In lieu of a summer vacation, I've been taking one day road trips with either family or friends. Last week, I headed to Canton with a couple of friends and Middle Child. Canton is best known for its Pro Football Hall of Fame. I endured that as a child. No thank you! We were off on more educational pursuits.
 |
Our first stop was the First Ladies National Historic site. The tour is two hours long and begins in the museum portion that is housed in an old bank. They regularly change the theme, which was 'Forgotten First Ladies' for our tour, featuring first ladies that you basically knew nothing about. We saw things like hand fans and dresses of the first ladies featured, as well as the White House china that they chose. On thing I learned was that there were a number of 'first ladies' who were not the wives of the president. Some chose not to be, or were too ill, etc., so some of the ladies (whose primary job was to be hostess at the White House) were nieces or cousins of either the president or his wife. We also heard interesting anecdotes, such as Julia Tyler was 30 years younger than President Tyler, which was quite scandalous at the time. Sarah Polk had the equivalent of a master's degree and wrote President Polk's speeches.
|
 |
After the museum, we headed over to Ida Saxton McKinley's family home, where she and President McKinley lived on and off. Her family made their fortune in farm machinery. Descendants of her family have donated all the furniture in the house. Did you know that men were not allowed to smoke in front of the women during that time period? However, the men had brass spittoons in every room and the women had ceramic ones! Ha!
My favorite room was this dining room that had a frame for every first lady. The top picture was of the woman in her younger years and the bottom photo was of her as an older woman. Interesting facts were below the photos. Michelle Obama's was on an easel, ready to be hung when her time at the White House ends.
(I apologize for the abrupt ending. I accidentally published this before I even got halfway through the post. I will continue this road trip story in a few days.)
|
Sounds like an interesting museum. I'd like to see the Football Hall of fame as well.
ReplyDeleteI only recently became aware of the museum, but there were people on our tour from Florida and Philadelphia.
DeleteIda Saxton McKinley's family home is rather wonderful. I love the long porch and balcony and the elaborate window arch.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise nieces and cousins were sometimes designated as First Ladies. But I do find the idea of "First Lady" rather patronising.
I enjoy the tradition of having a First Lady, but Also look forward to having a First Gentleman at the White House. Maybe he can cut the grass and be a handy man?
DeleteInteresting about men not being able to smoke in front of women back then :) Looked like a great place to visit; I would have enjoyed the history of it :) I like the concept of small day trips like this especially to areas close by that one might not visit otherwise, or hadn't visited in a bit.
ReplyDeletebetty
Yes! We often ignore places in our own backyard! I'm taking my fourth road trip of the summer on Thursday. At least it gives me something to blog about!
DeleteThat is one huge house. Never knew the men can't smoke in front of women fact. Now no one cares a bit.
ReplyDeleteNow you aren't allowed to smoke in front of anyone! Banished outdoors in a designated area.
DeleteOkay, I would have LOVED taking this tour with you because I really enjoy anything about history (the times, the clothing, the fashion, etc.)
ReplyDelete"We also heard interesting anecdotes, such as Julia Tyler was 30 years younger than President Tyler."
Oh how interesting!!!!!
The exterior and interior of Ida Saxton McKinley's family home is magnificent! Such craftsmanship!
And like you, I prefer several day trips spread out over the summer.
Thanks for sharing, my friend!
X
I enjoy the cultural history more than the political parts, so I did enjoy seeing the furniture, clothing, etc. Mrs. McKinley had 250 hand painted hand fans! How crazy was that? Only a few were on display!
DeleteI'm mad at myself for hitting the publish button instead of save. We visited three other places that day. I will be back in a few days with more.
I would be nuts to see those places, especially the First Ladies museum. The couple of times I've been to the Smithsonian and seen their Inauguration dresses, I've been riveted.
ReplyDeleteI should have mentioned that the home was part of the whole tour and they were only a few doors apart in the downtown area. You would have particularly enjoyed hearing how educated a lot of these 'forgotten first ladies' were (though of course, they came from wealthy families).
