McKinley Birthplace Home and Research Center facts for kids
The McKinley Birthplace Home and Research Center is a special place in Niles, Ohio. It's a rebuilt version of the house where William McKinley, who became the 25th President of the United States, was born. This center helps people learn all about his life and legacy.
Contents
The Story of President McKinley's Birthplace
Where a President Was Born
William McKinley was born in a small wooden house in Niles, Ohio, on January 29, 1843. His family's original home was quite modest. It had two stories and eight rooms, covering about 924 square feet (86 square meters). Over the years, this original house was moved twice. Sadly, it was completely destroyed by a fire in 1937.
Rebuilding a Piece of History
Many years later, people wanted to honor President McKinley. In 1994, a local bank gave the city of Niles the land where the old McKinley Bank Building stood. This was the exact spot where President McKinley was born!
By 1999, with $83,000 from the state of Ohio, the old bank building was taken down. This cleared the way for a new project: building a replica of McKinley's birthplace. The McKinley Memorial Library took charge of the site in 2001. They even bought an extra piece of land for the future Birthplace Home and Research Center. More demolition happened in the fall of that year.
A company from Youngstown, Ohio called Olsavsky-Jaminet designed the new building. DSV Builders were the main contractors. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new center happened on April 28, 2002. Just over a year later, on May 4, 2003, the new facility officially opened to the public. Many local leaders attended the dedication ceremony. An Ohio Historical Marker was also placed at the site to mark its importance.
What You'll Find Inside
Exploring the Center
The building you see today is a two-story structure. It's bigger than the original house and looks a bit different from old photos. However, it serves an important purpose. The center is a great place to learn about President McKinley.
Inside, you'll find a special library filled with materials about McKinley. There's also a gift shop where you can find souvenirs. The center has meeting spaces for groups and a computer lab for research. It's a wonderful resource for anyone interested in American history.
Visiting Hours
If you want to visit, the Home & Research Center is open to the public. You can usually visit on Mondays and Wednesdays. The hours are from 10 AM to 12 PM, and then again from 1 PM to 4 PM. It's a good idea to check their website before you go, just in case hours have changed.
See also
