Racine & Me: The little-known story of Mary Lincoln's 51 days in Racine
RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) — Most people know the story of President Abraham Lincoln, but few realize his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, spent nearly two months in Racine during the summer of 1867.
According to Racine Lincoln historian and scholar Steven K. Rogstad, her 51-day stay reveals a fascinating chapter of local and American history that has largely been overlooked.
For years, historians have suggested Mary Lincoln traveled to Racine to explore Racine College, now known as The DeKoven Center, as a possible school for her youngest son, Thomas "Tad" Lincoln.
Rogstad disputes that long-held belief, noting Tad, then 15 years old, was still unable to read, write or even sign his own name, making enrollment at the prestigious school highly unlikely.
Instead, Rogstad argues Mary Lincoln came to Racine to avoid being called as a witness during the highly publicized trial of John H. Surratt, the final alleged conspirator in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
The trial captivated the nation and dominated newspaper headlines, drawing comparisons to other landmark American court cases that captured public attention in later generations.
While in Racine, the former first lady immersed herself in the community. She walked the city's streets, wrote letters describing her surroundings, toured Racine College with its famed rector, James DeKoven, listened to the chapel choir and even enjoyed lemonade on the porch of a local resident.
Her visit, however, was not without hardship. Mary Lincoln suffered a severe case of heat stroke and later sustained a serious fall at her hotel, leaving her incapacitated for several weeks.
By 1867, Mary Lincoln's life had been marked by unimaginable tragedy. Just two years after her husband's assassination, she was a widow with no permanent home, having already lost both her husband and two of her children.
Three years after her Racine visit, Tad would also die of tuberculosis in Chicago.
Throughout much of the remainder of her life, Mary dressed in black mourning attire, sought comfort through spiritualists in hopes of reconnecting with lost loved ones and struggled with declining mental health. A few years after her stay in Racine, she was declared legally insane and briefly confined to an asylum near Chicago before being released into the care of her sister.
She died in 1882 at the age of 63 in the Springfield, Illinois, home where she had married Abraham Lincoln 40 years earlier.
Despite its significance, Mary Lincoln's time in Racine is rarely explored in depth, often receiving only a brief mention in biographies. Yet visitors can still experience the places connected to her stay.
The historic chapel at The DeKoven Center, formerly Racine College, remains standing and welcomes visitors interested in the site where Mary toured the campus and attended a choir performance.
Downtown Racine is also home to a lasting tribute to the Lincolns. On the grounds of Gateway Technical College, visitors can find the Abraham and Mary Lincoln statue, unveiled in 1943. It holds a unique place in American history as the nation's first monument dedicated to both a president and first lady, as well as the first public statue honoring Mary Lincoln.
These historic landmarks serve as enduring reminders of Racine's unique connection to one of America's most intriguing first ladies. They also highlight the importance of preserving local history and recognizing how stories from individual communities contribute to the broader narrative of American history.