| James A. Garfield National Historic Site | |
History:
James A. Garfield purchased the nine room dilapidated farmhouse with outbuildings in 1876. In 1880, he enveloped the original structure, adding 11 rooms to accommodate his large family. It was at this time that Garfield added the front porch, which became nationally known during his presidential campaign. Reporters named the home Lawnfield because of the wide expanse of lawn on which they literally camped out during the campaign.
Garfield was President from March 4, 1881 until his death on September 19, 1881. Four years after his assassination, Lucretia, his widow, added the memorial library and vault to store his personal letters and papers, as well as the books he treasured. This library set the precedent for Presidents to have libraries built in their honor. Lucretia remodeled the home in 1904, and the family retained ownership of the structure until 1936, when it was donated to the Western Reserve Historical Society by Garfield's children. Congress authorized the property as a National Historic Site on December 28, 1980
American Presidents - Life Portraits
Information on James A. Garfield from C-SPAN
The American Presidency
Biographical information on President Garfield from Grolier.Presidential Biography
Basic information on the 20th President of the United States from the White House web site.
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James A. Garfield National Historic Site |
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