Mary Todd Lincoln House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mary Todd Lincoln House
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 578 West Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1806 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000341 |
| Added to NRHP | August 12, 1971 |
The Mary Todd Lincoln House in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, was the childhood home of Mary Todd. She later became the first lady and wife of the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Today, this fourteen-room house is a museum. It displays old furniture, portraits, and items from the Todd and Lincoln families. The museum helps visitors understand Mary Todd Lincoln's interesting life. It shows her journey from a wealthy family to her quiet years as a widow.
The house was built around 1803–1806. It first served as an inn and tavern called "The Sign of the Green Tree." Mary's father, Robert Smith Todd, bought it for his family. The Todd family moved into the three-story home in 1832. Mary Todd lived here until 1839, when she moved to Springfield, Illinois. After they married, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln visited her family at this house.
A Special Place in History
The Mary Todd Lincoln House is very important. It was the first historic site restored to honor a First Lady. The Kentucky Mansions Preservation Foundation, Inc., operates the house museum. It first opened to the public on June 9, 1977.
Exploring the Museum and Gardens
In the mid-1970s, Beula C. Nunn, who was the wife of Governor Louie B. Nunn, helped save and restore the house. She worked with the Kentucky Mansions Preservation Foundation, Inc., and the Metropolitan Women's Club of Lexington. Thanks to their efforts, the house became a museum.
In June 1996, the Beula C. Nunn Garden was opened to visitors. These beautiful gardens are enclosed. They feature trees, plants, herbs, and shrubs. These plants are similar to what might have grown there in the early 1800s. The property is now open to everyone as a historic house museum.
Images for kids
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A historical marker outside the Mary Todd Lincoln House.
