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This free virtual program will feature an illustrated talk on Mary Lincoln’s niece, artist Katherine Helm, by MTLH Assistant Director, Kate Hesseldenz. This program will take place via the online meeting platform Zoom. Online registration is required by clicking here.
FREE. Drop in any time between 2:00 and 4:00 PM. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Join us for an early celebration of Mary Todd Lincoln’s 206th birthday! Take a self-guided tour of the house, enjoy light seasonal refreshments, and shop for holiday gifts in the museum store.
Please note: Minimal holiday decorations based on historical sources!
Discover Lexington as Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln would have known it. This one mile walking tour includes locations from Mrs. Lincoln's childhood and Abraham Lincoln's visits to Lexington. Download the walking tour guide here.
Follow the directions in a series of clues to find places from Mrs. Lincoln's childhood. This playful walk to ten locations in downtown Lexington is geared to children ages 7-10 and their families.
Explore Kentucky's role in the American Civil War through the graves and monuments of Lexington Cemetery, including the family plot of Mary Todd Lincoln. Enjoy the beauty and serenity of Lexington’s most famous cemetery with this self-guided tour. Download the Walking Tour Guide here.
MTLH Executive Director Gwen Thompson will be participating in a roundtable discussion during the 2024 Hopemont Lecture Preservation Workshop at 10:30 a.m. Hosted by the Blue Grass Trust, this free half-day workshop is designed for preservation and public history professionals, students, and grassroots leaders. Registration info HERE.
Members will meet for the 56th annual business meeting of the Kentucky Mansions Preservation Foundation. After a short meeting, attendees are invited to socialize at a wine and cheese reception immediately following. Not a member? Join by clicking here!
At this “Special-Tea” event at Waveland State Historic Site, MTLH Education Coordinator Vicky Middleswarth will share stories about Mary’s Lexington childhood. After the talk, guests can enjoy an optional tour of the Waveland Mansion. The three-course tea includes savories, scones and desserts. $40 per person. Reservations required by calling Waveland at 859-272-3611.
This program at the Jack Jouett House Historic Site in Versailles, Kentucky will feature an illustrated lecture by MTLH assistant director Kate Hesseldenz. Part of the “Brunch and Learn” series, brunch will be served first and the lecture will follow. $25 per person. Reservations required through the Jack Jouett House.
Join us on June 9 – the 47th anniversary of the museum’s opening day in 1977 – for an open house to learn about the 200+ year history of the property's varied residents and uses. We'll also touch on the history of the neighborhood during the Todd era.
Participants will see historic photos of the home, view artifacts excavated from nearby locations with archaeologist Jason Flay, examine historical records, and chat with author Doug Tattershall about the site’s connection to the famous Lexington madam, Belle Brezing.
Free. Recommended for ages 12-up. Come anytime between 3 p.m.- 5 p.m.
Join us on May 23 to test your Mary and Abraham Lincoln knowledge at our trivia night! The night begins at 7 p.m. at the Old North Bar located in the Greyline Station in Lexington. Food/drinks for purchase and a chance to pose with our Mary and Abe selfie station. Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners!
Old North Bar is located at 101 W Loudon Ave Suite 116, Lexington, KY 40508.
Join museum staff on April 15 to explore how the many losses Mary Lincoln suffered reflected the ways in which 19th-century Americans coped with death. This illustrated lecture will feature historical sources that illustrate evolving funerary and mourning customs and unorthodox practices such as spiritualism.
This free virtual program will take place via the online meeting platform Zoom from 6 p.m. -7 p.m. Recommended for ages 14-up. Online registration is required.
FREE to children through age 17; $15 adults
Celebrate Presidents’ Day with a special event designed for families! Meet Mrs. Lincoln and enjoy games and hands-on activities inspired by her many roles as first lady—from campaigner to entertainer! The interactive event is designed for children ages 5-10, but all are welcome.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with timed entry and limited capacity. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Walk-ups are welcome, but to guarantee entry, please book online. Allow 1 hour for your visit.
Online booking to guarantee entry is available here.
