• Front Porch of the Garfield Home - site of 1880 presidential campaign

    James A Garfield

    National Historic Site Ohio

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What's a Porch For?

A front porch can serve many purposes. For some, a place to enjoy the breeze on a warm summer night. For others, a perch from which to keep eyes on what's happening in their neighborhood. In 1880, James Garfield used his front porch as a platform to greet thousands of well-wishers during his presidential campaign. Today, the porch serves as a gateway to the story of the Garfield family.

Did You Know?

Spider wallpaper in the Garfield Home

The wallpaper in James A. Garfield's home and a side table in the Memorial Library have a spider web motif. Victorians believed that house spiders brought good luck and good fortune to the inhabitants.