Taft Education Center at William Howard Taft National Historic Site

LOCATION

The Taft Education Center, the visitor center for William Howard Taft National Historic Site, is located at 2038 Auburn Avenue in Cincinnati. There is a small parking lot on Auburn Avenue that holds seven cars and a larger lot in the back of the building accessed via Southern Avenue.

OPERATING HOURS

The Taft Education Center is open daily from mid-February through mid-November, 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM. At all other times of the year it is open on Thursdays through Sundays, 9 AM to 4 PM. The park and Visitor Center are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Keep in mind that times can always change, so be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the park.

AMENITIES

• Ranger-staffed information desk where you can ask questions and pick up a park brochure
• Exhibit area that focuses on the Taft Family
• Park orientation film
• Book and souvenir store
• Restrooms

Information desk and souvenir store at the Taft Education Center, William Howard Taft National Historic Site

PARK FILM

The 16-minute film William Howard Taft, Public Servant plays in the Taft Education Center on demand. This is a standard documentary with photos accompanied by narration that covers Taft’s life in public service. Be sure to watch the film before taking the house tour so that you know something about the man. The film is suitable for all ages, though pre-teens will most likely find it boring.

A short film on Taft shows in the Taft Education Center on demand, William Howard Taft National Historic Site

EXHIBIT AREA

A small exhibit area in the Taft Education Center provides information on the five generations of the Taft Family that went into public service. Information specifically on William Taft is inside the Taft Family House.

Exhibit area inside the Taft Education Center at William Howard Taft National Historic Site

Upon entering the room is an entertaining exhibit featuring and animatronic Charlie Taft, the youngest son of William. Charlie went on to become mayor of Cincinnati. Push different buttons on a panel and hear Charlie tell stories about his mother, father, older brother Robert A. Taft (politics), nephew Robert Taft Jr. (politics), aunt and uncle Charles and Anna (newspaper and philanthropy), and cousin Hulbert and his son Hub (newspaper / radio / TV). Listening to all the stories takes about 15 minutes.

Animatronic Charlie Taft tells stories about the Taft Family at the Taft Education Center, William Howard Taft National Historic Site

The rest of the exhibit area is comprised of information panels detailing the lives of Alphonso Taft (William’s father) and his descendants. Just about everyone was in politics, teaching, or in the media business.

Exhibits on the Taft Family inside the Taft Education Center at William Howard Taft National Historic Site

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Watching the park film and reading all of the information in the Taft Education Center takes roughly 45 minutes. Since most people have no interest in reading everything, I suggest catching the film and then spending the time waiting for the next Taft Family House tour in the exhibit area. If there is still time left, listening to all the Charlie narrations takes up another 15 minutes.

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