Going Presidential

  • By Curtis Robert Tyree
  • July 13, 2011
  • 296
                        
Northeast Ohio has an incredibly rich history, including presidential history. Since the country’s inception, Ohio has produced more presidents than from any other state; eight of the 44 leaders of the free world have come from our state. Take time to visit these exciting locations in Ohio’s Amish country and spend time connecting with our past presidents. The McKinley National Memorial President McKinley started his professional life as a lawyer in Canton, Ohio, he then moved his way up the political ladder, making it to the top and becoming our country’s 25th president in 1897 following his electoral victory in 1896. McKinley successfully ran for re-election in 1900, but was assassinated at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo New York on September 14, 1901. The McKinley memorial in Canton, Ohio was envisioned shortly after his death, and by 1902 a fundraising campaign had begun to build the memorial on a site in Canton where McKinley himself wanted a memorial for the war dead from Ohio; The design of the McKinley memorial is that of a combination of a martyr’s cross and a military sword. The memorial was ultimately dedicated in 1907 with President Theodore Roosevelt at the ceremony. President McKinley was interred in the memorial, under the dome and beside his wife in what is the largest presidential tomb in the nation. The McKinley Presidential Library and Museum is situated right next to memorial and offers visitors a chance to learn more about the 25th president, including his life, works and death. The museum also has a science wing, dedicated to continuing the appreciation of science the President McKinley had. For more information, including directions to the monument or museum, visit www.Mckinleymuseum.org. First Ladies’ Museum Along with being home to the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum and his monument, Canton, Ohio is also home to the National First Ladies’ Library, the nations only research facility and museum dedicated to our nation’s first ladies. The library is divided between two buildings, the Saxton-McKinley House where the Representative McKinley lived with his wife Ida, and the First Ladies’ Library Education and Research center, located on Market Ave. in downtown Canton. Along with housing vast amounts of information regarding the first ladies, the research center has a 91 seat Victorian style theatre where documentaries of the first ladies are shown, along with and a collection of books that resembles the first White House library created by First Lady Abigail Fillmore. The Saxton-McKinley House is a restored Victorian home just a short walk from the research center and allows visitors to tour the home and experience not only classic Victorian style, but to see how President McKinley lived during his time at the home. Please visit www.firstladies.org for more information. First Ladies Tea Room Tearooms are something considered anachronistic to today’s time and lifestyle, something that shouldn’t belong but yet fits perfectly. Tearooms used to be everywhere, allowing ladies a chance to sit, relax and converse among each other while eating daintily prepared tiny morsels with gloves, and of course, sipping tea. The First Ladies Tea room in Canton helps keep this tradition alive, serving customers light bites of food with tea, each course on the menu being named for a famous first lady from our history. You can slow down and experience dining in a different century at the First Ladies Tea Room, where as they say, you are the first lady. www.firstladiestearoom.com Dolley Madison House Bed and Breakfast When you are looking for a place to stay for the night, you don’t have to go to some big chain for a room if you’re in Brewster. The Dolley Madison House, named for famous first lady Dolley Madison, has much more to offer than just free TV and Internet. You can dine in on the trellis, or enjoy a round at the Raleigh Tavern. Tarpley’s store allows you to purchase handmade items such as soaps, lotions and jewelry. The Dolley Madison House is the perfect place to relax while on your presidential tour. www.dolleymadisonstark.com Knox County Presidential Tidbits Our 19th president, Rutherford B. Hayes was a graduate of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, just outside of Mount Vernon. Kenyon’s physics building is named in honor. The Woodward Opera House, America’s oldest 19th century theatre is a location where President McKinley gave a campaign speech. And finally, Mount Vernon annually recreates the famous speech by Clement Vallandigham, a Civil War era anti-war Peace Democrat; wherein he questions the freedoms of Americans during the Civil War; He created enough of a fuss that President Lincoln had him banished to the Confederacy. This outraged Democrats and by a sweeping majority chose him as their candidate for Governor, despite him not being allowed in the United States; Needless to say, Clement lost by a wide margin.


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