'A privileged background:' Explore presidential history inside Mary Todd Lincoln House

Kentuckians know the Bluegrass State is the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, but the Commonwealth was also home to his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. In fact, her family lived in a Georgian abode in downtown Lexington. The home eventually became the first house museum in the U.S. to honor a First Lady, and it is still open to the public today.

Gwen Thompson, executive director of the Mary Todd Lincoln House, explains that tours are self-guided, allowing visitors to take their time perusing the rooms while learning about Mary's life.

"There (are five) things we want people to know about when they visit here," Thompson told The Courier Journal. "We want everyone to know that Mary came from a very privileged background, and it was one that was based on slavery; she was very well educated, in part because of that privilege; she had a family that was divided by the Civil War; the division of what was happening in her family was a microcosm of what was happening to the nation; (and) she experienced a lot of personal tragedy."

A life of privilege

The house is full of original furniture pieces and other artifacts that are indicative of the Todd family's privileged lifestyle. In the family parlor, for example, original prints from "The Albion" — the British, Colonial, and Foreign Weekly Gazette — hang above the mantel.

Thompson explains that the prints were likely optional add-ons that the Todds were able to request because they had a subscription to "The Albion." The family could not only read, but they could also afford a subscription to a newspaper and pay for prints — these are all signs of their wealth.

"(It) speaks to their privileged culture, background, and environment," Thompson said.

She adds that their lifestyle was made possible because of slavery, and on average, they had three to five formerly enslaved people working in the home at any given time. These men and women cooked, cared for the children, and did additional skilled and menial work.

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"Our primary focus in the dining room has to do with those individuals," Thompson said, adding that one of the formerly enslaved women who was living and laboring in the Todd household was named Jane Wales. Wales was eventually freed and bought her first house in Lexington just a month before Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated.

"(That’s) pretty incredible for a formerly enslaved woman," Thompson exclaimed. "(For any) woman in that time period … being able to save enough money to buy (your) own home (was) incredible."

Becoming Mrs. Abraham Lincoln

In 1839, Mary left her family house in Lexington to move to Springfield, Illinois, with her sister. It was in the Prairie State that she met Abraham; and in 1847, she brought him back to visit her family's Kentucky home. Though the couple never lived in the house together, their relationship is honored with various heirlooms displayed throughout.

One item is a silver mug, set between photographs of Mary and Abraham's sons, William "Willie" Lincoln and Thomas "Tad" Lincoln. As Thompson explains, Willie contracted typhoid fever and died while Abraham was president.

"The mug was given to Tad to commemorate his brother's passing," she said.

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The beautifully engraved piece boasts a floral design and a cursive inscription that reads, "Tommy Lincoln In Memory of his Brother Willie from James N. Mueller. U.S. Supy. Inspector. Balt. Sept. 1862."

"It's my favorite artifact," Thompson said, "because it's from their White House years, but it's not about them being President and First Lady. It's about this very personal loss that they experienced during (that time)."

Widowhood after the White House

After Abraham was assassinated, Mary lived for another 17 years. She traveled extensively, sailing to Europe with her son Tad to create a home base in Frankfurt, Germany before visiting Paris, London, Scotland, and Belgium.

In one of the upstairs rooms, her 1870 guide to Beauchamp Tower and Tower of London is on display. It is one of only a handful of artifacts in the home that tell the tale of her life after being a First Lady.

To the left of the guide, there sits a black cap and fan, one of likely several sets she owned while in perpetual mourning.

"(Because she) chose to remain in mourning for the rest of her life," Thompson explained, "(she) only wore black."

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Thompson adds there is a lot of controversy about the last years of Mary's life — her mental health was in question, and she spent some time in an asylum.

Though there are some queries that may never be answered, interactive exhibits in Mary's old home allow visitors to consider all the possibilities and appreciate the history behind them all.

"She came from privilege, (but) she had a lot of tragedy in her life," Thompson said. "She’s someone who probably deserves a lot more sympathy than she sometimes gets."

Know a house that would make a great Home of the Week? Email writer Lennie Omalza at aloha@lennieomalza.com or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@gannett.com.

Presidents Day Family Event at Mary Todd Lincoln House

WHAT: The Mary Todd Lincoln House is celebrating Presidents Day with a special event designed for families. Guests can visit with Mrs. Lincoln, watch a magic show like one held in the Lincoln White House, learn to play marbles, and enjoy other activities inspired by those of Mary, Abraham, and their sons.

WHEN: The informal event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 20. It is intended for children ages 5-10, but all are welcome.

WHERE: 578 West Main St., Lexington

COST: Self-guided tours/ access to the event are $15 per adult, $6 per youth ages 6-17, and free to children 5 and younger.

MORE INFORMATION: Reservations can be made online at mlthouse.org.

nuts & bolts

Home: This is the Mary Todd Lincoln House. It is a 5,500-square-foot, Georgian-style home in the Western Suburbs Historic District of Lexington that was built from 1803 to 1806. It is now a museum with 14 rooms.

Distinctive elements: Numerous original and period-appropriate artifacts throughout the home, including framed prints of "The Albion," a silver mug commemorating the passing of one of their sons, an 1870 guide to Beauchamp Tower and Tower of London, and more.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Inside the childhood home of Mary Todd Lincoln in Lexington, Kentucky