William H. McGuffey Boyhood Home Site facts for kids
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McGuffey, William H., Boyhood Home Site
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Overview of the site
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4505 McGuffey Road, Coitsville Township, Mahoning County, Ohio |
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| Area | 73 acres (30 ha) |
| Built | 1802 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000617 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | May 23, 1966 |
The William H. McGuffey Boyhood Home Site is a special place in Mahoning County, Ohio. It's where William H. McGuffey (born 1800, died 1873) grew up. William McGuffey became famous for creating the McGuffey Readers. These were very popular school books that taught millions of children how to read. Today, this site is a park called the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve. It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1966 because of its importance.
Contents
Discovering the McGuffey Home Site
The William H. McGuffey Boyhood Home Site is in a quiet, rural area. It is located in Coitsville Township, east of Youngstown. You can find it on the south side of McGuffey Road.
This property is about 73 acres (30 ha) in size. It is mostly flat land. There is a small, low hill on the eastern side. Experts believe the original log cabin where the McGuffey family lived was on this hill. However, its exact spot is still debated by historians.
William H. McGuffey's Early Life
William McGuffey was born in Pennsylvania in 1800. His family moved to this Ohio property around 1802. They lived there for many years. The family officially bought the land in 1814. William spent most of his childhood and teenage years here.
The Famous McGuffey Readers
William H. McGuffey grew up to be a strong supporter of public education. He believed that all children should have the chance to go to school. He taught at Miami University for a long time. While he was there, he created his famous McGuffey Readers.
The McGuffey Readers were a series of textbooks for elementary school students. They were incredibly popular across the United States. These books taught children reading, spelling, and moral lessons. They were so widely used that their sales were almost as high as The Bible at the time!
The Site Today: A Nature Preserve
The 73 acres (30 ha) property that was once the McGuffey family home is now a public park. A non-profit group bought the land around 1966. This was when it was named a National Historic Landmark. In 1998, the group gave the land to the county.
Now, the site is known as the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve. It is open to the public. Visitors can enjoy hiking trails and explore the natural beauty of the area. It's a great place to learn about history and enjoy nature.
