episode, you’ll learn a few stories from Abe's childhood and consider how your own childhood has influenced you.
Learn about the events and projects supported by the Friends of Lincoln State Park volunteers and follow them on Facebook.
Get your tickets from the Lincoln Amphitheater for Lincoln productions and the summer concert series. The 2026 season launches February 3.
If you go to the park, be sure to visit the charming town. Learn more about the post office in Santa Claus, IN, and its sweet history. And of course, be sure to stop at Holiday World!
You are going to learn about:
Stories from Lincoln’s childhood, like how he almost died as a kid
What influenced Lincoln’s anti-slavery stance
How the Lincolns and other farmers over-logged the land and why they left Indiana
The Lincoln Amphitheater concert venue
The campground and park features
Check out these great clips from the show:
00 Intro
01:00 How this Area Influenced Abraham Lincoln
01:50 Meet the Friends Group Member Who is a Lawyer Like Lincoln
04:23 Accomplishments of the Friends Volunteers
05:16 Current Fundraising Projects
07:25 Why the Lincolns Came to Indiana
03:30 Meet the Park Staff Member Who Lived on Lincoln’s Original Farm
10:57 Lessons in Sustainability & Conservation
11:12 Abe’s Indiana, When the Farmers Overlogged Forests
12:25 Teaching People about Reforestation
14:13 Trail 5, Lincoln’s Neighborhood Walk
14:53 Abe’s Near-Death Experience
17:09 Tragedy for Young Lincoln
18:05 Seeing the Slave Trade in Real Life & Working for Colonel Jones
20:05 The Bicentennial Plaza, Honoring Lincoln’s Life
22:52 The Lincoln Amphitheater
25:33 Meet the Lincoln Amphitheater Director
27:44 The Concert Line-Up
30:08 The Civilian Conservation Corps’ Work: the Fire Tower and Lake Lincoln
30:33 Why the Lake was Drained
37:32 Camping Options
38:42 Why Lincoln is a Great Weekend Getaway with Santa Claus and Holiday World
Go make some of your own memories, and I hope to see you in the parks!