The James A. Garfield National Historic Site is the crown jewel of Mentor’s history trail.
Congressman James A. Garfield and wife Lucretia purchased the Dickey Farm in Mentor in 1876 and immediately went to work renovating it to accommodate their large family. Garfield split his time between “the farm” in Mentor and Washington D.C.
And it was in every sense a real, working farm – fields were planted with crops and the family keep horses, sheep and other livestock. The Garfield family later noted that the Mentor property served as a welcome retreat for him as it was the only place he could lay aside the political concerns of the day and relax.
In 1880, Garfield attended the Republican National Convention in Chicago to nominate his friend John Sherman for president. After dozens of deadlocked ballots, Garfield’s name was unexpectedly put forward, and to his surprise and chagrin, he won the nomination.
Over the next five months, more than 17,000 well-wishers and curiosity seekers visited his Mentor farm by train, carriage, and on foot. Cleveland reporters dubbed the farm “Lawnfield” and the moniker stuck. The first “front porch campaign” helped Garfield win the election and become the 20th president of the United States.
His presidency was tragically brief, as he was struck by an assassin’s bullet in July 1881 and succumbed to his injuries in September of that year.
After his death, the Garfield family continued to reside in Mentor. In 1885, Lucretia Garfield added a memorial library to the home to preserve her husband’s books and papers, establishing what is widely recognized as the first presidential library.
In 1936, the family donated the home and much of its original furnishings to the Western Reserve Historical Society. In 1980, Congress designated the property a National Historic Site, and it was jointly managed by the Western Reserve Historical Society and the National Park Service (NPS). During the 1990s, the home underwent an extensive restoration to reflect its appearance in the 1880s, both inside and out. The NPS assumed full ownership of the historic site in 2008 and has managed it ever since.
Today, President Garfield’s home is open for year-round tours, bringing to life the history of our 20th president and his family at the James A Garfield National Historic Site which is located at 8095 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060.
Learn more about Garfield’s Legacy in Mentor. Visit other waypoints on the Mentor History Trail.