Thank you to our event sponsor WealthSouth for making this program possible. WealthSouth has been serving Central Kentucky since 1909 providing wealth management, trust and commercial banking. #locallycommitted
FREE. Drop in at any time between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Join us for an early celebration of Mary Todd Lincoln’s 205th birthday and get a jump on holiday shopping! Take a self-guided tour of the house, enjoy light seasonal refreshments, show off your knowledge of Lincoln holiday history by taking a trivia quiz, and shop for stocking stuffers and other gifts in the museum store.
Please note: Holiday decorations will be minimal.
FREE performances at 3:00 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Did you know that Mary Todd’s favorite teacher was French? Join us for a free dramatization based on the life of Charlotte Mentelle and explore other French influences in Mary’s life. Mentelle fled her native Paris during the French Revolution, arriving in Lexington in 1798. In 1820 she opened a school for girls, which Mary Todd attended in the 1830s.
The event will feature a Kentucky Humanities Chautauqua performance by Dr. Simonetta Cochis of Transylvania University. Event includes a French-inspired self-guided tour and Mary Todd Lincoln’s French almond cake. The 25-minute presentation will be offered at 3:00 and 3:45 p.m. Recommended for ages 12-up. Tickets are free, but space is limited.
To guarantee entry, tickets are available here.
Complete Chautauqua presentation description available here. This program is funded in part by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Program at 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. $25 general admission; $15 for museum members
Have you heard that Mary Lincoln met with mediums and attended séances? In this 60-minute program classical magician John Shore will discuss some of the most famous people connected with the 19th-century spiritualism movement and use the techniques of a magician to recreate some of the effects that convinced audiences that they could communicate with deceased loved ones. After his presentation, museum staff will talk about Mary Lincoln’s involvement with spiritualism.
The program will be offered at 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Recommended for ages 14-up. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $15 for museum members. Space is limited to 20 per entry time. To guarantee entry, please book online below.
Members and donors will gather to conduct the 55th annual business meeting of the Kentucky Mansions Preservation Foundation. After the short meeting, attendees are invited to socialize at a wine and cheese reception immediately following.
Not a member? Join by clicking here!
$10 adults; Free to children through age 17; Free to museum members
Explore Lexington as Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln would have known it! Museum staff will be stationed along the route of this self-guided walk to share information. This one mile walk includes locations from Mary’s childhood and the Lincolns’ visits to Lexington.
$10 adults; free to children and museum members. Tickets can be purchased online or at MTL House. The walk starts at MTL House. Allow one hour to complete the walk. Free parking is available behind the museum.
Explore the Lexington Cemetery with us! The walk will focus on our community’s divided loyalties during the Civil War. Museum staff will be stationed along the route to share stories of both soldiers and civilians. The walk will feature family plots and Union and Confederate burial grounds.
Recommended for ages 12- up. $10 general public/ Free to museum members. Arrive at the Henry Clay monument any time between 2:00 and 3:00 PM to begin the walk. Tickets can be purchased below and will be available in real-time until sold out.
Join museum staff and Bourbon Bakery owner Heather Andress to explore the history of Mary Lincoln’s legendary vanilla almond cake and learn how to make one.
It all started in 1825 when French confectioner Mathurin Giron created an elaborate cake to serve when the Marquis de Lafayette visited Lexington. According to some accounts, the Todd family got the recipe, Mary learned to make it, and Abraham Lincoln declared it his favorite. But evidence to support the story is scanty. In this program, we’ll share what we know—and what we don’t!
Then Heather Andress will share step-by-step tips for making the cake served at Mary Todd Lincoln House events—from sifting the flour to choosing the right oven temperature. Click here for the recipe. Heather is the owner of The Bourbon Bakery, a cottage bakery that specializes in small-batch desserts that are full of flavor and beautifully presented.
This free virtual program will take place via the online meeting platform Zoom. Recommended for ages 12-up. Online registration is required.
Celebrate Presidents’ Day with a special event designed for families! 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. The informal event is intended for children ages 5-10, but all are welcome.
The event runs from 10 to 2 with timed entry and limited capacity. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Walk-ups are welcome, but to guarantee entry, use online booking. Allow 1 hour for your visit. Free parking is available behind the museum.
