Harding Home facts for kids
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Warren G. Harding House
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Harding Home in 2011
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| Location | 380 Mt. Vernon Ave., Marion, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000618 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | June 23, 1965 |
The Harding Home is a special house in Marion, Ohio. It's like a museum where you can learn about history. This house was once the home of Warren G. Harding. He was the 29th president of the United States. Warren and his wife, Florence, helped design this house in 1890. They got married there and lived in the house for 30 years. This was before he became president.
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A Home for a President
Warren G. Harding lived in this house for a long time. He and Florence designed it in a style called Queen Anne Style. This style often has towers, fancy porches, and different textures.
The Front Porch Campaign
Like another Ohio president, James A. Garfield, Harding used his home for his election campaign. He mainly spoke to people from the large front porch of the house. This was called the "front porch campaign." Over 600,000 people came to the Harding Home. They wanted to hear Warren speak during his three-month campaign.
Warren's neighbor, George Christian, was also his Press Secretary. George let his home be used as the Republican Headquarters. In 1920, Harding built a small building behind George's house. This was a workspace for newspaper reporters. They could type their stories there.
Inside the Harding Home
The house has a big, detailed porch all around it. When you enter, you come into a reception hall. To the left, there is a parlor, which is like a living room. A dining room and Harding's office are also on the first floor.
Upstairs, on the second floor, there are four bedrooms. There is also a bathroom. The house had built-in closets, which was unusual for that time.
The Harding Home Today
After President Harding passed away, his wife, Florence, gave the house to the Harding Memorial Association. Now, the Ohio Historical Society takes care of the home. It is a historic house museum and a memorial.
The house has been restored to look like it did when the Hardings lived there. Most of the furniture and items inside are original. They belonged to President Harding and his wife. The building where reporters worked now has exhibits. These exhibits teach visitors about the lives of Warren and Florence Harding. The Harding Home has over 5,000 original items.
Future Plans for the Home
In 2016, a project called "Harding 2020" began. This project was a team effort. It included the Ohio History Connection, the Harding Home, and Marion Technical College. They planned to spend $7.3 million to improve the site.
The goal was to create the Warren G. Harding Presidential Center. Plans included restoring the house and its grounds. They wanted it to look exactly like it did in 1920. This work was planned to finish around the 100th anniversary of Harding's election.
See also
