Take an American History Road Trip in Ohio - Cleveland Magazine
Published by: Cleveland Magazine
Written by: C. Aileen Blaine and Gracie Wilson
Original Article can be found here.
Discover how Ohio history has shaped our nation since1803. From presidential homes to places where pivotal battles unfolded to museums that tell the tales of early pioneers and abolitionists, Ohio offers the opportunity to delve into the stories that shaped a country. Whether you're exploring the tiny home where Ulysses S. Grant was born or walking the grounds where the Wright brothers took to the skies, these sites offer a unique glimpse into America’s past.
Editor’s Note: This story was published in July 2021, but it was most recently checked in August 2024 to ensure the information regarding the dates each site is open is still correct.
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James A. Garfield National Historic Site: James A. Garfield campaigned for president from the front porch of his Mentor home during 1880 — the first presidential candidate to do so. Garfield won the Electoral College decisively, but he was felled by injuries from an assassin’s bullet four months after inauguration. The site offers guided tours of his home, while the visitor center has exhibits and a video detailing Garfield’s life. The home and visitor center are open May through October, while self-guided tours of the grounds can be taken year-round (except for certain holidays). 8095 Mentor Ave., Mentor 44060, 440/255-8722, nps.gov/jaga
U.S. Grant Birthplace: President Ulysses S. Grant was born in a humble, one-room home that still stands today in the southwest Ohio community of Point Pleasant. Raised by hard-working, abolitionist parents, Grant’s background fostered his values and ideals from a young age. The public can visit the home and see items belonging to the family as well as learn about the life of the Civil War general and two-term president. Owned by the Ohio History Connection, the home is open five days a week April through Labor Day and on weekends September through December. 1551 St. Rte. 232, Point Pleasant 45153, ohiohistory.org
Campus Martius Museum: Located along the Muskingum River, the Campus Martius Museum offers a glimpse of pioneer life in the Northwest Territory’s first settlement. Built on the site of the stockade the area’s settlers originally built in the late 18th century, the museum offers the chance to see the home of Marietta founder Rufus Putnam as well as artifacts and exhibits related to life along the frontier. You can also step inside the original Ohio Company Land Office, where Putnam made some of the earliest maps of the Northwest Territory. 601 Second St., Marietta 45750, 740/373-3750, mariettamuseums.org
Fort Meigs: The reconstructed Fort Meigs along the Maumee River stands on the site of a pivotal location that helped ensure the fate of our young nation during the War of 1812. Led by Army general and future President William Henry Harrison, U.S. troops had their first defensive success in the war following major losses prior to the fort’s construction. Travelers can tour the visitor center that houses classrooms, a library and museum before taking a guided or self-guided tour of the grounds. The museum is open year-round, while the fort is open to visitors April through October. 21900 W. River Rd., Perrysburg 43551, 419/874-4121, fortmeigs.org
Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites: Our 29th president campaigned from his own front porch, and more than 600,000 people traveled to Marion over the course of three months in 1920 to hear the Republican candidate speak. Today, visitors can tour the beautifully restored Harding Home, walk its grounds and explore his legacy. The Warren G. Harding Presidential Library & Museum opened in 2021, offering a deep examination of the personal side of Harding, who was in office just 29 months before his death. He is buried less than 2 miles away at the Harding Memorial. 380 Mount Vernon Ave., Marion 43302, 800/600-6894, hardingpresidentialsites.org
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