Mother’s Day began in a Henderson classroom

In 1887, Mary Sasseen Wilson held the first Mother’s Day observance in Henderson, Kentucky. A schoolteacher who deeply cared for her mother, the first celebration was on April 20 to honor her own mother. Sasseen Wilson aimed to foster a greater appreciation in her students for their mothers. Her simple act of recognition with her students grew into a nationwide tradition of gratitude and love.

The initiative gained momentum, leading to national observance in 1893. Sasseen Wilson traveled nationwide to promote the idea; her efforts culminated in President Woodrow Wilson’s 1914 proclamation declaring Mother’s Day a national holiday, becoming official in 1916.

– Rebecca Hastings, The Kentucky 100