Ohio, Mother of Presidents

Turn the pages to see each stop on a map from its own era. Pins mark where each marker stands, sometimes a few miles from the ground it describes.

1. 1. U.S. Grant Birthplace1822–1885 · Clermont County · 1551 OH 232, Moscow, OH, 45153 -- At Grant Birthplace State Memorial
2. 2. Taft Museum of Art1765–1932 · Hamilton County · 316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45202 -- Left side entrance sidewalk, along the driveway
3. 3. The McKinley National Memorial1901–1907 · Stark County · 800 McKinley Mounument Drive NW, Canton, OH, 44708 -- 800 McKinley Mounument Drive, NW
4. 4. William McKinley Birthplace1843–1901 · Trumbull County · 36 S. Main Street, Niles, OH, 44446
5. 5. James A. GarfieldLake County · 8095 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, OH, 44060 -- Lawfield Historic Site, 8095 Mentor Avenue, Mentor

The dashed line connects the stops in visiting order. It isn't a road route or the path anyone marched. Google Maps handles the driving, starting from wherever you are.

U.S. Grant Birthplace

Clermont County · 1551 OH 232, Moscow, OH, 45153 -- At Grant Birthplace State Memorial

Side A: Hiram Ulysses Grant was born in this one-story, timber-frame home on April 27, 1822 to Jesse and Hannah Simpson Grant. The Grants settled in Point Pleasant the previous year, and Jesse took charge of the tannery located near the cottage. Now restored, the building remained in relatively good condition through the 1880s. In 1823, the family moved to Georgetown, Ohio, where Hiram lived until his appointment to West Point at age 17. Although reluctant to attend the Academy, Grant, now known as Ulysses Simpson Grant due to an error on the application, graduated in 1843 and was stationed at Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis, where he courted his future wife Julia Dent, with whom he had four children, Frederick, Ellen, Ulysses Jr., and Jesse. (continued on other side) Side B: (continued from other side) Grant served as quartermaster in the Mexican War (1846-1848), but resigned from the Army in 1854. He was living in Galena, Illinois, and working in the family’s leather store at the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. He volunteered for military service. Known as “Unconditional Surrender,” Grant was appointed general-in-chief of Union forces by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864. His name recognition and lack of political ties made him the ideal candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. presidency. Grant was elected to two terms in 1868 and 1872. Despite Grant’s character, his choice of cabinet appointments led to corruption in his administration. On July 23, 1885 at Mount McGregor, New York, Grant died just days after completing his acclaimed memoirs.

1877 map · Upper Ohio River and Valley part XXV, 435 to 451 miles below Pittsburgh ... (with) California, Johnsonville, East Columbia, Ohio; California, Ky. · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries · Sheet chosen by TreeAlive

1822 map · Map Of Kentucky. · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

1857 map · Map of Clermont County, Ohio (Williams & Dorr, 1857) · Historical map archive

1820 map · Map Of The State Of Ohio · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

1825 map · Ohio. · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Full marker page →

Taft Museum of Art

Hamilton County · 316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45202 -- Left side entrance sidewalk, along the driveway

Side A: This Federal house was begun about 1820 for Martin Baum (1765-1831), one of Cincinnati’s early merchants. Art patron and abolitionist Nicholas Longworth (1782-1863) lived here for more than thirty years and commissioned the notable landscape murals in the foyer painted by African-American artist Robert S. Duncanson (1821-1872). Iron magnate David Sinton (1808-1900), the subsequent owner, bequeathed the house to his daughter Anna Sinton Taft (1852?-1931). She and her husband Charles Phelps Taft (1843-1929), older half-brother of William Howard Taft (1857-1930), who accepted his party’s nomination for president from the portico in 1908, assembled the acclaimed art collection displayed here. Bequeathed to the people of Cincinnati in 1927, the Taft Museum of Art opened to the public in 1932. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Side B: Same

1880 map · Cincinnati & suburbs. · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries · Sheet chosen by TreeAlive

1794 map · Kentucky. · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

1796 map · Kentuckey. · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

1804 map · Ohio. · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

1819 map · Ohio & Indiana (H. S. Tanner, 1819) · Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Full marker page →

