If there is one good thing about the furlough/partial shutdown, which so far drags on for us “non-essentials,” it has been the motivation to visit some sites which are offering free admission. One, to get out of the house. Two, to get some culture, history and inspiration.

So, we visited the Lincoln Cottage last week. The cottage is located on the very pretty grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (commonly called the Soldiers and Sailors Home) in Northwest Washington, DC, and it was a sort of retreat in the hot and smelly months of historic WDC for presidents including Lincoln. Back then, the three or four miles from the White House to this location was “a trip to the countryside.”

The cottage itself is pretty stark this time of year; they apparently dress it up with more exhibitions and furnishings after February. But the Visitors Center where you purchase tickets for the cottage has several rooms with exhibitions about Lincoln, the Civil War, the Home, and right now, an exhibition on immigration which includes a wall where people can leave their immigration stories. (Ironic as that might be.)

The experience inside the cottage, meanwhile, is a contemplation of things that Lincoln pondered within its walls, and a place to leave your own message about a good deed you intend to do or have done. The staff gives you a small battery operated tea light when you come in, and invites you to participate.

The rooms are subdued and atmospheric, and there are questions throughout which make you think. About Lincoln and his courage and faults. About your own intentions and hopes. About the consequences of the things governments do for and to their citizens.

Afterwards, we wandered the snowy grounds for awhile, and even built a snowman (there was no one around to tell us not to). When we got back to our car, kids from a local school were running around with glee and abandon at the adjacent playground. There is some joy left in the world, thank goodness, along with the difficulties.