In 1757, 26-year-old Martha Dandridge Custis was the wealthiest widow in Virginia when she caught the eye of George Washington, a young military hero and landowner. Their marriage thrust Martha into a public life she never anticipated. She would follow Washington from the army camps of the Revolutionary War to the presidential mansion.

When Washington was inaugurated as the first U.S. president, Martha became the first woman to serve as America’s first lady. With no precedent to follow, she navigated uncharted waters while facing intense public scrutiny.

Order your copy of the new American History Tellers book, The Hidden History of the White House, for behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most dramatic events in American history—set right inside the house where it happened.

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