AUBURN - Exerting an almost magnetic pull on vacationers and history buffs alike, a widening body of books on the Lincoln administration - led by Doris Kearns Goodwin's “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” - has been drawing travelers away from their planned routes to the Seward House in Auburn.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Bill Hatt, of Bradford, N.H., looks over the book “Team of Rivals” at the Seward House after a tour of the house. After listening to the audio book he decided to visit the historic home.
Bill Hatt, of Bradford, N.H., looks over the book “Team of Rivals” at the Seward House after a tour of the house. After listening to the audio book he decided to visit the historic home.
The lore and lure of the home have enjoyed a significant boost in popularity as a destination since Goodwin's book, which focuses on the dynamics that governed the bonds between Lincoln and three of his cabinet members, hit the New York Times best seller list in its first week of publication.
Other works, like “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer” by James L. Swanson and “Assassination Vacation” by Sarah Vowell, have further bolstered the home's cachet among avid readers and history buffs.
“Truly, every day there's at least one person if not more,” said Jennifer Hanes, Curator of Education and Outreach at Seward House. Between January and June this year, the home saw 4,802 visitors enter its doors, up from last year's 3,942 guests.
“We can definitely attribute this to the added publicity the books have given (Seward House),” Hanes said.
The book most recently prompted New York Gov. George Pataki, returning this week from a visit in Seneca County, to spend some time at the famed house - the first gubernatorial visit to the museum since Thomas Dewey's stopover in 1946.
Pataki had borrowed Goodwin's book from state Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, who accompanied him on the call.
Hype, as it concerns Seward House, is one of those happy - if unintended - outgrowths of Lincoln literature on the market today.
The exposure is what drew Lori Hartnett from Mystic, Conn. to the home's South Street premises July 7.
The middle-school teacher was savoring “Team of Rivals” earlier this month when, en route home from a trip to the Buffalo area, her son reminded her the Seward House was on their way.
“The book makes you feel like you're right there in that time period.” said Hartnett. “We made a point of going to the house because I wanted to be where he lived.”
Like most visitors to the home, Hartnett said she enjoyed the transportive nature of gazing first-hand at the original furnishings, documents, artwork and clothing the Seward family had retained and preserved.
“Going to Seward House is in a lot of ways like time traveling,” said Tom Kanalley lives in Cortland but grew up in Scipio Center. Before his July 6 stop at the historic home, he remembered last visiting Seward House on a fourth-grade field trip.
Forty-six years later, the self-described history buff paged through “Assassination Vacation.” The book explores three presidential assassinations via historic sites that honor Lincoln, McKinley and Garfield. Kanalley derived particular enjoyment from the contemporary twist Vowell incorporated to illustrate the political and social circumstances that brought each man to the presidency.
“She put it in a framework where you and I can relate to it,” he said.
Kanalley's visit to the Seward House seems to have increased his abiding interest in Auburn's history; he plans to return and next time, bring some friends.
“Now that I'm older I can appreciate it more,” he said. Kanalley traveled to Seward, Alaska 20 years ago where, to droll silence, he introduced himself as hailing from the town of the gentleman responsible for putting Alaska on the map. “They didn't know anything about Auburn,” he said.
Like Kanalley, Joan McCarthy had read “Assassination Vacation” and, back in February, attended a Goodwin lecture in the area. Her July 6 Auburn visit, though, came on the heels of completing “Manhunt” - that and a business trip to town from Rochester.
“Joan seems to be a great reader,” Hanes said, remarking on McCarthy's stop at the gift shot to purchase a book about Martha Coffin Wright, an activist for women's rights.
Still, McCarthy's reading didn't prepare her for the expanse of the home or the family's collection.
“It was much larger than what I expected and more impressive,” she said. “I didn't realize how affluent they were.”
