NPS A Day in the Life of James A. GarfieldJames A. Garfield spent most of his 49 years of life in northeast Ohio. He was born November 19, 1831 in Orange Township (now Moreland Hills), Ohio. His early school days were also in northeastern Ohio at Geauga Seminary and also the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, which is now known as Hiram College. James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio was the summer home of Congressman Garfield from 1876-1881. In the summer of 1880 as the Republican presidential candidate this farm was the site of his front porch campaign. On July 2, President James A. Garfield was shot at the train station in Washington, D.C. He died eighty days later. The President was brought home to northeast Ohio and interred at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland. This is your intinerary to spend a day in the life of the 20th President of The United States. 
The Garfield Memorial Cabin
Abram and Eliza Ballou Garfield purchased land in Orange Township and built a log cabin. It was at this cabin that their youngest child and future president, James Abram, was born. Shortly after James turned two his father died after fighting a fire on their property. Today, a replica cabin is located where the Garfield family lived. Visitors are welcome to visit the site and learned about how young James lived. To find out more about the Moreland Hills Historical Society please visit here.
Hiram College Hiram, Ohio
James A. Garfield attended school, married, and began his political career in Hiram, Ohio. That school, then named Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, and is now Hiram College. James Garfield and his wife Lucretia lived in Hiram for many years, in a home on Hinsdale Street. Visit Hiram and walk the same steps as a young Garfield did as a student and teacher, and later as a family man and member of Congress. Visit www.hiram.edu for more information.
NPS James A. Garfield National Historic Site
Congressman Garfield and his family moved to Mentor, Ohio in 1876. During his time there he attended the Republican National Convention in Chicago to nominate fellow Ohioan John Sherman in 1880. Instead, James A. Garfield was nominated as the presidential candidate after 36 ballots. His home in Mentor became a piece of history as the location of the first Front Porch Campaign, the predecessor to campaigning as we know it today. To plan your visit or find out more about this National Park Service site visit www.nps.gov/jaga. 
Lake View Cemetery
James A. Garfield Memorial James A. Garfield is interred at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. The masoleum was constructed of Berea Sandstone and stands 180 feet tall. Inside the masoleum is a granite statue of the 20th President of the United States. Visitors can see his and First Lady Lucretia casket's on full display downstairs. To find out more about Lake View and to plan your visit please www.lakeviewcemetery.com. |
Last updated: October 16, 2020