Discover the Unusual: Top 9 Fun Facts About Mary Todd Lincoln You Never Knew!

1. Séance-loving First Lady

Who you gonna call? Séance-busters! Mary Todd Lincoln's love for the supernatural had her transforming the White House into her very own medium palace: After the passing of her son, Willie, she found solace in spiritualism and even hosted séances in the Red Room, while still remaining an advocate for democracy.
Source => whitehousehistory.org

2. Mary the Fashionista

When it comes to fashion, Mary Todd Lincoln was no Plain Jane: This fancy First Lady was not only a trendsetter with her elaborate dresses and accessories, but also the first FLOTUS to strike a pose for a photograph in the White House, despite facing flak for her wallet-breaking wardrobe during the Civil War.
Source => whitehouse.gov

Did you know that Abraham Lincoln was not only a great president but also a county wrestling champion with over 300 matches under his belt? Discover more about this unexpected side of Honest Abe!

=> Fun Facts about Abraham-Lincoln

3. Project Runway Pioneer

Mary Todd Lincoln: the original Project Runway contestant, charming her way into the White House with her impeccable sense of style and thread-mastering prowess. But not everyone found her designs "sew" fabulous: As a skilled seamstress who designed and created her own clothing, Mary's fashion choices were often criticized by political opponents and the press due to their perceived extravagance, yet she remained steadfast as a beacon of First Lady fashion.
Source => medium.com

4. Afterlife-Hotline Mastermind

When Mary Todd Lincoln wanted to phone a friend from beyond the grave, she didn't hesitate to turn the White House into the afterlife-hotline headquarters: Mary Todd Lincoln was an ardent believer in Spiritualism and sought communication with spirits through séances, even hosting psychic mediums in the White House's Red Room to reconnect with her dearly departed husband, President Abraham Lincoln, whose ghost has now become a staple in the capital's supernatural folklore.
Source => boundarystones.weta.org

5. White House Recycling Queen

Mary Todd Lincoln, the original White House recycling queen: Breaking the myth of her spendthrift status, she was quite resourceful and budget-savvy in decorating the White House by reusing furniture from previous administrations, purchasing used pieces, and flaunting her green thumb with fresh floral arrangements straight from the garden.
Source => millercenter.org

6. Fashion Extravagance Record Holder

Whoever said "less is more" clearly never met Mary Todd Lincoln, the First Lady of fashion extravagance: during her time in the White House, she splurged over $23,000 (equivalent to over $500,000 today) on clothing and jewelry, even donning a Parisian designer gown at her husband's second inauguration.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. First Lady Hoarder

Mary Todd Lincoln, the original Marie Kondo meets Hoarders crossover star: She had a knack for stashing away old clothes and accessories, and even gave away some family possessions while packing up the White House after her husband's assassination, including a blood-stained cloak and the bonnet she wore that fateful night.
Source => mrlincolnswhitehouse.org

8. Tad's White House Pet Zoo

Step aside, Bo and Sunny Obama: the original furry first family had a little someone with a penchant for pony play and goat chariots: During Mary Todd Lincoln's time as the first lady, her son Tad kept two ponies in the White House stables, often riding them while clad in a military uniform, hitching their goat companions Nanko and Nannie to a chair, and driving them around during a reception in the East Room. Young Tad also displayed remarkable entrepreneurial skills by setting up a food stand in the White House lobby, where he sold beef jerky and fruit to guests waiting to see his father, with the profits going to the United States Sanitary Commission.
Source => smithsonianmag.com

9. Ghost Whisperer Mrs. Lincoln

Who you gonna call? Ghost Linc-busters! Mary Todd Lincoln wasn't just your average First Lady - she was a regular 1860s Ghost Whisperer: Mrs. Lincoln was known to host séances in the White House after her son Willie's death, finding solace in communicating with him through a medium, and spiritualism was quite a popular coping mechanism during the Civil War era, only stepping back due to societal judgement.
Source => whitehousehistory.org