The Ohio Presidents: Surprising Legacies

The United States has had eight Presidents from Ohio, serving between the years 1841 and 1923. Five of those Presidents served in the Civil War and three served during the modern era of American life—William McKinley actually represented the last President to serve in the Civil War and the first President of the modern era. Some facts are well known about these eight men, and some facts are more obscure. William Henry Harrison, the first President from Ohio, was also the first one to die in office, leaving the government scrambling to develop procedures for the death of a sitting President. Benjamin Harrison’s wife, Caroline, initiated the first White House china collection as well as put up the first Christmas tree in the White House. Rutherford B. Hayes was largely responsible for establishing The Ohio State University. Drawing on many interesting aspects of these men, The Ohio Presidents: Surprising Legacies will include items related to the lives of the presidents and their wives: furniture, clothing, china and personal items, such as hats, fans, walking sticks and more. In addition, campaign materials from their political lives and lesser-known facts will be highlighted.