Spiegel Grove facts for kids
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Spiegel Grove (Rutherford B. Hayes Summer Home)
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fremont, Ohio |
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| Area | 25 acres (100,000 m2) |
| Built | 1873 |
| Architect | Sardis Birchard |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000624 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 29, 1964 |
Spiegel Grove is a special place in Fremont, Ohio. It was once the home of Rutherford B. Hayes, who was the 19th president of the United States. People also call it the Rutherford B. Hayes House or Spiegel Grove State Park.
The name Spiegel means mirror in German and Dutch. The story goes that Hayes' uncle, Sardis Birchard, named the estate. He built the first house there. He saw how pools of water would collect after it rained, reflecting the sky like mirrors.
Rutherford Hayes moved into the estate in 1873. He lived there until he passed away in 1893. His wife, Lucy, had passed away in 1889. They were first buried in a different cemetery. Later, in 1915, their bodies were moved to Spiegel Grove. Today, you can visit their memorial on the property. The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, which opened in 1916, is also located here.
Spiegel Grove is recognized as a very important historical site. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1964. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
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A Hero Horse: Old Whitey
President Hayes had a brave war horse named "Old Whitey." This horse served with Hayes during the American Civil War. Old Whitey was the mascot for the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. When Old Whitey passed away in 1879, he was buried at Spiegel Grove. His grave marker says, "Old Whitey A Hero of Nineteen Battles 1861–1865."
The Design of the Hayes Home
The main house at Spiegel Grove was first built around 1860. It was a two-story brick mansion with many bedrooms. It also had a porch that wrapped around the house.
After Rutherford B. Hayes moved in, he made the house bigger. In 1880, he added five new rooms. He also added a huge staircase that went all the way up to the fourth floor. In 1889, six more rooms were added. These changes gave the house the look it has today. After all the additions, the house had more than 30 rooms. It had over 10,000 square feet of living space!
Visiting Spiegel Grove Today
The Spiegel Grove estate was given to the state of Ohio to become a state park. Now, the house is open to visitors as a museum. You can pay a small fee to explore many of the rooms. Inside, you will see furniture, books, and other items that belonged to the Hayes family. Visitors can usually see most of the rooms on the first and second floors. The third and fourth floors are not open to the public.
See also
