National McKinley Birthplace Memorial facts for kids
The National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Library and Museum is a special place in Niles, Ohio. It honors William McKinley, who was the 25th President of the United States. This big marble building is also known as the McKinley Memorial Library, Museum & Birthplace Home. It has two main parts: a public library and a museum.
The museum wing shows exhibits about President McKinley's life. It also has an auditorium for events. Close by, at 40 South Main Street, you can find the McKinley Birthplace Home and Research Center. This historic house museum looks just like it did when President McKinley was in office.
Quick facts for kids |
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National McKinley Birthplace Memorial
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The Memorial in 2008, undergoing renovation.
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 40 N. Main Street Niles, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | 1915 |
| Architect | McKim, Mead and White |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts (exterior) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001544 |
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 1975 |
Contents
History of the Memorial
Planning the Memorial
On March 4, 1911, President William Howard Taft approved money from the government to build a national memorial. It was decided that the memorial would be in Niles, Ohio, because that's where McKinley was born. An organization called the National McKinley Birthplace Association was also created.
Joseph G. Butler, Jr., who was a friend of McKinley's since childhood, led the effort to raise money. In 1912, he started a campaign to collect $100,000 locally. They managed to get almost $200,000 without using taxpayer money! Then, they asked for $1 donations from the public to help keep the Memorial running forever. People who donated received a special book from Butler.
Designing the Building
The Association already had some ideas for how the Memorial should look. In 1914, they announced a competition for architects to submit their best designs. The city of Niles had already set aside a five-acre park for the building.
The design needed to include a large auditorium with 1,000 seats. It also had to have a public library and a "relic room" to display McKinley's belongings. There would also be rooms for veteran groups and city officials. The Memorial would feature a statue of McKinley and bronze busts of important people connected to him. These included Theodore Roosevelt and Mark Hanna.
Many famous architects took part in the competition. These included Cass Gilbert, who designed the Woolworth Building, and Henry Bacon, who designed the Lincoln Memorial.
In 1915, the architecture firm McKim, Mead, and White won the $1,000 prize. Their design was in the Beaux-Arts style, which used ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The Memorial was designed to look like an old temple. The main part was a grand entrance leading to a "court of honor." This court was like the main hall in old Roman homes where a statue of a "household god" would stand.
The library was planned with two floors for books and meeting rooms. The auditorium was designed for serious events, not for plays. McKinley's statue, created by J. Massey Rhind, was carved from a single huge piece of marble. It weighed 35 tons!
Building the Memorial
The first stone of the Memorial was placed on November 20, 1915. A plaque on it said it was built to honor William McKinley. It also noted his birth and death dates. During the ceremony, the United States Marine Band played some of Mrs. McKinley's favorite songs. They also played a hymn that was sung when McKinley passed away.
The construction was managed by John H. Parker Co. from New York. Even though granite was first planned, the Memorial was built using beautiful Georgia marble.
Dedication Ceremony
The Memorial was officially opened on October 5, 1917. Former President Taft, who was also from Ohio, gave a speech. McKinley's sister, Miss Helen McKinley, unveiled her brother's twelve-foot statue. Other important people like Myron T. Herrick and George B. Cortelyou also spoke. A special coin, the McKinley Birthplace Memorial gold dollar, was made to help pay for the building.
Visiting the Memorial Today
The McKinley Memorial Library is open to everyone six days a week. It is closed on Sundays and some holidays. The McKinley Memorial Museum is also open to the public from Tuesday to Friday. There is no charge to visit the museum.
Recent Renovations
In 2008, the Memorial had some work done. The marble outside was cleaned and repaired to keep the building looking its best.
