According to the book that I got this from, Feisty First Ladies, Roger is correct. It was Dolley Madison who was known around town as Lady Presidentress. She was definitely vivacious and very well-liked. I also found another tidbit about her. The portrait of George Washington was not the last thing she grabbed before exiting the Executive Mansion during the burning of the capital in 1814. The last thing was a portrait of herself.

Julia Tyler was quite an interesting lady also. Young, beautiful wife of an elderly statesman.

I'm warning you now that I am on a trivia roll. As part of one of our conference bus tours, my tour coordinator at the museum put together a tough history quiz to keep folks occupied on the two-hour trip back. Therefore, I am going to spread the wealth of trivial information to y'all. If you happened to be on that tour, please wait awhile before submitting your answer.

When Congressman Lincoln came to Washington, what hotel did he stay in before moving to Mrs. Spriggs's boardinghouse?

Brown's Hotel

(04-12-2018 06:36 PM)Steve Wrote:  Brown's Hotel

That is correct, and its actual full name was Brown's Indian Queen Hotel at 6th and Pennsylvania. Here's more about its history: https://ghostsofdc.org/2014/02/21/browns...ia-avenue/

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Let's try this question: Who was the first President to leave Washington by train at the end of his term?

Andrew Jackson

Martin Van Buren?

Fillmore

(04-12-2018 09:25 PM)Steve Wrote:  Andrew Jackson

Congratulations to Steve for the correct answer. President Jackson was the first to leave the capital city via the rails.

Let's try this one: If the statue of Mr. Lincoln that sits within the Lincoln Memorial in DC could stand up, how tall would Abraham be?

He would be very tall - I'll guess 23 feet.

(04-13-2018 08:59 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  He would be very tall - I'll guess 23 feet.

Higher, please...

(04-13-2018 10:27 AM)L Verge Wrote:  

(04-13-2018 08:59 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  He would be very tall - I'll guess 23 feet.

Higher, please...

28 feet tall.

(04-13-2018 05:03 PM)Donna McCreary Wrote:  

(04-13-2018 10:27 AM)L Verge Wrote:  

(04-13-2018 08:59 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  He would be very tall - I'll guess 23 feet.

Higher, please...

28 feet tall.

A++ for Donna Mc!

The back of the U.S. $20 bill shows a pair of evergreen Southern Magnolias flanking the south portico of the White House. Who planted them in memory of his wife?

(04-14-2018 09:06 PM)L Verge Wrote:  The back of the U.S. $20 bill shows a pair of evergreen Southern Magnolias flanking the south portico of the White House. Who planted them in memory of his wife?

Andrew Jackson - in memory of Rachel.

(04-14-2018 09:23 PM)Donna McCreary Wrote:  

(04-14-2018 09:06 PM)L Verge Wrote:  The back of the U.S. $20 bill shows a pair of evergreen Southern Magnolias flanking the south portico of the White House. Who planted them in memory of his wife?

Andrew Jackson - in memory of Rachel.

Uh-oh, Donna has the same resource info we have! Right again. In reading Feisty First Ladies, I got a surprise about Rachel (and yes, I know she didn't quite make it to the White House). I knew that she was somewhat of a social pariah, who smoked an occasional pipe and married Andy without knowing that she really wasn't officially divorced. However, the book describes her as being very overweight and almost slovenly. Does anyone know if that is correct?