The McKinley National Memorial

Stark County · 800 McKinley Mounument Drive NW, Canton, OH, 44708 -- 800 McKinley Mounument Drive, NW

Side A: William McKinley served the nation as president, the people of Ohio as governor, and the citizens of his congressional district as a representative. McKinley was shot by an assassin in Buffalo, New York, in September 1901 and died several days later. The McKinley National Memorial, funded by children’s donations, was dedicated in 1907. It is the burial site of the 25th President, First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley, and two daughters. Designed by architect Harold Van Buren Magonigle, the pink Milford granite structure was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975. Side B: Same

1875 map · Canton Township, Stark County (L.H. Everts atlas, 1875) · Historical map archive · Sheet chosen by TreeAlive

1899 map · Ohio. · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

1901 map · Canton, Ohio · USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection

1903 map · Canton, Ohio · USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection

1890 map · Railroad Map Of Ohio · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Full marker page →

William McKinley Birthplace

Trumbull County · 36 S. Main Street, Niles, OH, 44446

Side A: One of seven native Ohioans to serve as president of the United States, William McKinley (1843-1901) was born at this site. The original house was moved from this site and ultimately destroyed by fire. The McKinleys lived here until 1852 when they moved to Poland, Ohio, where William attended the Poland Seminary. He briefly attended Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, but poor health and family financial strain forced him to return to Ohio. As an enlistee in the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, McKinley rose to the rank of major. After the war, he settled in Canton and practiced law. Elected to Congress in 1876, McKinley favored high protective tariffs, a policy he continued to support as President.(Continued on other side) Side B: (Continued from other side) As Governor of Ohio from 1892 to 1896, he introduced a comprehensive tax system that levied excise tax on corporations, improved state roadways, and enacted a law establishing a state board of arbitration. McKinley won the presidential election of 1896 convincingly. During his first term the nation was adopting imperialistic policies. The U.S. took possession of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines following the Spanish-American War (1898), and McKinley encouraged American interest in China and suggested the possibility of a canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In part due to his economic policy and support of the gold standard, McKinley was elected to a second term. Six months after his inauguration in 1901, he was shot by an assassin at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo. He died on September 14 from complications of the gunshot wounds.

1899 map · Weathersfield Township, Trumbull County (American Atlas Co., 1899) · David Rumsey Map Collection, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford Libraries · Sheet chosen by TreeAlive

1856 map · Map of Trumbull County, Ohio (1856) · Historical map archive

1845 map · Ohio. · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

1850 map · State Of Ohio · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

1855 map · A new map of the State of Ohio · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Full marker page →

James A. Garfield

Lake County · 8095 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, OH, 44060 -- Lawfield Historic Site, 8095 Mentor Avenue, Mentor

Side A: His oratorical powers made him a master recruiter. His willingness to learn earned him important field commands. His talents for organization won him praise, distinction and the rank of major general at the Battle of Chickamauga. His gallant and meritorious military successes launched him into national politics and the presidency. Side B: Same

1905 map · Mentor, Ohio · USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection · Sheet chosen by TreeAlive

1850 map · State Of Ohio · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

1855 map · A new map of the State of Ohio · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

1845 map · Ohio. · David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

1907 map · Mentor, Ohio · USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection

Full marker page →

Ohio, Mother of Presidents

5 stops across Ohio, in trail order.

1. 1U.S. Grant BirthplaceClermont County · 1551 OH 232, Moscow, OH, 45153 -- At Grant Birthplace State Memorial
2. 2Taft Museum of ArtHamilton County · 316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45202 -- Left side entrance sidewalk, along the driveway
3. 3The McKinley National MemorialStark County · 800 McKinley Mounument Drive NW, Canton, OH, 44708 -- 800 McKinley Mounument Drive, NW
4. 4William McKinley BirthplaceTrumbull County · 36 S. Main Street, Niles, OH, 44446
5. 5James A. GarfieldLake County · 8095 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, OH, 44060 -- Lawfield Historic Site, 8095 Mentor Avenue, Mentor

Google Maps does the driving, starting from wherever you are. We don't estimate distance or time on the road.