Archives
Mary Todd Lincoln Reconsidered on C-SPAN
American History TV covered our April 2013 Cottage Conversation for C-SPAN. The Honorable Frank J. Williams, editor of The Mary Lincoln Enigma, guided a lively conversation on Mary Lincoln, America’s most controversial First Lady. View the full program here: http://www.c-span.org/video/?312253-1/mary-todd-lincoln-reconsidered
Read MoreSpreading Holiday Cheer—Lincoln Style
By Rebecca DownesWhat is your favorite part of the holiday season? Is it your brightly decorated Christmas tree or the glowing candles of your menorah? Perhaps it is the thrill of ripping open your holiday gifts and feasting on decorated gingerbread men. For me, the best part of the holiday season are the traditions that have been passed down through …
Read MoreThe Lincoln Fish
By Katie Needham On the Armed Forces Retirement Home’s campus (AFRH), where President Lincoln’s Cottage is located, two fish reside in the residents’ library. They swim about all day, watching the library visitors and keeping tabs on the daily occurrences. The first fish has a visible “bump” on his head, distinguishing him from the second fish. He seems content to …
Read MoreAbraham Lincoln Presidential China
The spring season brings relatives and friends together for holidays, graduations, and family celebrations, and the dining table is often set with a special selection of china for the occasion. The Lincoln family followed this tradition in their family and presidential homes. In one of her first official duties after becoming First Lady in 1861, Mary Lincoln ordered a full …
Read MoreMary Lincoln’s Seance at the Soldiers’ Home
By Erin Carlson Mast Starting with Willie Lincoln’s death in February 1862, Mary Lincoln began to engage in spirit circles. Spirit circles, or seances, were led by a medium who helped those gathered communicate with loved ones who had “crossed over.” Spirits communicated with the living by various means including sounds like rapping, scratching, and playing instruments and touches like tugging on hair …
Read MoreChildren’s Lincoln Book List
By Erin Carlson Mast, Callie Hawkins, and Jamie Cooper Welcome to the fourth installment of the President Lincoln’s Cottage Book List. Drawing from staff favorites and best selling titles in our Museum Store, we have created a list of Lincoln and Civil War books specifically for youth aged 4-12. We hope this list is useful for parents and grandparents, educators, …
Read MoreDine with the President
By Leslie Bouterie President Lincoln’s Cottage offers guests a unique opportunity to “dine with the Lincolns.” In my role as manager of events at the site, I have the pleasure of guiding clients with their event plans. Private and corporate clients have found the pastoral venue to be the ideal setting for meetings, receptions, dinners, and family celebrations. Many wish …
Read MoreThis Weekend in Lincoln History
By Erin Carlson Mast Memorial Day is a time to gather with friends and family, and to remember our fellow citizens, past and present, who served this country through military service. At President Lincoln’s Cottage, we know we’ll have a great weekend with some good weather, and visitors anxious to learn about Lincoln’s presidency, his time at the Soldiers’ Home, …
Read MoreCurator Gives Talk on Mary Lincoln at National Portrait Gallery
Thursday, March 26th, Curator Erin Carlson Mast gave a portrait talk at the National Portrait Gallery about the Pierre Morand painting depicting Abraham and Mary Lincoln and the life of the first lady. In observance of Women’s History Month, the National Portrait Gallery selected the theme “Ladies, First” for the March Face to Face portrait talks. If you missed the …
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