Abraham Lincoln Playground

5 Ave. and E. 135 St.

Manhattan

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

Located on the southeastern corner of Fifth Avenue and East 135th Street, this playground, as well as the adjacent Abraham Lincoln Houses, honors the sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). Born to migratory farmers in the backwoods of Kentucky, Lincoln had less than one year of formal schooling. Still, he was a voracious reader. The Bible, the plays of Shakespeare, and Parson Weems’ Life of Washington were among Lincoln’s favorite works. In 1831, a young Lincoln settled in New Salem, Illinois. There, he worked as a storekeeper, surveyor, and postmaster while studying law. In 1834, Lincoln was elected to the state legislature and, in 1836, became a lawyer. Although he served in the House of Representatives as a member of the Whig Party (which later became the Republican Party) from 1847 to 1849, he lost two bids for Senate in 1856 and 1858. Nevertheless, Lincoln made a reputation for himself over the course of seven debates with his Demo…