William Howard Taft National Historic Site facts for kids
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William Howard Taft National Historic Site
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Taft House in 2007
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2038 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio |
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| Area | 3 acres (12,140 m²) |
| Built | 1842 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Visitation | 14,328 (2005) |
| Website | William Howard Taft National Historic Site |
| Part of | Mount Auburn Historic District (ID73001464) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000612 (original) 15000753 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Boundary increase | October 21, 2015 |
| Designated NHL | January 29, 1964 |
| Designated NHS | December 2, 1969 |
| Designated CP | March 28, 1973 |
The William Howard Taft National Historic Site is a special house in Cincinnati, Ohio. It's where William Howard Taft was born and grew up. He later became the 27th President of the United States and the 10th Chief Justice of the United States. This historic house is a two-story building designed in the Greek Revival style, built around 1845. It's located about a mile north of downtown Cincinnati.
The Taft Family Home
Alphonso Taft Moves to Cincinnati
William Howard Taft's father, Alphonso Taft, moved to Cincinnati from Vermont in 1838. He wanted to start his own law practice there. About ten years later, he moved his family into this house.
A New Home in Mount Auburn
Alphonso bought the house at 2038 Auburn Avenue on June 13, 1851, for $10,100. It came with almost two acres of land. The Mount Auburn area was a popular place for wealthy Cincinnati families to live. It offered a cooler escape from the hot summer weather downtown. The Taft house was built between 1844 and 1847.
Family Life and Important Guests
Alphonso's first wife, Fanny Phelps Taft, passed away in June 1852. In December 1853, Alphonso married Louise Taft, a schoolteacher from Massachusetts. Their son, William Howard Taft, was born in the house on September 15, 1857. He was likely born in the nursery on the first floor.
The Taft home was a busy place, often hosting social events. Many important local and state leaders visited, including future President James A. Garfield. The family also enjoyed spending time in the library, as Alphonso loved collecting books.
Alphonso Taft's Public Service
Alphonso Taft was an early supporter of the Republican Party in Cincinnati. He held several important government jobs. He served as the 31st United States Secretary of War and the 34th United States Attorney General. Later, he became the United States Minister to Austria-Hungary and then to Russia.
Leaving the Family Home
William lived in the house until he went to Yale University in 1874. After that, the Taft family spent less time there. In 1877, a fire damaged the second floor and roof. Alphonso and Louise leased the house in 1889 and moved to California for health reasons.
Alphonso passed away in San Diego, California, in May 1891. His funeral was held in Cincinnati, and mourners gathered at the Auburn house. Louise eventually sold the house in 1899 to Judge Albert C. Thompson.
Saving the Taft Home
New Owners and Changes
After the Taft family sold the house, some changes were made. The front porch was removed and replaced with a new one-story porch. A conservatory (a type of greenhouse) was added, and some other small buildings were torn down.
Efforts to Preserve the House
In 1937, a group called the William Howard Taft Memorial Association was formed. They hoped to buy the house and turn it into a memorial. However, they struggled to get enough support and money at first. In the 1940s, the house was even used as apartments.
Later, in the 1950s, William's son, Charles Phelps Taft II, helped lead the effort to save the house. The association finally bought the house for $35,000. It needed a lot of repairs, costing about $92,500.
Becoming a National Historic Landmark
The house was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1964. A special ceremony was held on September 15, 1964, which was William's 107th birthday. The association officially owned the house in 1968. In 1969, they gave it to the National Park Service. This made sure the house would be cared for and preserved for the future. The United States government took ownership on November 1, 1970.
Letters and diary entries written by Louise Taft were very helpful. They allowed preservationists to restore the house to look just as it did when William was a child.
Visiting the Site Today
The William Howard Taft National Historic Site has two main buildings for visitors.
The Historic Taft Home
The first building is the original home where William Howard Taft grew up. It has been carefully restored to show how it looked during his childhood. You can see family portraits and many books that belonged to the Taft family. The first floor has five rooms that have been brought back to their original appearance. These include William's birthplace and other rooms from that time period. The furniture matches the style of the era, even if it didn't all belong to the Tafts. The second floor features exhibits about William Howard Taft's many achievements.
The Taft Education Center
The second building is the site's Visitor Center, officially called the Taft Education Center. Here, you'll find offices and a gift shop run by the National Park Service. There's also a cool exhibit with an audio-animatronic figure of William's son, Charles Phelps Taft II. He tells stories about his father and other family members. You can also watch a short film about William Howard Taft's life.
See also
