The Eight Presidents from Ohio--The Mother of Presidents (photo world almanac.com/us gov)

One would think that the selection pool for presidential office holders in the United States would be spread fairly wide.  There are 50 states, we’ve had nearly 50 presidents.  To be exact we’ve had 44.  Unless you live under a rock, and no offense intended if you do, I hear rocks are very nice, you certainly recall the historic events of last month.  (We inaugurated the 44th president of the United States.)  The thing most fascinating about Mr. Obama is not that our new president is left handed for there have been others.  No, what I find most astounding is that he was not from Ohio!

That’s right.  Ohio is noted not only for cold, harsh winters and a disturbing fascination with a football team that considers a poisonous nut its mascot but also to have provided this great nation of ours with eight presidents, more than any other state in the nation.  Hence its fitting nickname, The Mother of Presidents.

Presidents Day is coming up this Monday, February 16.  And certainly you could spend the three day weekend firing up the barbecue and celebrating with family and friends, relaxing at home.  Or…

You could pack up the caravan and give yourself a three day weekend of history in America’s Heartland.  A mini presidential tour.

• William Henry Harrison (9th)  The Harrison Gravesite is located in North Bend, Ohio a small village on the Ohio River just 21 miles west Cincinnati.  There is also a marker at the corner of Symmes Avenue and Washington indicating the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison (23rd).  He was the grandson of William Henry and though Indiana also claims him Ohio gets him, too, because he was born here.  (Apparently, the rules for claiming a president are fairly lax as William Henry was born in Virginia but lived in Ohio.)

Harrison Tomb in North Bend, OH (photo by Bonnie Wetik)

• Ulysses S. Grant (18th)  Ulyssess was born in Point Pleasant, OH, east of Cincinnati on the Ohio River.  The Grant birthplace is a 3 room cottage located at 1551 State Route 232, just off of U.S. Route 52.   It has been meticulously restored and furnished with period items.  The site is open April-October Wednesday-Sunday.

Grant Birthplace Point Pleasant, OH (photo Bruce Uher)

• Rutherford B Hayes (19th)  Rutherford B. Hayes was born in Delaware, Ohio.  There is a marker on E. William St. where the house once stood but I wouldn’t waste too much time looking for it unless you need some gas and a snack or a maybe a haircut.  The marker is in front of a gas station and sits next door to a barber shop.  No appointment is necessary.  Rather, you’ll want to visit the Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, OH on the sprawling estate known as Spiegel Grove.  The center consists of the Hayes Home, a 31 room mansion constructed by Hayes’ uncle, and the Hayes Museum and Presidential Library.  It was the first presidential library in the country and houses over 70,000 books.  The library is closed on Sundays, otherwise the facility is open year round, save holidays.

Rutherford Hayes Home Fremont, OH (photo Tom Reed)

• James A. Garfield (20th)  The Garfield home, known as Lawnfield, located in Mentor, OH offers regular tours of the home and grounds.  There are also various special tour options available to appeal to any age visitor.  The center is open weekends November through April and seven days beginning May.

James Garfield Home Mentor, OH photo public domain

• William McKinley (25th)  The McKinley birthplace home located at 40 South Main St. in Niles, Ohio is decorated with period furnishings and artifacts.  The home is open daily for tours but it is suggested by  their website to call for specific details prior to visiting.  Just up the street at 46 N. Main St. is the McKinley Memorial Museum and Library.  The facility, which takes up an entire city square, is open year round and does not charge an admission fee.

McKinley Birthplace Home Niles, OH (photo public domain)

• William Howard Taft (27th)  The William Howard Taft National Historic Site is located at 2038 Auburn Ave. in Cincinnati, OH.  It is open year round (save Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years) and is free to the public.  The center is operated by the National Park Service and offers numerous educational and informative programs.  The park service recommends visiting the TEC (Taft Educational Center) for more information on Taft and some other points of interest in Cincinnati.

