The Hidden History of America's First Ladies

The role is unpaid and undefined, yet many women serving as First Lady made pivotal contributions that helped shape the United States. From early trailblazers like Dolley Madison, whose residence on Lafayette Square was nicknamed the “second White House,” to those in the role who are less well-known, like Harriet Lane—the first to use the title—explore how first ladies can be the definition of persistence and perseverance. Uncover forgotten legacies, like that of Helen Taft, who helped bring the iconic Japanese cherry trees to the Tidal Basin. Other anecdotes tell of brave women who faced adversity in the form of breast cancer, media scrutiny, and unfaithful husbands.

Join staff from A Tour Of Her Own to hear stories of America’s first ladies, not often recognized with physical monuments but ingrained in the fabric of Washington, D.C., and history.

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