Celebrate Mary’s 204th birthday in a light-hearted event inspired by her favorite things – from family and fashion to travel and poetry! During the self-guided experience, visitors can listen to period music by violinist Brice Farrar, play trivia games, compose poems, sample Mary-inspired sweets and more. As a special birthday tribute, thirteen portraits of Mary—most of which are not normally on exhibit—will be displayed throughout the house.
Doors open at 5:00 PM with the last entrance at 6:30 PM. Allow one hour for your visit. Recommended for ages 12 and up. The cost is $20 for the general public, $15 for members and kids ages 12-18, and $17 for adult groups (4+). Tickets may be purchased at the door or online here.
Socialize with your fellow history enthusiasts as we conduct the 54th annual business meeting of the Kentucky Mansions Preservation Foundation. After the short meeting, members are invited to linger and mingle at the museum. Light refreshments will be served.
Not a member? Join by clicking here!
Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts are invited to help the Mary Todd Lincoln House pilot a new program! Troops will take part in a women’s history scavenger hunt of the house, enjoy a snack, and take home a game and craft kit inspired by Mary Lincoln’s interests and activities.
Registration required through the Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road at https://mygs.girlscouts.org/event-detail?id=212-092022-DH
FREE to children through age 17; $15 adults
Celebrate Presidents’ Day on February 21 with a special visit designed for families! With a self-guided tour, scavenger hunt, and other activities inspired by the Lincoln family, the informal event is intended for children ages 5-10, but all are welcome.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with timed entry and limited capacity (15 per entry time). Masks are required for the event. The event is free to children through age 17. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult admission is $15. Online booking is recommended to guarantee entry, but walk-ups are welcome if there are remaining spaces. Allow 45 minutes for your visit. Free parking is available behind the museum and all downtown metered parking is free that day.
1:00PM and 3:00PM on Sunday, October 11, 2020 1:00PM and 3:00 PM on Sunday, October 25, 2020
$10 for members; $20 non-members
Enjoy the historic Lexington Cemetery on this guided walking tour. The tour addresses Lexington's divided loyalties during the Civil War. The tour includes both soldiers and civilians, with an emphasis on the home front. The walk is approximately 1 mile and lasts about 90 minutes.
Space is limited to 10 participants. Advance tickets are required by purchasing online below. Social distancing is required. Masks are required when within six feet of others. Meet at the Henry Clay monument.
Tickets for the Family Event may be purchased at the door or online here.
FREE to children through age 18; FREE to members; $10 other adults
Celebrate Presidents’ Day with us on February 17 with a special program for children and their families! You may arrive any time between 10am and 12pm. This year's games and activities will focus on the Lincolns’ family life. Inspired by the activities of Mary, Abraham, the Lincoln children—and their pets! —the event is designed for children ages 5-10, but everyone is welcome.
Free to children through age 18. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult admission is $10. Tickets may be purchased at the door or online here. Doors open at 10am with the last entrance at 12pm. Please allow 45 minutes to complete the activities. The Mary Todd Lincoln House is located at 578 West Main Street in downtown Lexington. Free parking is available behind the museum and all downtown metered parking is free that day.
***Our guided tour for adults will also be available at 1 p.m. at the usual ticket rate. This tour has limited availability. Advance tickets for this tour may be purchased here.
Tickets may be purchased at the door or online here.
Get into the holiday spirit while celebrating Mary Lincoln’s 201st birthday at a lively event at her childhood home on Friday, December 13. See a Mary-themed Christmas tree, listen to live holiday music, play grown-up games inspired by holiday and Lincoln history, and enjoy seasonal refreshments.
To set a festive tone for the event, Midway musicians Leslie and Bill Penn will perform 19th-century holiday music on flute and guitar. Although Christmas trees were rare in mid-19th century America, the Mary Todd Lincoln House will have one with decorations representing Mrs. Lincoln’s favorite things. In the spirit of the Lincolns’ Christmas visits to army hospitals, guests at the event will make winter treat bags for Lexington’s V.A. hospital. Other activities include a holiday history trivia game and seasonal treats inspired by Lincoln favorites—from hot chocolate to Mary’s legendary almond cake.
