12 Presidential Landmarks in Ohio Every American Should Visit at Least Once

Ohio’s Presidential Legacy

Eight U.S. presidents came from the Buckeye State, giving Ohio more commanders-in-chief than any state except Virginia.

This wealth of presidential power has left Ohio packed with historic sites, from simple log cabins to fancy estate. Here are some of our must-visits.

1. Ulysses S. Grant Birthplace – Point Pleasant

This small wooden cottage is where Civil War general and 18th president Ulysses S. Grant was born in 1822. His parents paid just $2 monthly rent for this home before moving to Georgetown before his first birthday.

After Grant died in 1885, this house went on quite a journey. Workers took it apart and moved it to Cincinnati for an exhibition. Then it bounced between places before finally returning home in 1936.

2. James A. Garfield National Historic Site – Mentor

Known as “Lawnfield,” this Victorian home is where James Garfield ran the first successful front porch presidential campaign in 1880. He bought the property in 1876 for his big family and added 11 rooms that same year.

Sadly, Garfield was shot just four months after becoming president and died in September 1881. His widow Lucretia later added the Memorial Library wing, creating what many consider America’s first presidential library.

The site is incredibly well-preserved, with over 80% of the furniture being original Garfield family pieces from the 1880s.

3. William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum – Canton

William McKinley, America’s 25th president, had deep roots in Canton, Ohio. He practiced law there, married his wife Ida in the city, and started his political career from its streets.

This round, domed building also became his final resting place of after he was killed in 1901. The Stark County Historical Society runs the complex, which has historic items, exhibits, and even a planetarium.

The site has 108 steps leading to the domed memorial, matching McKinley’s birth date (January 29, 1843).

4. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums – Fremont

Hayes was more than just the 19th President (1877-1881) – he served as Ohio’s governor, a Congressman, and a Civil War general.

“Spiegel Grove,” the wooded 25-acre estate of Hayes, contains a grand 31-room Victorian mansion where he lived after his presidency.

When it opened in 1916, this became America’s first presidential library and now holds 90,000 books, manuscripts, and images showing Hayes’ interests.

Both the president and First Lady Lucy are buried on the grounds, which now serve as an official tree preserve with paved walking paths.

5. Warren G. Harding Home & Presidential Library – Marion

Like Garfield, Harding ran a famous “front porch campaign” from this home, winning the 1920 election by the largest margin of any president up to that time.

The Harding site preserves both his original home and the new Warren G. Harding Presidential Library and Museum that opened in 2021. You can see the actual wicker furniture and marble statues the Hardings owned before they moved to Washington.

About 95% of the house’s furnishings and decorations are original from when Warren and Florence Harding lived there. The site regularly hosts special events, including a planned July 2025 program about historical front porch campaigns.

6. William Howard Taft National Historic Site – Cincinnati

On one of Cincinnati’s highest hills stands this two-story Greek Revival house where William Howard Taft, the only person to serve as both President and Chief Justice, was born in 1857 and grew up. His father, Alphonso Taft, bought the house for $10,100 in 1851.

Mount Auburn was once a fashionable neighborhood where wealthy families escaped downtown’s summer heat. After the Tafts moved out, the home changed hands several times and even became apartments in the 1940s before being saved by the William Howard Taft Memorial Association.

7. First Ladies National Historic Site – Canton

Opened in 2000, this is the newest of Ohio’s presidential landmarks, but it fills an important gap in American history education.

The National First Ladies’ Library in Canton celebrates presidential spouses, and as of writing, it’s the only one of its kind in the country. The site has two main buildings: the Education & Research Center and the Ida Saxton McKinley Home, where tours begin.

8. U.S. Grant Boyhood Home & Schoolhouse – Georgetown

This historic 1823 house in southwestern Ohio is where Ulysses S. Grant lived from age one until he left for West Point at 17. The site includes both the family home and the one-room schoolhouse where young Grant learned his lessons.

Unlike his birthplace, which moved multiple times, this building has stayed in its original spot. The home shows how Grant’s father built up the family tanning business in southern Ohio, helping visitors understand Grant’s modest upbringing.

The Ulysses S. Grant Homestead Association manages the site along with the Ohio History Connection.

9. William Henry Harrison Tomb – North Bend

Though William Henry Harrison had the shortest presidency (just 31 days in 1841), he made a big mark on Ohio history. Before becoming president, Harrison fought in the Battle of Fallen Timbers and witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Greenville, which opened Ohio to settlement.

Harrison also commanded troops during the War of 1812 and helped America’s westward growth. First buried in Washington D.C., Harrison’s remains later came to this limestone tomb in North Bend on former family land.

The site features a 60-foot stone monument added in 1924 that looks out toward the Ohio River.

10. James A. Garfield Birth Site Cabin – Moreland Hills

In January 1830, Abram Garfield built a simple cabin in what is now Moreland Hills, where future president James A. Garfield was born on November 19, 1831. Today, the Village Hall grounds have a carefully built replica of that cabin that attracts both kids and history buffs.

While Garfield’s Mentor home shows his presidential years, this humble cabin represents his tough beginnings as the last president born in a log cabin. Historical Society volunteers tell visitors about Garfield’s early life and pioneer settlements in the area.

This site is part of the official Ohio Presidential Trail created to showcase the state’s presidential heritage.

11. Benjamin Harrison Memorial Foundation Museum – Cleves

Just eight years before William Henry Harrison became president, his grandson Benjamin Harrison was born in the same town of North Bend, Ohio. Benjamin, who became America’s 23rd president, attended Miami University before moving to Indianapolis in 1854.

During his time in office (1889-1893), six states joined the Union and two national parks were established. The Harrison-Symmes Memorial Foundation Museum in Cleves tells the story of this multi-generational presidential family.

This site connects visitors to both presidential Harrisons – the only grandfather-grandson presidential pair in American history.

12. James A. Garfield Memorial – Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland

This grand memorial in Cleveland’s historic Lake View Cemetery is the final resting place for President James A. Garfield and his wife Lucretia.

The ornate structure stands as one of the most impressive presidential tombs in America, with amazing architecture and detailed artwork.

The memorial includes a 180-foot-tall monument with observation decks offering wide views of Cleveland and Lake Erie. Inside, you’ll find beautiful mosaics, stained glass, and a statue of the president himself.

What’s the presidential landmark you think everyone should see? Tell us in the comments!

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