Discover presidential libraries in ohio

With eight presidents from Ohio (seven born here and one who claimed it as home), there are many presidential museums and presidential libraries in Ohio.

This post highlights all the Ohio presidents’ homes, museums and libraries to help you discover Ohio on this historical trip.

Besides the presidential libraries in Ohio, the Buckeye State is also home to several presidential monuments, and Canton, Ohio is even home to the National First Ladies Library.

With all the Ohio presidential libraries, Ohio is one of the top vacation spots for historical vacations. Check out this impressive list of presidential libraries, museums, monuments and sites to start planning your historical family vacation!

This interactive Ohio presidential sites map can help you plan your trip. We’ve included it at the end of the article as well so you don’t have to scroll up and down!

Presidential Libraries in Ohio

McKinley Presidential Library and Museum (Canton)

The McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, in Canton, Ohio is geared toward teaching kids about the McKinley presidency through immersive play experiences. Interactive presidential museum exhibits, like the science center, engage visitors as they learn about the past, present, and future. In the Street of Shops, families can travel back in time as they wander through a replica historic town.

The McKinley Gallery at this presidential library in Ohio focuses on the life and times of President William McKinley. It shares memorabilia from the family’s own collection.

Plan your visit to the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum

• Location: 800 McKinley Monument Drive NW, Canton, OH 44708
• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Admission: Adult – $13; Sr. Adult (60 and above) – $12; Children (3-18) – $11: 2 years and under – free. Ticket prices include admission to the planetarium when open.
• The McKinley Presidential Library is a proud participant in the Blue Star Museums program and the Museums for All initiative.

Insider’s Tip: If you’re feeling up to it, bring your running shoes and “run the monument” like the locals!

National McKinley Birthplace Memorial (Niles)

The town of Niles, Ohio, near Youngstown, is another of the Ohio presidential sites dedicated to our 25th President, the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial.

Plan your visit to the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial

This presidential museum in Ohio actually includes three separate places to visit, and all have FREE admission.

• The McKinley Birthplace Home at 40 S. Main Street is open Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• The McKinley Memorial Library is across the street at 40 N. Main Street. It is open Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• The McKinley Memorial Museum is also located at the Ohio presidential library and is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hayes Presidential Library & Museums (Fremont)

The next of the presidential libraries in Ohio is the home of Rutherford B. Hayes in Fremont, Ohio near Sandusky.

Fans of presidential history will see there’s much to discover and explore at this Ohio president’s home. This is one of the most comprehensive presidential museums in Ohio and includes the presidential library, a museum and the 31-room Victorian home of President Rutherford B. Hayes.

On the grounds of this Ohio president’s home, visitors can also explore the Hayes’ family tombs or stroll along the walking trails on the property.

In the Hayes Presidential Museum in Ohio, visitors learn about the home life of Rutherford and Lucy Hayes with exhibits that feature family artifacts.

A well known history buff, President Hayes contributed to the collection in this presidential museum in Ohio by collecting historical artifacts throughout his career, saving his many letters, diaries, and other documents. Through these personal documents, visitors can connect to the Hayes family and better understand the period in which they lived.

Plan your visit to the Hayes Presidential Library and Museum in Fremont

• Location: Spiegel Grove, Fremont, OH 43420
• Hours: Vary seasonally and on holidays. Check the website to make sure they’re open when you plan to visit.
• Admission: Ticket prices to tour the home and museum vary, and are set for a specific admission date and tour time. Prices range from free to $20, but you have to purchase tickets in advance on their site. Walkins are welcome as tour space allows. Admission to the grounds and the library are always free.

Insider’s Tip: Rutherford B. Hayes was born in the Central Ohio Town of Delaware. That town’s high school is named in his honor and many streeets bear presidential names. It’s one of my favorite towns in Ohio, worth a visit. To learn more, check this out.

William Howard Taft National Historic Site (Cincinnati)

Explore the life of our 27th President, William Howard Taft, at his childhood home in Cincinnati, the next in our list of presidential museums in Ohio. This Ohio president’s childhood home, a two-story Greek Revival house where Taft was born and grew up, is open for tours. Before touring the house, stop in at the visitor center. 

Your experience begins at the Taft Education Center where you’ll discover his values: hard work, civic duty and education. Park rangers offer guided tours of this Ohio president’s home whenever the park is open.

The Taft National Historic Site participates in the NPS Junior Ranger program. Kids who visit the site can earn a badge by answering questions in an activity book as they tour the house. Big kids, aka parents, can do it too!

Plan your visit to the Taft National Historic Site

• Location: 2038 Auburn Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45129
• Hours: Sunday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m., closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Admission: FREE

Taft Museum of Art (Cincinnati)

President Taft had one of the most extensive art collections of his day. It was considered among the best in the United States.

The Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati is located in a historic home considered to be among the finest examples of federal architecture in the Palladian style anywhere in the United States making this an interesting Ohio presidential site to visit!