Doors open at 5:00 PM with the last entrance at 6:30 PM. Allow one hour for your visit. Recommended for ages 10 and up. The cost is $15 for non-members, $10 for members and kids to age 18, and $13 for adult groups (4+). Tickets may be purchased at the door or online here.
$10 members and under 18 years; $15 non-members; $13 group rate (4+ people)Doors open at 5:00 PM and you may arrive at any time until 6:30 PM. Free parking is located directly behind the museum with overflow parking at the Main Street Baptist Church. Metered parking is free after 5:00 PM.
Free
Visit the MTL House table at Lexington Lincoln Days. Activities at the Old Fayette County Courthouse will include downtown tours, Civil War reenactors, and a chance to see Lincoln’s pocket watch! At the our table, kids and their families can don mid-19th century costume accessories and pose with a photographic cutout of the Lincolns. The event is free. Details about all activities for “Lexington Lincoln Days” is available HERE.
Free to members; $5 non-members
Join us at a special event with award-winning author Susan Higginbotham. Higginbotham’s latest historical novel The First Lady and the Rebel explores the complex relationship between Mary Todd Lincoln and her Confederate half-sister Emilie Todd Helm. The event will include a presentation by the author, book signing, and light refreshments. Staff and other experts will be stationed throughout the museum discussing the novel’s topics of slavery, mourning, and the Todd sisters.
Doors open at 5:30 PM and you may arrive at any time until 7 PM. Recommended for ages 14-up. Free parking is located directly behind the museum with overflow parking at the Main Street Baptist Church. Metered parking is free after 5:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased at the door or online below.
This historical novel explores the challenges faced by Mary Todd Lincoln and her half-sister Emilie Todd Helm during the Civil War. As Abraham Lincoln’s first lady, Mary supports the Union. As a member of the Todd family of Kentucky, she has relatives who choose to back the Confederacy, including Emilie. Although she loves the Lincolns, Emilie is devoted to her husband, Confederate officer Benjamin Helm. Read more about the book on the author’s website at HERE.
2:30PM, Sundays, October 6, 13, 20, & 27
$5 for members; $15 non-members
Enjoy the historic Lexington Cemetery on this guided walking tour. The tour addresses Lexington's divided loyalties during the Civil War. The tour includes both soldiers and civilians, with more of an emphasis on the home front. The walk is approximately 1 mile and lasts about 90 minutes.
Space is limited. Advance tickets recommended by purchasing online below or by calling 859-233-9999 by the Friday before the tour. Remaining spaces are sold by the museum staff shortly before the tour begins. Please bring cash or check. Meet at the Henry Clay monument.
Socialize with your fellow history enthusiasts as we conduct the 51st annual business meeting of the Kentucky Mansions Preservation Foundation. After the short meeting, members are invited to linger and mingle at the museum. Light refreshments will be served.
Members Only. Free. If possible, we appreciate you letting us know you are attending by calling the museum at 859-233-9999 or a quick email to director@mtlhouse.org
Not a member? Join by clicking here!
Brownie Girl Scouts are invited to the Mary Todd Lincoln House to earn their “Making Games” badge. Scouts will create a scavenger hunt, play Pin the Accessory on the Lincolns, make up new rules for 19th-century games, and learn about the Todds and Lincolns by playing “Who’s Who.”
Registration required by contacting the Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road at www.gskentucky.org or 800-475-2621.
Discover the Mary Todd Lincoln House through games, stories, and other hands-on activities in this fun tour program designed for families with children ages 5-10 years old. Children will solve riddles, play a parlor game, and more! At the end of the tour, families can pose at a selfie station and make souvenir fans to take home. Approximately 60 minutes.
Admission $6 for children (6-17 years) $15 for adults, and free for children under 5 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tours are limited to 15 guests for an optimal experience. Advance ticket purchase is recommended but not required.
Discover the Mary Todd Lincoln House through games, stories, and other hands-on activities in this fun tour program designed for families with children ages 5-10 years old. Children will solve riddles, play a parlor game, and more! At the end of the tour, families can pose at a selfie station and make souvenir fans to take home. Approximately 60 minutes.
Admission $6 for children (6-17 years) $15 for adults, and free for children under 5 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tours are limited to 15 guests for an optimal experience. Advance ticket purchase is recommended but not required.
