NPS Volunteer Site

William Howard Taft National Historic Site preserves the Birthplace and boyhood home of William Howard Taft the nation’ 27th President and 10th Chief Justice. The site was established in 1969 to preserve the birthplace and through it to give visitors an understanding of the environment that shaped Taft’s character and philosophy. The National Park Service has restored the birthplace home and a portion of the cultural landscape to its appearance of 1857 - 1877 when Taft was growing up here. The Taft property, during the family's occupation, demonstrated qualities associated with both rural and urban landscapes. The front of the property contained simple plantings of trees, flowers and shrubs that fit into the urban landscape of the neighborhood. While the back of the property was more rural in nature.  The suburban setting of large homes in which Taft grew up changed as the city grew around it. The restoration of the natural setting is important in helping to retain something of the original setting. Visitors to the site today get a glimpse of the natural environment that William Howard Taft saw as a boy in this Mount Auburn neighborhood.

Verbena
Hyacinth
Solomon's Seal
Weeping Forsythia
Columbine
Delphinium
Climbing Rose
Reine Victoria Rose
Trillium

Volunteer Manager Reggie Murray congratulates Volunteer Doug Horn on completing a total of 565 volunteer hours for 2007.

Doug Horn

“I am often asked why I like being a volunteer at William Howard Taft National Historic Site. There are actually three reasons. First, I have the opportunity to work with some great people at the park. Second, I also have an opportunity to interact with a wide range of very interesting visitors from all over the world ------ from Europe to Asia to Latin America. Finally, I enjoy the challenge of giving tours that are both interesting and educational, but that also fulfill the needs of each particular visitor.”