While not part of President Taft’s art collection, one of the most interesting collections at the museum are the Duncanson Murals. Duncanson, the first black American artist with an international reputation, painted the 9 foot by 6 foot murals for homeowner Nicholas Longworth to decorate the entry hall in the 1850s. The murals are now recognized as the most significant pre–Civil War domestic murals in the United States

Fans of architecture will enjoy the setting as much as art aficionados do — and understand this description!

Plan your visit to the Taft Museum of Art

• Location: 316 Pike Street, Cincinnati
• Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Admission: Adults: $12 in person/$10 online. Seniors: $10 in person/$8 online. Under 18 and military are FREE. Sundays are FREE. Click here to purchase tickets — at Family Travels on a Budget, we like to save where we can!

James A. Garfield Home (Mentor)

Visitors the James A. Garfield Home in Mentor, Ohio will learn about the life of our 20th president.

Garfield’s family home is another of the many presidential museums in Ohio, highlighting the stories of his life, from his days as a canal boy to his time in office. The tour of this Ohio president’s home begins on the front porch, where Garfield greeted well-wishers during his presidential campaign.

Tour options include a guided tour or cell phone tours of the house and grounds.

Tours of this Ohio presidential site take guests through the farm, house and other features, including his contribution to the legacy of presidential libraries.

President Garfield was assassinated only 200 days into his presidency, but this Ohio presidential museum and library bring the Civil War era history to life in a memorable way.

Plan your visit to the James A. Garfield Presidential home in Ohio

• Location: 8095 Mentor Ave, Mentor
• Hours: May-October, Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. November-April, Friday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Special Note: Guided tours begin at 10:00 a.m. and groups of six or more should call ahead the day of their visit to reserve a spot: (440) 255-8722
• Admission: FREE

James A. Garfield Memorial Gravesite at Lake View Cemetery (Cleveland)

President Garfield’s final resting place is within a monument at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland.

This presidential monument is considered among the most recognizable monuments in the cemetery. It features a circular tower 50 feet in diameter and 180 feet high, built of native Ohio sandstone on a stone terrace. The exterior perimeter features five panels in bas-relief depicting Garfield’s life and death. These panels include more than 100 figures, all of them life-size.

Though, other famous people buried here include John D. Rockefeller and Eliot Ness.

Plan your visit to the Garfield Memorial in Cleveland

• Location: 12316 Euclid Ave, Cleveland
• Cemetery Hours: November-March, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., April-October, 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Memorial Tours: The interior of the James A. Garfield Memorial is open seasonally for tours starting April 30 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Admission: FREE

Ulysses S. Grant Birthplace (Point Pleasant, near Cincinnati)

Located on the banks of the Ohio River near Cincinnati, the Grant Birthplace offers visitors a chance to learn about the birthplace of the Civil War hero and two-term president, Ulysses S. Grant.

It’s hard to believe this military giant was born in a humble, one room cottage but that’s this Ohio president’s first home.

Did you know: Grant’s birthplace traveled the United States by rail car and stood as an exhibit at the Ohio State Fairgrounds before finally returning home?

Plan your visit to this Ohio presidential home

• Location: 1551 State Route 232, Moscow, Ohio 45153
• Hours: April-September: Wednesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sunday, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
• Admission: Adults, $3, Seniors, $2, Children (6-12), $1.50.

Allow about one hour for your visit to this historic Ohio president’s home — where you’ll learn how the Grant family established itself in the 19th century giving Ulysses S. Grant the foundation to become a Civil War General and President.

Ulysses S. Grant Boyhood Home & Schoolhouse (Georgetown)

Ulysses S. Grant was born in a one room cottage, but his father worked hard to provide for the family and moved them to a larger brick home in nearby Georgetown, Ohio when Grant was quite young.

The U.S. Grant Homestead Association has preserved this home, as well as the two-room schoolhouse he attended and the family tannery. Visitors will learn why Grant wrote of Georgetown, “this place remained my home.” (1885) You will also learn how a young Ulysses S. Grant developed his strong work ethic and the ability to look at a problem and come up with a creative solution that served him well as General and President.

A number of festivals and events throughout the year enrich your visit.

Celebrate Grant’s birthday in April. Learn about the Civil War through living history re-enactments and other fun, yet educational, interactive experience at the Mason Patriot Fair each September. See the website to learn more about these events and others offered throughout the year.

Plan your visit to the U. S. Grant Homestead

• Location: Boyhood home, 219 E. Grant Ave., Georgetown | Schoolhouse, 508 S. Water Street
• Hours: May-October, Wednesday-Sunday, 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Other times by appointment.
• Admission to both the home and schoolhouse: Adults: $5, Children: $3

Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites (Marion)

The Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites include three separate Ohio presidential sites: the Harding Home, the Harding Memorial and the Warren G. Harding Presidential Library which opened in the spring of 2021.

