Lincoln Discussion Symposium

It was past closing time today at Surratt House Museum when three visitors arrived at the Visitors' Center and asked if it was too late for a tour. Some divine inspiration from above must have led me to invite them in and get their tickets sold. On their way up to the tour, I asked where they were from, and the older man said, "Texas." The younger man added to that with, "He's a U.S. Congressman from Texas."

It proved to be a long tour with lots of questions, which they said our guide handled beautifully. They returned to the Visitors' Center to buy several books. The Congressman learned about Surratt House when a friend loaned him Manhunt to read. He now wanted his own copy, and he also bought Blood on the Moon (which we recommend as the second step to getting edumacated before diving into American Brutus).

The Congressman is Brian Babin of the 36th Disstrict, who was visiting with his wife and a staff member. P.S. At the end, I thanked them for visiting and asked that they try to get things back on track in this great land. They assured me they were trying. Boy, would I have loved to invite them to dinner...

Great story!

He mentioned to our guide that he was going to include us on his instagram chat. Keep your fingers crossed.

I forgot to ask the guide if she mentioned to the group that Mary Surratt's oldest child, Isaac Douglas Surratt, left Maryland on Inauguration Day in 1861, headed west, and ended up fighting for the CSA in the 33rd Texas regiment known as Duff's Rebel Rangers. After Appomattox, he and members of that unit went into Matamoras, Mexico, to enter the Mexican conflicts -- but didn't stay that long. Back in Texas, he learned of his mother's death and was mustered out. Arriving in Baltimore, he was "detained" because there were rumors that he had received a cache of money to come back and avenge his mother's death. The authorities found nothing to back up those stories. Isaac made it home and joined his sister in trying to pay off the many debts of the family and save the farm in Surrattsville -- didn't work.

I'm heading into work right now. This is the weekend that the National Blue Star Museum program kicks off. From now through Labor Day, active duty military and up to five dependents get free tours at a variety of museums across the country (including Surratt House). Surratt House also honors retired military (but no dependents). All must present current military IDs in order to receive free tickets, however.