Taft National Historic Site Cincinnati, OH (photo nps.gov)

• Warren G. Harding (29th)  The Warren G. Harding Home at 380 Mt. Vernon Ave and Harding Memorial at the intersection of Delaware and Vernon Heights Blvd are located in Marion, OH.  The house reportedly contains almost all of the original furnishings of President Harding.  It is open for tours year round with hours of operation varying.  Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children 6-12 and free for children under 6.  The Memorial is free to visit.

Harding Memorial Marion, OH (photo Ed Lamaze)

So there you have it.  One state, 8 US Presidents.  OK, so it may take you more than three days to hit them all.  So stay longer.  Really, we’ve just had a winter heat wave move through our fair state and most of the snow has melted.  The resulting flooding has been minimal and should not be of concern to the heartiest of travelers.

Happy Presidents Day!

The Ohio River in Gallipolis, Ohio

It’s funny how the even the most simple of errands can lead you on a grand and interesting adventure.  My daughter celebrated a birthday last week and in lieu of a pony, we got her a puppy.  My job was to retrieve the puppy from a little farm outside of Gallipolis, OH.  And while my sojourn there was little more than passing through, I saw and learned enough that I’m planning a trip back to the area with intents on a longer stay.

Gallipolis, OH is a small city nestled along the Ohio River first settled by the French in 1790, an immediate appeal considering my French heritage and a pleasant contrast to the German and Welsh areas where I currently live.

The downtown area is quaint with old buildings and antique shops.  Think New Orleans but on a much smaller scale and without the hookers and urine filled alleyways.

Downtown Gallipolis, OH

The area, well within the boundaries of the Appalachian foothills, is rich with natural beauty, gentle hills and gorgeous overlooks of the Ohio River.

Bridge to Point Pleasant, WV

Just across the river is Point Pleasant, West Virginia.  You may remember The Mothman Prophecies….

That was Point Pleasant, WV.

For a thirteen month period beginning in November 1966 locals reported sightings of the Mothman in and around the area along with many other strange phenomena.    On December 15, 1967 the 700 foot Silver Bridge connecting Ohio to West Virginia collapsed during evening rush hour killing 46 people.  After the catastrophe the Mothman sightings ended.  Some people considered the Mothman sightings as a warning of the impending disaster.  Spooky!

There are several lodging options available, though I think I’m going to be checking out the historic Lowe Hotel downtown on the corner of Fourth and Main Streets.  It’s budget friendly, centrally located and convenient to several area attractions:

The Mothman Statue Point Pleasant- Courtesy of Tammy Robinson

- – Tu-Endie-Wei State Park (four blocks away)- -

The park is the commemorative site of the famous Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774 between Virginia militia and American Indians.  The battle  is considered by many a precursor to the American Revolutionary War.  The park is open year round including holidays.

- – The Historic Point Pleasant Walking District (outside of the hotel doors) – -

- – Point Pleasant River Museum (four blocks away) – -

The River Museum focuses on past and present history of life and industry on the Ohio River.  The museum is closed on Mondays.

- – Point Pleasant Riverfront Park (next door) – -

- – The Mothman Museum and Research Center (in the hotel building) – -

They offer tons of information about the Mothman sightings as well as informative narrated tours to several area sighting locations.  The museum is open daily noon to 5 pm.

- – The Ohio and Kanawha Rivers (the trail is behind the hotel building) – -

Silver Bridge Collapse Marker--Point Pleasant, WV

Gallipolis, Ohio and it’s neighbor Point Pleasant, West Virginia is the idyllic area for a relaxing family get away.  Whether you’re in the mood for a soothing stroll along the banks of the Ohio River watching the riverboats pass or the thrill of investigating the unexplained, there’s just enough intrigue to keep it interesting for everyone in the family.

Photo Credits:  Ed Lamaze, Creative Commons via Flickr incendiarymind and jimmywayne22