Martha Washington featured at center

The Oklahoma His­tory Center presents an evening with our nation’s first First Lady.

Through a special partnership with George Washington’s Mount Ver­non Estate and Garden, the Oklahoma History Center is proud to offer an evening with Martha Washington on Feb. 5.

The Oklahoma City cen­ter will open its doors at 6 p. m. and the program will begin at 7 p. m. Seating is first come and reserva­tions are not required. This program is free and open to the public.

In 1797, the President and First Lady Washing­ton returned home to their beloved Mount Vernon. Af­ter years of sacrifice they looked forward to a happy retirement. They were to have only a little over two years of peace and con­tentment surrounded by family and the many visi­tors who found their way to their home and enjoyed the Washington’s famous hospitality.

In December of 1799, after forty years of mat­rimony, George Washing­ton fell ill and died after a brief illness at the age of 67 years. His grieving widow announced sadly that she had “ no more trials to pass through” and soon followed the General as she had so many times during the war.

Mary Wiseman brings 30 years of interpretive experience to the role of America’s first First Lady. Recently retired as Artis­tic Director for Character Interpretation and Man­ager of Women’s History at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Wiseman is currently concentrating her talents bringing the life and times of Martha Washington to Americans of all ages.

As the founding force in the development of the liv­ing history programming at Colonial Williamsburg, she oversaw the research, casting, and development of many presentations. She also created the “ Fo­rum for Women in His­tory” to emphasize wom­en’s contributions to 18th century Williamsburg. She appeared as many well- known Williamsburg women.

Wiseman also began the first character- led tour, “According to the Ladies,” focusing on the lives of Co­lonial women, which broke new ground in its unique style and information.

Working to teach young interpreters about the lives of their 18th century counterparts, Wiseman taught “ Young Gentlemen of the College” and “ Young Ladies of Accomplish­ment,” as well as directing the development of charac­ter interpretive programs at the Courthouse of 1770, the Governor’s Palace and many other historic sites of the area.

For information contact Jason Harris at jharris@ okhistory. org or by phone at ( 405) 522- 0785.