Visitors to the Mary Todd Lincoln House tonight can explore the complicated relationship between the First Lady and her African-American seamstress, former-slave Elizabeth Keckley. The restored childhood home of the prominent Lexingtonian is offering Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Keckley guided tours at 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm.
Although both women were born in 1818, Mary Lincoln was born into an affluent slaveholding family, while Elizabeth Keckley was born into slavery. After purchasing her freedom, Mrs. Keckley became a successful dressmaker in Washington, D.C. She was hired by Mrs. Lincoln shortly after Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration and the two developed a relationship that has intrigued biographers. The evening tour compares the lives of the two women and uses Mrs. Keckley’s life to discuss the experiences of slaves in the Todd household.
Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Keckley is a part of the museum’s evening tour series. While the museum's standard tour covers Mary Lincoln's entire biography, evening tours take a closer look at special topics. “Our goal with the evening tours is to offer high quality, intimate experiences that help people connect with our historic site in a personal way," says director Gwen Thompson. Other evening tours offered on a rotating basis include Mrs. Lincoln’s Favorite Things, Mrs. Lincoln’s Civil War and Death, Mourning, and Mrs. Lincoln.
