Famous First Lady: Mary Todd Lincoln

Lexington, Kentucky, home was nearly lost to history

Presidential candidates Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and several others used the Iowa-Iowa State football game to drum up support for their campaigns.

I won’t go into a deep dive into politics here, but you’re welcome to visit posts by my fellow Iowa Writers Collaborative folks if you enjoy that sort of thing.

As Iowans, we are used to getting the attention of presidential candidates. For me, there’s the history of the moment… and the history of the past. When I travel throughout the USA, I’m eager to connect with history: people, places and events associated with the past.

I recently visited the Mary Todd Lincoln Home in Lexington, Kentucky. It was a fascinating experience to walk in the footsteps of a famous First Lady. (As you may already know, she was the wife of President Abraham Lincoln.)

Mary Todd Lincoln’s former home in Lexington, Kentucky. She lived with her family here in the 1830s. (Photo by John Naughton.)

If there was a Mount Rushmore of Famous First Ladies, Mary Todd Lincoln would be a candidate based on her fame. (We’d have to determine criteria to figure out who belongs.)

The home sits on Main Street, as heavy traffic dips past. The back story, for history lovers, is that it’s a remarkable story of survival for this building.

It was constructed between 1803 and 1806, according to the home’s website. The stately home first served as an inn.

A painting of Mary Todd Lincoln hangs in her former home. (Photo by John Naughton.)

Mary Todd’s father, Robert Todd, purchased the home in 1832. Mary lived there until she moved to Springfield, Illinois — and her destiny to live in the White House — in 1839.

Unfortunately for historic preservationists, Robert Todd died in 1849. The home and its contents were eventually sold. Several outbuildings were torn down over time, and the home became enterprises like a grocery store, a storage facility and a brothel.

Can you imagine that happening today? “Oh, there’s the former home of *insert name of famous presidential spouse.* It’s now a Casey’s. Try the taco pizza.”

Something special happened in 1977. Kentucky First Lady Beula Nunn, the wife of Governor Louie Nunn, led a campaign to preserve and restore the home.

The restored dining room at the Mary Todd Lincoln Home. (Photo by John Naughton.)