Buckle in, I feel like this one is gonna be somewhat chaotic, because that’s exactly what today was… but in a good way. It was all about the ladieeeees (if you have watched Search Party, imagine superstar lawyer Cassidy Diamond saying that, okay? Okay.)
This morning started with a (veryshort) walk to the National First Ladies Library & Museum. This would be the first of two visits to this glorious spot today. My morning visit had me meeting up with a National Parks Tour Guide and a tour group to, uh, tour the McKinley Saxon House.
Since it was a First Lady Day, I, of course, wore a First Lady outfit. And by that, I mean, my “Oh, Mary!” shirt from my visit to NYC last year, a plaid skirt, stripey socks (ofc), and black leggings. I even took a pic, because I felt First Lady cute… which is a new thing I’m starting, because I might find myself obsessed with First Ladies after this trip.
Also, full disclosure, I just had a Dirty Pickle Martini, and I haven’t had vodka in a hot minute, and I FEEL it. So, blame the blog’s chaotic nature on my martini. Thanks.
We met up at the First Lady Museum to kick off our tour and there was a lot to see. Here is some of it:
I was very taken by the reproduction of Mary Todd Lincoln’s dress, that stunning purple gown that there are two photos of above. But Mary wasn’t the star today… Ida McKinley was.
I met up with my group. It was a couple, another woman, and my tour guide, who reminded me so much of my friend Tina. Like, physically, voice, vibes. It was Tina’s sister in confidence and shape. She was a fantastic guide, who (like many of the guides I’ve had on this trip) was so passionate about the subject she spoke about.
In this case, she was a font of knowledge about the McKinleys. You can Google the president; I don’t need to tell you about him. He was assassinated, which I always forget. Ida, though? She was awesome. She was well educated and worldly, spending time in Europe to broaden her horizons. Her family believed in abolition and in the education of women, not just men. Ida studied so many different things in her life that our tour guide told us that Ida would have earned the equivalent of a Master’s of Arts degree by today’s standards.
Ida worked at her father’s bank, sometimes even managing it when her father was unavailable. Our tour guide told us that, in the days when Ida managed, businessmen would avoid the bank because they didn’t think a woman could do the work of a man. That’s where McKinley met Ida and began courting her. He wasn’t the only one, though. However, he was the one who called to her heart, and they got married, and had (and lost) two children, which Ida never recovered from.
She had health issues after the loss of her children, and her husband was so good about supporting her throughout her illness. Before McKinley, at White House dinners, men were separated from the women. McKinley kept Ida at his side, and as a result, so did the rest of the attendees. McKinley wasn’t making any big statements; he was taking care of the woman he loved. And he did so until he died, which really robbed Ida of her will to live.
It felt really special to walk through the house she lived in and the recreation of the rooms she and her husband inhabited. I was most taken with the carpets, the wallpaper, and the general colorfulness of the living spaces. And all the spitoons everywhere! I’m glad they’re gone from the landscape, but I wish the color would come back.
And China, as you can see.
So, yeah, take this tour if you ever find yourself in Canton, Ohio. Count yourself lucky if Rebekah is your guide, because she was FANTASTIC.
After the First Ladies, I carried my ass to the Canton Museum of Art, which was just a short walk away (about 17 minutes). On my short walk, I slid into a local coffee spot to get an iced latte and play the lollipop fairy (one of my favorite games).
I didn’t know what to expect at this museum, but it was a goddamned delight. I had some favorite pieces. One included neon, and the other featured so many paper-folding boats. I immediately thought of my paper artist friend Gretchen and sent her a video.
Two other things I was taken by at this cute little museum were how many female artists were featured and the focus on art made with recycled or reused materials. Here are some of my faves:
I took notes on all the artists, so if you want to know who created a piece, let me know, and I will tell you. I spent about 10 minutes just sitting there, looking at the paper boats slowly moving, wondering which room in my house I could create my own version in.
After that, it was time for food, which is often my favorite part of the day. This was about a five-minute walk from the museum, and my favorite part of the meal surprised me.
IT WAS THE SALAD. WTF?! I am not a salad girlie, but this one was GREAT.
Desert Inn in Canton, Ohio, knows how to do a salad, y’all. Luckily, they also know how to do all aspects of Mediterranean food. Yes, including baklava.
Here is what I ordered (quickly followed by pics of said food):
- Fried Feta
- 961 Beer
- Gercian Salad
- Kefta
- Lebanese Rice
- Baklava (ofc)
After an A+ meal, I headed back to my hotel to regroup for the evening and review my pics from the day. On the way back, I stopped at Carpe Diem Coffee again to pick up some coffee beans to bring home. I bring coffee to the ladies in ceramics every week, and I want them to enjoy the good stuff, too, you know?
This evening, I went back to the First Lady Museum for this month’s edition of their Third Thursday series. This month’s topic was: “The Art of the First Lady,” hosted by a textile historian. On the Saxton House tour earlier that morning, I learned that Ida McKinley crocheted booties and gave them to people. I’m not talking one or two or even ten or one hundred booties… but 3500 over her lifetime.
And she wasn’t the only first lady to engage in textile art. All but ten (I think, I didn’t take perfect notes) First Ladies partook in some sort of textile art from knitting to crocheting to needlepoint to crewel work. In addition to seeing some recreations of their work and a pair of Ida McKinley’s actual crocheted booties, I also learned these fun first lady facts:
- Pat Nixon made her own hats.
- Lucretia Garfield tutored her hubby
- Barbara Bush married the only man she ever kissed
- Martha Washington did not attend her hubby’s inauguration
- Grace Coolidge laughed the first time she saw her hubby
Also, today I learned about the concept of “soft power,” which the first ladies wielded (and used) when their husbands were in office… to guide them in making more human decisions that benefit all people, not just whoever had their ear at the time. This is something we need more of. Give me soft power, please, and stop these men with their erect power trips, okay?
Then I walked myself back to the hotel and wrote this blog, which feels messy, chaotic, and human. Not enough things feel this way anymore, and it makes me happy that I’m not all hung up on expectation and can just let the words fly.
Tomorrow will find me at more museums and the McKinley Presidential Library.
And more food, of course.
See you here?
