James A. Garfield National Historic Site facts for kids

James A. Garfield National Historic Site
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. National Historic Site
Garfield's home, restored to original color
Location	8095 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, Ohio
Area	4.9 acres (2.0 ha)
Built	1876 (1876)
Visitation	36,553 (2023)
Website	James A. Garfield National Historic Site
NRHP reference No.	66000613 (original) 15000675 (increase)
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Boundary increase	September 29, 2015
Designated NHL	January 28, 1964
Designated NHS	December 28, 1980

The James A. Garfield National Historic Site is a special place in Mentor, Ohio, United States. It protects the old home and land of James A. Garfield, who was the 20th president of the United States. This site is also home to the very first presidential library ever created in the U.S. The estate is known as Lawnfield.

The Story of Lawnfield

Garfield's New Home

James A. Garfield bought this house in 1876. He needed a bigger place for his large family. At the time, he was a member of Congress. He wanted a new home because his political district had changed. He also hoped his sons could learn about farming there. Plus, it would be a nice summer home when Congress was not in session.

A President's Campaign Trail

In 1880, James A. Garfield ran for president. He used his home for what was called a "front porch campaign." This meant he stayed at his house and gave speeches to people who came to visit him there. Reporters called his home "Lawnfield" because of all the activity on his lawn. This campaign was very successful, and he won the election!

Changes to the House

After winning, Garfield added 11 new rooms to the house. This made it even bigger for his family. Sadly, he was shot just four months into his presidency and passed away on September 19, 1881.

The First Presidential Library

Four years after Garfield's death, his wife, Lucretia Garfield, and their family added a special part to the house. It was called the Memorial Library wing. This was a new idea at the time. It became the first example of what we now call presidential libraries. These libraries keep important papers and items from a president's time in office.

Lawnfield's Legacy

Lucretia Garfield continued to live in the house for at least part of every year until she passed away in 1918. Later, in 1936, Garfield's children gave the house and everything inside it to the Western Reserve Historical Society. They wanted it to be a museum. On December 28, 1980, the United States Congress officially made the Garfield home a National Historic Site.

The National Park Service now manages the site. They took over full operation in January 2008.

Bringing History Back to Life

Restoring the Garfield Home

In the 1990s, a big project took place to restore the Garfield house. It cost $12.5 million and took six years to complete. The house reopened in 1998, looking just as it did when the Garfield family lived there.

Authentic Details

Workers carefully redecorated the house. They used real furniture and household items from the 1880s. Over 80% of the antique Victorian furniture actually belonged to the Garfield family! Other items were found or made to match the time period. Even the wallpaper was reproduced from old photos and samples found in the house.

Today, the Garfield Historical Site is one of the most accurate and detailed 19th-century presidential homes you can visit.

Gallery

• 

  James Garfield's home, before restoration, 1976

• 

  Library

• 

  Garfield's home, side, 2007

• 

  Period Bedroom in the Garfield home

• 

  First Floor 1885

• 

  Second Floor 1885

• 

  Rear view of the home

• 

  Beautiful stained glass

• 

  Side stairs inside the home

• 

  Sundial Monument

• 

  Commemorative Plaque

More to Explore

• List of residences of presidents of the United States
• Presidential memorials in the United States