Division Releases

Ohio Celebrates U.S. Presidents with Events and Attractions in February
Special exhibits and unique attractions honor the lives of commanders-in-chief
2/3/2009

CONTACT:
Marty McDonald at (614) 383-1621
Tamara Brown at (614) 466-8591

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Feb. 3, 2009) - This month, as U.S. presidents take center stage with the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth on February 12, Presidents Day on February 16 and President Obama's first month as commander-in-chief, Ohioans will celebrate all things presidential throughout the state. From Lincoln birthday celebrations to the National First Ladies' Library honoring the nation's newest first lady, visitors to Ohio will find that the state has long played a leading role in presidential politics dating back to the Victorian and Progressive eras.

Celebrating Lincoln
Bicentennial Celebration of Abraham Lincoln's Birth, Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, Feb. 12
The Ohio Statehouse will commemorate the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth with a celebration that will honor his life and legacy with a birthday cake, the rededication of the Lincoln-Vicksburg Monument, the unveiling of a photo exhibit and presentations on Lincoln's connection to Ohio Statehouse history.

Lincoln Legacy: A Cincinnati Celebration of Freedom, Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park, Cincinnati, Feb. 12
Guests at this free birthday party will enjoy live entertainment, a reading of the Gettysburg Address and a birthday cake, complete with 200 candles. In addition, a donated tree will be planted in Eden Park's President's Grove, where there are trees planted for each U.S. president.

President Lincoln's 200th Birthday Celebration, Mary L. Cook Public Library, Waynesville, Feb. 16
A President Lincoln impersonator will be at this birthday party to answer questions from guests. President Lincoln will also share some of his childhood memories and his work to be elected a U.S. president. Like any great birthday celebration, cake, cookies and punch will be provided.

U.S. Presidential History
National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton
Air Force One has been the setting for some of the most pivotal moments in modern American history. In Ohio, visitors can board the plane that carried President John F. Kennedy's body to Washington after his assassination and stand where Lyndon B. Johnson stood while being sworn in as president. At Dayton's National Museum of the United States Air Force on Wright Patterson Air Force Base, this and eight more presidential aircraft can be boarded.

National First Ladies' Library, Canton
It's hard to celebrate Presidents Day without considering the contributions of America's first ladies. The National First Ladies' Library is housed in the Victorian home of Ida Saxton McKinley, wife of President William McKinley. Visitors will find numerous biographical resources and artifacts about each of the American first ladies. The library is proud to welcome Michelle Obama as the newest First Lady. An article on Mrs. Obama's role as First Lady can be found on the library's Web site at www.firstladies.org.

Golden Lamb Inn, Lebanon
Few places in America can claim the 200-year history and political importance of the Golden Lamb Inn. Visited by twelve U.S. Presidents, from John Quincy Adams to George W. Bush, the inn continues to offer rooms to travelers. The Inn, which just completed a $5.6 million renovation designed to preserve the historical aspects of the building, is open to guests who can stay in rooms and dine in a restaurant that once served these men, as well as luminaries such as orator Daniel Webster and author Charles Dickens.

Ohio's U.S. Presidential Experiences
James A. Garfield National Historic Site, Mentor
For an in-depth look at the day-to-day life of a man who would become president, travelers can visit Lawnfield, the home of President James A. Garfield. The expertly restored site includes the house and front porch from which Garfield campaigned for the presidency, a windmill, visitors' center and museum. Visitors of all ages will enjoy periodic special programs, including behind the scenes tours, Victorian crafting classes, and the fun, interactive "Presidential Squares," in which presidential impersonators assist in an oversized game of tic-tac-toe trivia.

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont
After his presidency, Hayes and his wife retired to Spiegel Grove, a 31-room mansion in northwest Ohio. The house is outfitted with many of its original furnishings. A museum displaying artifacts from Hayes' Civil War and presidential careers is located adjacent to the house, and his burial site also is at the estate. The original gates from the White House guard the entrance to Spiegel Grove. Beginning February 12, a new exhibit called "First-Lady Style: White House Gowns" featuring 33 original and reproduction gowns will be displayed in the museum.

Ulysses S. Grant Schoolhouse and Boyhood Home, Georgetown
Civil War General and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant was born and grew up along the northern bank of the Ohio River. The river served as the boundary between slavery in Kentucky and freedom in Ohio, and the proximity to the tragedy of slavery contributed to Grant's dedication to protecting African Americans' civil rights during his presidency. Grant's schoolhouse in Georgetown, open to visitors, was just one room when Grant attended. His home is decorated in the style of the 1830s and 1840s and displays many of the Grant family's original furnishings.

William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, Canton
William McKinley's presidency is regarded as one of the most successful, if under-appreciated. He led the nation out of recession, asserted American military power in the Spanish-American War and formed policy to incorporate millions of new immigrants into the booming economy. His life and his term were cut short by an assassin's bullet in 1901. The William McKinley Presidential Library houses photographs, letters and other objects from McKinley's life. The nearby McKinley National Memorial houses the remains of the McKinley family in a double-domed mausoleum made of multi-colored granite and a bronze statue of the president.

Harding Home State Memorial, Marion
Campaigning from the porch of his Marion, Ohio, home, Warren G. Harding coasted his way into the White House in the only presidential election to pit an Ohioan against an Ohioan. Though Harding's administration was plagued by scandals, it represented a golden age in American culture - women were enjoying new civil rights and the economy was booming. The Victorian Harding Home was built in 1891 and still contains most of the president's original furnishings. The nearby Harding Memorial contains the remains of Harding and his wife, Florence. The tomb is a majestic circular monument made of white Georgia marble built in the neo-classical style.

For more information on Ohio's presidential sites and history, visit www.DiscoverOhio.com. The Ohio Travel Planner and Ohio Calendar of Events are both viewable online at www.DiscoverOhio.com. To pre-order your free copy of the 2009 Ohio Travel Planner, click on the Free Publications icon or call 1-800-BUCKEYE. For additional information, trained travel counselors are available at 1-800-BUCKEYE to assist callers weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

About the Ohio Tourism Division
The Ohio Tourism Division is the premier source of information for travelers and media about Ohio's vibrant tourism experiences, attractions, and economy. Division marketing programs contributed to an estimated $38 billion in visitor sales in 2007 and 454,000 jobs sustained by visitors to the state. A part of the Ohio Department of Development, the Division's mission is to promote and celebrate Ohio's unique travel opportunities and market the state's outstanding quality of life.

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