McCarthy, whose interests gravitate to Mary Todd Lincoln and the social conditions and attitudes that influenced public perception of her, said she plans to return with her children. “Team of Rivals” remains on her reading list; though most Lincoln aficionados have read the best-seller by the time they enter the Seward House doors, the gift shop, which carries the book, has seen brisk sales.
“It's a nice summer read,” said Hanes, who anticipates more visitors this season thanks in large part to the aforementioned books.
“We're definitely riding the crest this summer, and will be into the fall.”
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net
Other works, like “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer” by James L. Swanson and “Assassination Vacation” by Sarah Vowell, have further bolstered the home's cachet among avid readers and history buffs.
“Truly, every day there's at least one person if not more,” said Jennifer Hanes, Curator of Education and Outreach at Seward House. Between January and June this year, the home saw 4,802 visitors enter its doors, up from last year's 3,942 guests.
“We can definitely attribute this to the added publicity the books have given (Seward House),” Hanes said.
The book most recently prompted New York Gov. George Pataki, returning this week from a visit in Seneca County, to spend some time at the famed house - the first gubernatorial visit to the museum since Thomas Dewey's stopover in 1946.
Pataki had borrowed Goodwin's book from state Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, who accompanied him on the call.
Hype, as it concerns Seward House, is one of those happy - if unintended - outgrowths of Lincoln literature on the market today.
The exposure is what drew Lori Hartnett from Mystic, Conn. to the home's South Street premises July 7.
The middle-school teacher was savoring “Team of Rivals” earlier this month when, en route home from a trip to the Buffalo area, her son reminded her the Seward House was on their way.
“The book makes you feel like you're right there in that time period.” said Hartnett. “We made a point of going to the house because I wanted to be where he lived.”
Like most visitors to the home, Hartnett said she enjoyed the transportive nature of gazing first-hand at the original furnishings, documents, artwork and clothing the Seward family had retained and preserved.
“Going to Seward House is in a lot of ways like time traveling,” said Tom Kanalley lives in Cortland but grew up in Scipio Center. Before his July 6 stop at the historic home, he remembered last visiting Seward House on a fourth-grade field trip.
Forty-six years later, the self-described history buff paged through “Assassination Vacation.” The book explores three presidential assassinations via historic sites that honor Lincoln, McKinley and Garfield. Kanalley derived particular enjoyment from the contemporary twist Vowell incorporated to illustrate the political and social circumstances that brought each man to the presidency.
“She put it in a framework where you and I can relate to it,” he said.
Kanalley's visit to the Seward House seems to have increased his abiding interest in Auburn's history; he plans to return and next time, bring some friends.
“Now that I'm older I can appreciate it more,” he said. Kanalley traveled to Seward, Alaska 20 years ago where, to droll silence, he introduced himself as hailing from the town of the gentleman responsible for putting Alaska on the map. “They didn't know anything about Auburn,” he said.
Like Kanalley, Joan McCarthy had read “Assassination Vacation” and, back in February, attended a Goodwin lecture in the area. Her July 6 Auburn visit, though, came on the heels of completing “Manhunt” - that and a business trip to town from Rochester.
“Joan seems to be a great reader,” Hanes said, remarking on McCarthy's stop at the gift shot to purchase a book about Martha Coffin Wright, an activist for women's rights.
Still, McCarthy's reading didn't prepare her for the expanse of the home or the family's collection.
“It was much larger than what I expected and more impressive,” she said. “I didn't realize how affluent they were.”
McCarthy, whose interests gravitate to Mary Todd Lincoln and the social conditions and attitudes that influenced public perception of her, said she plans to return with her children. “Team of Rivals” remains on her reading list; though most Lincoln aficionados have read the best-seller by the time they enter the Seward House doors, the gift shop, which carries the book, has seen brisk sales.
“It's a nice summer read,” said Hanes, who anticipates more visitors this season thanks in large part to the aforementioned books.
“We're definitely riding the crest this summer, and will be into the fall.”
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net
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Kevin K wrote on Aug 3, 2006 9:56 AM: