Presidential Treasures

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This journal deals with the different sites of US presidents throughout the United States. I love politics and studying the history of the Presidency, as well as my favorite president, Theodore Roosevelt. My goal is to visit every presidential site, whether it is a birthplace, monument, library, or gravesite. My quest will take me all over the United States and to a few places out of the country, eventually. The interesting aspect that I have found out by traveling to these different sites is that it has allowed me to visit places that I normally wouldn’t have otherwise. There are many presidents who where born or raised in small towns throughout the United States. Towns such as West Branch, IA gave r...Read More

This journal deals with the different sites of US presidents throughout the United States. I love politics and studying the history of the Presidency, as well as my favorite president, Theodore Roosevelt. My goal is to visit every presidential site, whether it is a birthplace, monument, library, or gravesite. My quest will take me all over the United States and to a few places out of the country, eventually. The interesting aspect that I have found out by traveling to these different sites is that it has allowed me to visit places that I normally wouldn’t have otherwise. There are many presidents who where born or raised in small towns throughout the United States. Towns such as West Branch, IA gave rise to Herbert Hoover and in Abilene, KS, where Dwight Eisenhower grew up and where he is buried, the Eisenhower Library and Museum keeps his legacy alive in this small town.

I have discovered that not all presidents are created equal. There are presidents that have sites dedicated to their birth, childhood, retirement, and burial as well as parks named after them or statues erected in their honor. Some presidents only have a few of those sites. There are some sites that are related to multiple presidents such as universities, churches, burial sites, and of course, the White House and the Capitol.

George Washington has more sites than any other president totaling forty-two. Zachary Taylor, on the other hand, has one which is his burial site in Louisville, Kentucky. Thirty-three states including the District of Columbia have presidential sites, most of which is open to the public while some others have been converted to private use. Of those thirty-three states, Virginia has more sites than any other representing thirteen different presidents. There are three countries, Canada, England, and Northern Ireland, where you can visit sites of US presidents. Franklin Roosevelt had his summer home in New Brunswick, Canada which lies on the border with Maine. Known as Roosevelt Campobello International Park, it is jointly run by Canada and United States Park Services. The United Kingdom lays claim to three different sites. St. George’s Church in England is the site of the marriage of Theodore Roosevelt to Edith Carow. Sulgrave Manor in England is the ancestral home to George Washington while in Northern Ireland; Arthur Cottage is the ancestral home of Chester Arthur.

Quick Tips:

If visiting presidential sites is something that interests you, but not exactly sure about how to find them all, there are a few books that list them all. I recommend Presidential Places: A Guide to the Historic Sites of US Presidents by Gary Ferris. This book lists all sites related to each president and there is an appendix for sites that are related to multiple presidents. There is a great index by state that gives you a listing of all sites within a particular state. The book gives details on hours of operation as well as admission fees, if any.

Another great book to aid in you your journey is The Ideals Guide to Presidential Homes and Libraries by Peggy Schaefer. This is a beautiful color photo book of the different sites associated with each president which is listed in chronological order. The only difference between the two books is this one only lists presidential homes and libraries while the other book lists every possible site imaginable.

Many of these sites have a nominal entrance fee. While some of the sites are operated by private foundations there are fifty-seven sites which are run by the National Park Service. The National Park Service offers an annual pass which costs . The pass allows free entry of all passengers in a vehicle to any recreation parks that charge an entrance fee. It also allows free entry for the pass holder and three other individuals to sites which charge an entrance fee. Therefore, if you are a person that visits a lot of National Parks, not just of presidents, then the will probably repay itself and save you a lot of money in entrance fees.

Best Way To Get Around:

These sites are accessible by every means of transportation. A plane will get in the area and a vehicle will get you to the site. Some of the sites consist of driving tours which does not require getting out of the vehicle except for picture taking, while there are others which forces you to use your good old fashioned feet. Read Less

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Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center

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Attraction | "Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museu"

Rutherford Hayes Presidential Center Photo - Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, Ohio

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Before there was the contested 2000 presidential election, rewind 125 years back to 1876. The country had to choose between Samuel Tilden, a democrat from New York and Rutherford B. Hayes, a republican from Ohio who was actually a compromise candidate. The election results had Samuel Tilden winning the popular vote; however, the electoral vote was in question. Unlike in 2000 with just Florida being contested, there were four states in 1876. A congressional panel was convened to decide the fate of those votes with Rutherford B. Hayes being inaugurated as the 19th president of the United States.In Fremont, Ohio, a town of 17,500 people, located about an hour south of Lake Michigan, is th...Read More

Before there was the contested 2000 presidential election, rewind 125 years back to 1876. The country had to choose between Samuel Tilden, a democrat from New York and Rutherford B. Hayes, a republican from Ohio who was actually a compromise candidate. The election results had Samuel Tilden winning the popular vote; however, the electoral vote was in question. Unlike in 2000 with just Florida being contested, there were four states in 1876. A congressional panel was convened to decide the fate of those votes with Rutherford B. Hayes being inaugurated as the 19th president of the United States.

In Fremont, Ohio, a town of 17,500 people, located about an hour south of Lake Michigan, is the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum. The 25 acre estate known as Spiegel Grove contains the home of President Hayes as well as his tomb, and sits directly next to the library. It was the first presidential library in the country and a model for all subsequent presidential libraries. The library opened in 1916 with Hayes’ 12,000 volumes from his personal collection and today it has expanded to over 70,000 volumes.

The museum is a self-guided tour that leads you through Hayes’s life from his humble beginnings to his rise to the governorship of Ohio followed by the Presidency. Many original pieces belonging to Hayes are on display such as the office chair he used while Governor of Ohio, the China Cabinet used in the White House, and the enormous campaign banner used during the election.

Tours of the home begin every half-hour. I was the only one on my tour, so instead of the tour lasting 45 minutes, I was able to receive an in-depth tour lasting an hour and a half. The home went through different renovations over a span of twenty years increasing the size of the home from sixteen rooms to thirty-one. The home was continuously lived in by Hayes’ descendants until 1966 when it was donated to the Hayes Presidential Center.

The inside of the Hayes’ home is magnificently decorated with enormous portraits of all of the Hayes’ family, but most touching is found in Mrs. Hayes’ room. The Hayes had three children that did not live past two. A portrait of two babies, one above and one below, holding each other’s hand, symbolizes the love they had for their three children who lives were cut short. In the main parlor and largest room in the house, hangs the portrait of James Webb Cook Hayes, the second son of the Hayes’ and Medal of Honor recipient. He was the one that was responsible for founding the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library.

After leaving the house, walk around the back side of the house and visit the grave of Rutherford and Lucy Hayes. That particular spot was chosen because it was a favorite spot for the couple during their years at Spiegel grove. His last words were "I know that I’m going where Lucy is."
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 14, 2008

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Spiegel Grove
Fremont, Ohio 43420
(419) 332-2081

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Tippecanoe and Tyler too!

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James River Photo - Charles City, Virginia

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William Henry Harrison, our ninth president, is remembered for having served the shortest time in office, a mere one-month in 1840. He died from pneumonia acquired by given his inaugural speech, the longest in history at one hour and forty minutes, on a cold rainy morning in Washington, DC. Because of his brief presidency, many people forget that he served as our chief executive and, in turn, miss out on the opportunity to visit one of the most gorgeous and historical plantations. Berkeley Plantation was built in 1726 and its history dates back even further to 1619. The plantation is located off of Route 5 in Charles City, Virginia. Route 5, which leads out of Richmond toward Williamsb...Read More

William Henry Harrison, our ninth president, is remembered for having served the shortest time in office, a mere one-month in 1840. He died from pneumonia acquired by given his inaugural speech, the longest in history at one hour and forty minutes, on a cold rainy morning in Washington, DC. Because of his brief presidency, many people forget that he served as our chief executive and, in turn, miss out on the opportunity to visit one of the most gorgeous and historical plantations.

Berkeley Plantation was built in 1726 and its history dates back even further to 1619. The plantation is located off of Route 5 in Charles City, Virginia. Route 5, which leads out of Richmond toward Williamsburg, is a wonderful scenic drive and a great alternative to the boring interstate. The drive on this route takes only about 30-40 minutes. However, allow yourself plenty of time to explore the many different plantations along the way. Many are open to the public and the ones that do not still allow you to walk the grounds providing great picture opportunities.

Follow the signs along Route 5 that directs you to Berkeley Plantation. As you turn off the main road, you will proceed for about a mile down a dirt path. Half a mile down the road, it forks, where signs are posted informing you to keep to the right. The left side of the fork leads you to Westover Plantation. That home is not open to the public but the grounds are open to explore. As you pull up to the front entrance to Berkeley Plantation, you are greeted by a two-story brick home.

Proceed to the gift shop to the left of the building. There you can buy a ticket for a guided tour of the house for $15. If you would rather skip the house tour, tickets to tour the grounds are $7.50, which is well worth it. The guided house tour leads you through each room of the house with artifacts from the period. The original pieces do not exist because, during the Revolutionary War, the plantation was invaded and the mansion was stripped of its furnishings, livestock, and slaves. The Harrisons fled and settled in Richmond. However, the outbuilding to the right of the mansion has a cannonball impact that occurred during the Revolutionary War.

The house itself, while not as extravagant in design as previous presidents or even ones after him, is more than made up for by one of the most spectacular backyard views. The plantation grounds extend all the way to the James River. The magnificent gardens give the landscape a unique characteristic and are filled with flowers and many fruits and vegetables. While you walk to the river, enjoy the peace and serenity of the outdoors and listen to the sounds of the many birds and animals that call Berkeley Plantation home.

As stated before, Berkeley Plantation goes farther back than the days of William Henry Harrison. In 1619, 38 families set off from Berkeley Parrish, England and settled on December 4. When the ships arrived, they thanked God for their safe passage and ordained that yearly a day would be kept holy as a day of Thanksgiving. Berkeley Plantation is therefore the site of the first official Thanksgiving, which is commemorated by a curved brick structure, located near the James River. Inside the structure, it talks about the settlers and creation of the first Thanksgiving. More history would be in store for Berkeley Plantation well after William Henry Harrison died. The plantation served as the headquarters for General George McClellan during the Civil War, who was visited by President Abraham Lincoln. Also, General Daniel Butterfield, during this same time, composed "Taps" which has been a fixture in American military parades, funerals, and other events.

Berkeley Plantation is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Although guided tours end at 5, the grounds remain open until 6pm. If you happen to be hungry, the Coach House Tavern serves lunch daily and a Sunday brunch.

A few miles down the road is a plantation that belongs to another president, John Tyler, once vice president of William Henry Harrison. Sherwood Forest, the name Tyler dubbed it, once belonged to William Henry Harrison; making it the only home to have been owned by two different presidents. The Tyler family still privately owns the home. Tours of the inside of the house are not given unless by appointment. However, self-guided tours of the grounds are available for $5. They work on the honor system and, as you take a brochure off the grounds at the parking lot, there is a box to deposit your money. You can see Tyler’s love of animals by viewing the pet cemetery, where his favorite horse is buried with a horse head headstone. There are outhouses and other outbuildings on the property. Stay on the guided path as instructed in the brochure because, since the home is still privately owned, life as usual goes about while you take your tour.
Visit www.berkeleyplantation.com and www.sherwoodforest.org
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Teddy...Strong as a Bull Moose

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Teddy Roosevelt's grave Photo - Oyster Bay, New York

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Some of this nation’s greatest presidents have hailed from the great state of New York. Martin Van Buren, Millard Fillmore, and FDR spent their entire lives there, while Chester Arthur and Ulysses Grant claim New York as their final resting place. There is another great president who not only comes from New York, but is the only one who also comes from New York City, Theodore Roosevelt. TR, as he was sometimes referred to as, represented New York City in the state house in Albany, police commissioner of the NYPD, and then as governor of New York before rising to the presidency. A journey through the history of TR begins in the city at his birthplace where it all began. Although the or...Read More

Some of this nation’s greatest presidents have hailed from the great state of New York. Martin Van Buren, Millard Fillmore, and FDR spent their entire lives there, while Chester Arthur and Ulysses Grant claim New York as their final resting place. There is another great president who not only comes from New York, but is the only one who also comes from New York City, Theodore Roosevelt. TR, as he was sometimes referred to as, represented New York City in the state house in Albany, police commissioner of the NYPD, and then as governor of New York before rising to the presidency.

A journey through the history of TR begins in the city at his birthplace where it all began. Although the original structure was torn down in 1916, a replica of the house was built on the exact site. It is located at 28 East 20th Street, making it the only birthplace of a president within New York City. The house is owned and operated by the National Park Service. Tours are given on the hour between 9am and 5pm Wednesday through Sunday and admission is $2 a person. The guided tour takes you through five rooms including the room where TR grew up as a young boy. There are self-guided tours of different exhibits with items on display such as the Nobel Peace Prize that TR received for helping end the Russo-Japanese War, thereby making him the first American to receive that prestigious award. Also on display is his Army uniform that he wore in the Spanish American War as a colonel leading the Rough Riders to victory in Cuba, as well as the shirt he was wearing when he was shot campaigning for his third term as president in 1912.

The next stop will take you 30 miles outside the city to a town called Oyster Bay, located on Long Island. This is where TR built his home known as Sagamore Hill and was usually referred to as the "Summer White House." While New York City is fast paced, things in Oyster Bay go a lot slower. Like his birthplace, Sagamore Hill is also run by the NPS. The park is open daily from 9am to 5pm and admission is $5.

All of the artifacts in the home are original to the Roosevelt family. His love of big game hunting is evident by the many animal heads that adorn the walls and bear rugs that cover the floors. His library is filled with thousands of books to include a book that was signed by George Washington. The book sits on the shelf just like any other, but its exact location is known only to a few. Finally, the tour ends with the room where TR took his final breath. Located on the grounds is the Orchard House built by TR’s son, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., and which is used today as an exhibition hall highlighting the many accomplishments of TR. As you leave Sagamore Hill, Young Memorial Cemetery lies at the end of the road, where the graves of TR and his wife Edith can be visited free of charge. Just half a day and you can follow his humble beginnings to his untimely death.

If you have more time to visit, Grant’s Tomb, final resting place of Ulysses Grant, is located in the city at 122nd Street at Riverside Drive and across the state in Buffalo can be found the Theodore Roosevelt’s Inaugural Site, where he took the oath of office after William McKinley died from a gunshot wound.
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North Carolina Presidential Sites

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Three President Statue Photo - Raleigh, North Carolina

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As I began my quest to visit different presidential sites around the country, I failed to realize that there were some in my own backyard. As a native North Carolinian, I realized that my great state claims three presidents from within its borders. I started off in Raleigh, the capital city, where I found Mordecai Historic Park, located not far from the State Capitol. The park gives a glimpse into early Raleigh life. For me the highlight was the birthplace of Andrew Johnson, our 17th president, while not elaborate by any stretch of the imagination, is still worthy for me to pay a visit. Also located on the grounds is the Mordecai House, once the county's largest plantation. The tour of the plantation ...Read More

As I began my quest to visit different presidential sites around the country, I failed to realize that there were some in my own backyard. As a native North Carolinian, I realized that my great state claims three presidents from within its borders. I started off in Raleigh, the capital city, where I found Mordecai Historic Park, located not far from the State Capitol. The park gives a glimpse into early Raleigh life. For me the highlight was the birthplace of Andrew Johnson, our 17th president, while not elaborate by any stretch of the imagination, is still worthy for me to pay a visit. Also located on the grounds is the Mordecai House, once the county's largest plantation. The tour of the plantation grounds includes the Allen Kitchen and the herb garden. Other buildings include the Badger-Iredell law offices which date back to 1810 as well as St. Mark's Chapel, which is the site of many weddings.

My next stop took me to Pineville, a small town located outside Charlotte. This is where James Polk, our 11th president was born and raised for eleven years before moving to Tennessee; he then returned to attend college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The site has recreated the log buildings as they were in Polk's time. This is a North Carolina Historic Site and guided tours are offered daily with no admission fee.

The first president to hail from North Carolina is still shrouded in mystery. Andrew Jackson, our 7th president, claims to have been born in Lancaster County, South Carolina. Historians believe that his mother while en route to SC, stopped off at her sister's house in Union County, NC where she gave birth to Jackson. The matter has never been fully resolved. The Andrew Jackson Memorial, in Waxhaw, North Carolina, is dedicated to the life of Jackson and preserving the region of the Waxhaws. Located about twenty miles away in Lancaster, SC is the Andrew Jackson State Park. The park contains a blockhouse that is filled with antiques from the era as well as some that belonged to Jackson himself. There are two monuments located on the grounds and admission is free unlike the Jackson Memorial in NC. The two states worked out a unique settlement in order to claim Jackson as theirs. Each year high school footballs teams from each county compete in the Old Hickory Football Classic. The winner gets to claim Jackson as a native son for the upcoming year.

To honor all three presidents, a statue was dedicated on the grounds in front of the State Capitol. It depicts Andrew Jackson on horseback, Polk seated holding a map, and Johnson seated holding the US Constitution. Read Less

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Three Presidential Burial Sites

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Of the forty-two people who have occupied the White House, all but four have died. Of those thirty-eight presidents who have died, I have been to twenty-one different presidential burial sites. My journey has taken from Washington DC to small towns across the United States. I have found out from my visits that some presidents have elaborate burial plots while others have just a headstone, giving no clue that this person once occupied the highest office in the land. Some presidents are buried on their estate while others are buried in community cemeteries. Although John F. Kennedy's eternal flame grave site at Arlington National Cemetery attracts millions of visitors annually, I found three other presi...Read More

Of the forty-two people who have occupied the White House, all but four have died. Of those thirty-eight presidents who have died, I have been to twenty-one different presidential burial sites. My journey has taken from Washington DC to small towns across the United States. I have found out from my visits that some presidents have elaborate burial plots while others have just a headstone, giving no clue that this person once occupied the highest office in the land. Some presidents are buried on their estate while others are buried in community cemeteries. Although John F. Kennedy's eternal flame grave site at Arlington National Cemetery attracts millions of visitors annually, I found three other presidential burial sites that towers in comparison to Kennedy's.

Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president and Civil War General, is buried in New York City overlooking the Hudson River. Grant along with his wife are buried in the largest mausoleum in North America, rising 150 feet. As you gaze at the mausoleum, it is hard to believe that the building's only purpose is to house the remains of two individuals. Inside the mausoleum, the lobby is surrounded by busts of Civil War generals and the dome is decorated in colorful murals. In the center of the mausoleum is a large oculus or a circular opening. As you peer over the side, it gives way to a lower level where the twin granite sarcophagi of President Grant and his wife are entombed. This is one of the most impressive burial sites of a president that requires no admission.

Canton, Ohio is home to the 25th president, William McKinley. A 26 acre park is dedicated to the memory of Canton's favorite son and is also the site of the McKinley Museum and National Memorial. McKinley's mausoleum is about half the size of Grant's Tomb, at a height of 77 feet, but it is still breathtaking. To reach the entrance of the mausoleum, you must walk up 108 steps to the top. Once inside, the bodies of William McKinley and his wife rest upon a large pedestal, unlike Grant's that is lowered into a vault. While the inside is not as elaborate as Grant's, there is a unique skylight at the top of the dome containing 45 stars representing the 45 states in the Union at the time of his death. While there is an admission fee for the museum, the mausoleum is free of charge.

About an hour away from Canton is James Garfield burial site in Cleveland. Unlike the previous two presidents, Garfield is buried in a public cemetery, Lakeview Cemetery. This towering mausoleum sits upon a hilltop in the cemetery where other prominent Americans are buried such as John Rockefeller, John Hay, and Mark Hanna. I believe that Garfield's burial site far surpasses any other burial site that I have so far visited. Once you enter the mausoleum, you are greeted with a life-size marble statue of James Garfield supporting himself on a chair while standing on a marble coffin. There is a balcony that circles the top of the dome where you can get great pictures looking down on the towering statue from above. There are stairs that lead to the crypt beneath the floor. In the crypt, the bodies of Garfield and his wife are entombed and are open to the public. There is one interesting aspect of the Garfield Memorial, that is worth mentioning, and that is the tile work on the floor. All throughout the mausoleum are images of swastikas embedded in the tiles of the floor. However, it was explained to me that the swastikas we are familiar with are the ones that Hitler used. Hitler inverted the swastika to resemble war and evil. The swastika that is found in Garfield's mausoleum is the original design representing peace.

While I still have many more burial sites to visit, these sites are by far the most impressive. Read Less

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