The Friends of Hildene

Before she died in 1975, Peggy Beckwith stipulated in her will that Hildene be left to the First Church of Christ, Scientist because her grandmother had become a devoted church member and wanted the organization to benefit from the property.

Peggy also stipulated that Hildene would become a memorial to the Lincoln family. The Church, however, was not prepared to oversee such an endeavor and made plans to develop the land. As a result, a small group of neighbors and community members worked together to win the right to purchase Hildene from the Church. In 1978, after three years of negotiation with the Church, the new non-profit group, The Friends of Hildene, LLC, succeeded in buying the property. The group then slowly restored the house and formal garden, which had fallen into disrepair, and opened it to the public.

The Hildene you see today was built on that work. Today, The Friends of Hildene continues Robert’s work of preserving and advancing his father’s legacy as well as Robert’s, Peggy’s and other Lincoln Family members. The Lincoln family legacy, and the enduring greatness of Abraham Lincoln are woven into the richness of contemporary life at Hildene, sparking curiosity, dialogue, and a shared commitment to integrity, equality, and community.