As our 29th president, the Harding presidency was embroiled in controversy despite a landslide victory. Interestingly, both he and his opponent were politicians from Ohio and owned newspapers in the state. Harding was the first president for whom women could vote, and his wife was the first woman who could vote for her husband to be president.

The Harding Home

Like many Ohio presidents’ homes, the Harding Home is preserved for visitors to learn about the life and times of the president who lived here.

The Harding Home was built during the engagement of Warren G. Harding’s parents, in the Queen-Anne Style. The front porch, famous for presidential campaign speeches, was added in 1903.

Today, the home’s exterior and landscaping are restored to how they appeared during the 1920 presidential campaign. The Press House, which sits behind the main house,may be the most fascinating piece on the property. It was built from a kit in just two days specifically to run the presidential campaign. Today, it has been reconfigured as a self-guided museum about the Press and the campaign.

The Harding Memorial

The Harding Memorial, another of the many Ohio presidential sites, is where Warren G. Harding and his wife, Florence (who died in 1924), are now buried in Marion, Ohio. The President’s popularity at the time of his death made fund-raising for the memorial an easy task — raising close to a million dollars with contributions from across the country, the Philippines and countries throughout Europe.

The Greek style, open court “cloister” is in Marion, and not in Washington, D.C. to honor Harding’s fondness for his hometown of Marion, Ohio.

The Harding Presidential Library in Ohio

The new Harding Presidential Library in Ohio opened in 2021. The white brick exterior of this presidential library was chosen to reflect Harding’s time in the White House, the U.S. Capitol and the Ohio Statehouse. Exhibits within this Ohio presidential library offer visitors the Harding story through a mix of historic objects, media, text, music and sensory experiences. 

Plan your visit to the Harding Presidential Sites in Ohio

• Location of the presidential home and library: 380 Mt Vernon Ave, Marion, Ohio
• Hours: Vary seasonally, and they are closed many holidays and other days. Check website to confirm they are open when you plan to visit.
  • March-November, Wednesday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sunday, Noon-5:00 p.m.
  • December-February, Thursday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Sunday, Noon-5:00 p.m.
• Admission: Adults, $16; Seniors (60+), students and veterans, $15; Children (6-17), $8; Under age 6 and active duty military, FREE.

The Harding Memorial Presidential Gravesite is open to the public daily, year-round, during daylight hours. There is no fee to visit the presidential memorial. Visitors are encouraged to read the kiosks placed on the 10-acre site to learn more about Harding’s life and presidency.

William Henry Harrison Tomb (North Bend)

William Henry Harrison, our 9th president, lived much of his life in southwestern Ohio, where he played an important role in the expansion of the Northwest Territories. 

Though he was born in Virginia, Harrison requested burial in North Bend, on a site overlooking the Ohio River where Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana come together. The site is one of the few in the country that still has Running Buffalo Clover, which was abundant during the period of expansion. It is protected at the site today.

I wonder if this is because he considered his role in early United States’ expansion to be among his greatest achievements. Allow about an hour to visit this Ohio presidential site.

NOTE: Many people visit this post to learn about the William Henry Harrison Presidential Library, which does not actually exist. You can see the William Henry Harrison Papers, one of 23 presidential papers collections at the Library of Congress. The collection includes correspondence from his military career, his political career in the Northwest Territory, his first, unsuccessful presidential bid (1836) and his successful presidential bid (1840). Harrison died just one month after his inauguration, but he left a fascinating, detailed legacy.

Plan your visit to the William Henry Harrison Tomb

• Location: 41 Cliff Road, North Bend, Ohio
• Hours: Daily, during daylight hours
• Admission: Free

National First Ladies Library (Canton)

The National First Ladies Library is located not far from the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton.

While not technically an Ohio presidential site, visitors here do learn about the first ladies of our country, from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama.

The “presidential” museum visit starts off at the National First Ladies’ Library Education and Research Center, where exhibits rotate to showcase different first ladies. Visitors then go to the Saxton-McKinley house which features memorabilia from the McKinley family as well as other first ladies.

Plan your visit to the National First Ladies Library in Canton

• Location: 205 Market Ave S, Canton, Ohio
• Hours: May-October, Tuesday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; November-April, Thursday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
• Admission: Fees charged only for Saxton House Tours: Adults, $7; Seniors, $6; Children, $5.

The National First Ladies’ Library is free to visit.

Ohio Presidential Sites preserve history

As the birthplace of seven U.S. presidents, Ohio is second only to Virginia for the “most presidents” honor. These presidents come from diverse backgrounds, some born to poverty and others to wealth. But, they all served our country and made a lasting impact — especially in the turbulent times from the mid-1800s through the early 1900s.

To help you plan your visit to see these presidential libraries in Ohio, we have created this interactive Ohio Presidential Sites Map so you can plan your trip.

Visiting these Ohio presidential sites provides insight into the historic events that shaped our nation.