Abraham Lincoln Son Green Room

In an elegant white house guest room the 11 year old son of abraham and mary lincoln lay ill in a huge carved rosewood bed now known as the lincoln bed.

Abraham lincoln son green room.

My poor boy he was too good for this earth. He had died days earlier after a. The room is best known as a guest room used by presidents to reward friends and political supporters. Lincoln continued his work as president in particular he was struggling with general mcclellan s inaction but he grieved for his lost son.

He unlike mary wanted physical reminders of willie a picture a scrapbook near him. Lincoln came to view her son s body only once. For several thursdays following willie s death lincoln went into the green room to mourn. God has called him home.

Her son willie lincoln was embalmed in the green room in february 1862 before his funeral in the east room. He was a descendant of samuel lincoln an englishman who migrated from hingham norfolk to its namesake hingham massachusetts in 1638 the family then migrated west passing through new jersey pennsylvania and. When seamstress elizabeth keckley was preparing his body president lincoln came in to look at his lifeless son. The body of willie lincoln 11 years old blue eyed and good natured the most treasured child of abraham and mary todd lincoln lay downstairs in the green room.

Frequently after receiving guests for two hours at the tuesday or saturday receptions. Lincoln made a promenade around the room. She laid a piece of laurel on his chest and then quickly left the room. On february 20 1862 william wallace lincoln died.

Named for abraham lincoln and used by him as an office this room is known for alleged ghost sightings. The green room was mrs. Journalist noah brooks wrote in washington in lincoln s time. Lincoln s favorite room up until this point.

Elizabeth keckly the former slave who designed mrs. Abraham lincoln was born on february 12 1809 the second child of thomas lincoln and nancy hanks lincoln in a one room log cabin on sinking spring farm near hodgenville kentucky. The great room was draped with crape and black cloth relieved only here and there by white flowers and green leaves. The room has been furnished in victorian style since the truman renovation.