57. William Howard Taft National Historic Site, Ohio

               Hello!  Welcome back to our blog.  In this entry we will be making a stop at the last NPS unit dedicated to an Ohio President at William Howard Taft National Historic Site.

Entrance Sign

BACKGROUND:

               In 1857, a prominent Ohio lawyer Alphonso Taft and his wife Louise, celebrated the birth of their son William in their house in the upscale Mt. Auburn neighborhood of Cincinnati.  Following the Civil War, Alphonso would become a statesman, actively involved in the Ohio Republican Party.  When he reached adulthood, William Taft decided to follow his father into politics, embarking on a storied career and founding a political dynasty.  Taft worked his way up the ranks of the Republican party, first through the court system and then as a diplomat, gaining notoriety for his efforts to establish a new government in the Philippines following its acquisition in 1898.  After becoming good friends with Theodore Roosevelt, he was appointed Secretary of War after Roosevelt ascended to the Presidency and was anointed as his successor. 

While Taft successfully campaigned for President in 1908, he had a falling out with Roosevelt over policy, leading to Roosevelt running against him as an independent, splitting the Republican vote and allowing Democrat Thomas Woodrow Wilson to win the Presidency.  Taft retreated from the limelight following his tenure as President, until President Warren G. Harding gave him the job he had dreamed of his whole life; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  Taft would serve on the high court from 1921 until 1930 and is the only person to have been both President and Chief Justice.

In addition to his own career, generations of his descendants entered into politics, most notably the lineage of his son Robert Taft, one of the most prominent Senators of the 20^th century, Robert Jr. who was also a Senator, and Robert III who was governor of Ohio.

The birthplace and childhood home of William Howard Taft

THE SITE:

               William Howard Taft National Historic Site is located on Auburn Avenue in the Mt. Auburn neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio.  The site consists of a small visitor center and the house owned by Alphonso Taft which was the birthplace and boyhood home of William Howard Taft.  The house is an original structure which has been restored on the ground floor to its appearance circa 1855-1865 when Taft was growing up at the house.  The second floor of the house contains galleries with exhibits featuring artifacts from both William Howard Taft’s career but also his father Alphonso.

The restored parlor of the Taft home.

TRAVEL TIPS:

               William Howard Taft National Historic Site is open from 8am to 4pm year-round, except on major holidays.  Ranger led tours of the Taft house are scheduled every hour on the hour.  The site is handicapped accessible and the visitor center contains a short film on the life of William Howard Taft.  Passport Stamps can be found at the front desk in the visitor center.

A second view of the house's exterior seen through the front gate.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

The restored office of Alphonso Taft.

A second view of the restored parlor.

A series of gifts on display in the Taft home given to Alphonso Taft from the Russian Czar while he was serving as an ambassador.

The ceremonial key to the city of Manila given in recognition of William Howard Taft's work in the Philippines following its acquisition following the Spanish-American War.