November 19 is now “James A. Garfield Day” in Ohio

Ohio Governor DeWine is joined by James A. Garfield's descendants and other dignitaries at the bill signing to designate November 19 as James A. Garfield Day in Ohio.

On October 12, 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a bill designating November 19 as “James A. Garfield Day” in Ohio. Garfield, the twentieth President of the United States, was born in Orange Township (now Moreland Hills), Ohio on November 19, 1831.

The National Park Service commemorates and interprets his life, career, family, and legacy at James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio, about 25 miles east of Cleveland. On October 18, 2023, Site Manager Todd Arrington traveled to the state capitol of Columbus to attend Governor DeWine’s ceremonial signing of the bill. Three generations of Garfield descendants, all residents of the Cleveland area, attended the event as well.

The bill to designate James A. Garfield Day was moved through the Ohio Legislature in a bipartisan fashion. State Representatives Dan Troy (D) and Jamie Callender (R) advocated for the bill in the Ohio House of Representatives, while State Senator Jerry Cirino (R) championed it in the Ohio Senate.

“We’re thrilled by this designation and appreciate our state elected officials supporting it,” said Arrington. “President Garfield was a son of northeast Ohio who accomplished much in just 49 years of life. He was a teacher, abolitionist, Union general in the Civil War, longtime member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and President of the United States. His assassination just a few months into his term robbed the nation of what was shaping up to be an important and impactful presidency.”

James A. Garfield National Historic Site preserves the site of the nation’s first-ever “front porch” presidential campaign and the site of the first presidential memorial library, which later inspired the larger presidential library idea. Find the site at nps.gov/jaga and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as @GarfieldNPS.