First Ladies National Historic Site
Another solo road trip brought me to the First Ladies National Historic Site. Housed in this historic mansion, the site tells a story of the influence, leadership and sacrifices of the women who stood beside the presidents of the United States.
The National Historic Site was established in 2000 when President Bill Clinton signed it into the National Park System. The site includes the Ida Saxton McKinley House, the wife of President William McKinley, along with museum exhibits that explore the evolving role of First Ladies throughout American history.
The building itself is of ornate Victorian architecture reflecting the style and prosperity of the late 1800s. Inside there are exhibits featuring inaugural gowns, White House china, personal letters, photographs and historical displays that highlight the causes many First Ladies championed during their years in public life. The exhibits show these women not only as hostesses of the White House, but as advisors, advocates and influential public figures in their own right.
Each presidential era carried the story of not just the leader, but also the family, the marriage, and a woman whose role was often more demanding than history books sometimes acknowledge.
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