Front porch where James Garfield ran his 1880 campaign for President of the United States, James A. Garfield National Historic Site

PARK OVERVIEW

James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio, preserves the home and the remaining eight acres of a farm purchased by James and his wife Lucretia in 1876. The farm is most remembered for being the site where Garfield ran his Front Porch campaign for president of the United States from July through October, 1880. At the time, presidential candidates did not campaign for themselves. They were expected to sit home while their supporters did the campaigning for them. While Garfield did stay home, he could not contain his zest for public speaking, and he began addressing groups that came to Mentor to see him from the front porch of his house. Over 15,000 people came to visit, representing all sorts of interest groups and media companies. The press dubbed the farm Lawnfield, and to Lucretia’s chagrin, the name stuck.

When Garfield left Mentor for his March 4th inauguration in Washington (this is when inaugurations were held until 1937), he never saw his home again. He only served four months before being shot on July 2, 1881. However, he did not die immediately, and was thus officially the president until his death later that year on September 19th. He ultimately died from infection and post-shooting internal trauma caused by doctors poking dirty fingers and instruments into his body in search of the bullet. Charles Guiteau, Garfield’s assassin, insisted at his trial that while he shot Garfield, it was the doctors who killed him.

Because Mary Lincoln had many financial troubles after Abraham Lincoln was killed, the media pushed for public donations to help Lucretia take care of her family and home. Approximately $350,000 was raised, and with part of this money she renovated the house and grounds of the farm. This included building a rear addition to the house where she created the James Garfield Memorial Library to preserve her husband’s books and writings.

Visitors to James A. Garfield National Historic Site can learn about the 20th President of the United States by watching a short film and browsing through the exhibits at the museum inside the Visitor Center. After learning something about the man, they can take a tour of his home. A guided tour is the only way to enter the house, and tours are given multiple times each day that the park is open. There are also a few farm buildings from the late 1800s still remaining, and visitors can see them all along a paved walking path through the property.

OPERATING HOURS

Operating hours at James A. Garfield National Historic Site vary per season. From May through October, the Visitor Center, Garfield House, and grounds are open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. From November through April the park is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, same hours. The entire park is closed on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Presidents Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

The gate to the park is locked shortly after closing time at 5 PM. Any vehicles remaining will be locked in until the next morning.

Keep in mind that times and days can always change, so be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the park.

ENTRANCE FEE

There is no fee to visit James A. Garfield National Historic Site. Tours of the Garfield House are also free.

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

House Tour
allow 1 to 1.5 hours

Visitor Center
allow 45 minutes to 1.5 hours

Grounds Tour
allow 30 minutes

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