DeleteI love hearing about things like that are available. Really interesting info and glad you had a good time! hugs...Ro
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to see what's in your own backyard (or at least within an easy driving distance). Thanks for visiting!
DeleteThe museum sounds very interesting, and I love the pictures too.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward the part two, of this post!
Part two will involve some good eats!
DeleteHelp! Blogger ate my comment!
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of taking one-day road trips. Keeps the costs down that way! And in my opinion, there aren't enough people named Saxton in the world. If I were to have another daughter...
...well, I'd probably name her something other than Saxton. But I'd hope she had a close friend named Saxton!
Saxton was her maiden name, Mark! But I wouldn't be surprised if there are peeps using it as a first name today.
DeleteI think Blogger was screwy the last few days. I'm 100% certain I never hit publish. For some reason, it only gave me the choice to 'update,' so when I was correcting some spelling, it published instead of saving my update. Annoying.
Well, in Ohio you've got a pretty target-rich environment, president-wise. Here in Michigan, we've only got Gerald Ford (and he wasn't even elected). . .
ReplyDeleteCeramic spittoons, huh? Wonder what brand Mrs. McKinley chewed. . .
;)
Yes, we've had a lot of them . . . eight I believe. Lots of astronauts, too!
DeleteYou do have Madonna, Ted Nugent and Kid Rock as your state's claim to fame!
Well, yes. . . quite a few entertainers, actually, including Diana Ross, Robin Williams, Tim Allen and Eminem, along with those you mentioned.
DeleteAnd we've got Magic Johnson and Henry Ford, too (and speaking of Halls of Fame, John Smoltz, one of this year's Baseball HOF class, is a Lansing guy. . .) And Thomas Edison spent a few of his formative years in Port Huron. . .
But, you know, none of them were presidents (and that's probably a good thing, in most of the cases mentioned here). . .
And jeez, how could I forget Bob Seger?
Delete;)
That looks really interesting. I love touring historic homes. But you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming into a football museum!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have Williamsburg at Christmas on our bucket list. We've been there twice (summer) and loved it. Any historical home is interesting to us.
DeleteAs far as museums go, I can't think of anything worse than football as the topic. Though I am curious if OJ has been wiped out of there (I do recall he had a nice display, back in the 70's). Good grief!
Well that does look like it would be fun. We have a lot of weird museums here in Las Vegas and when I first got here I went to a bunch of them.
ReplyDeleteLOL, yes, I remember passing by the Liberace Museum years ago. I wouldn't mind going to the place that has all the neon signs though!
DeleteThat's an awesome idea!!! I had to go to Chattanooga for a writers' event last week and I met my husband there (he was already there on business). We stayed the night and basically just ate dinner and breakfast there. But just getting away for a day is VERY refreshing. Plus you don't have to take an entire week off of work. I may have to do more of those!
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to explore towns nearby and a bit crazy to think about people who travel many miles to visit places we basically ignore!
DeleteIs there an aerial tram in Chattanooga? I vaguely remember riding one there??
A few years back we ran across a wing of a museum in D.C. that housed the inauguration outfits of the first ladies. It had some historical content on many but really was mostly about the ball gowns. Queenie really loved it, definitely worth a visit .... if that's your thing.
ReplyDeleteYes, I've seen them at the Smithsonian. They have just about everything, don't they?
DeleteWow, Bijoux, what a blast! I had no idea there was a First Ladies National Historic Site. And thanks for relating those fascinating facts. The McKinley family home looks beautiful, his and her spittoons notwithstanding.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Glad you enjoyed! I think I've only known of the site's existence in the last year or so.
DeleteI've driven through Canton many times, but never stopped for the NFL Hall of Fame nor did I know there was a First Lady museum there... the things we learn! Will you catch the R&R hall of fame in Cleveland and maybe take in an Indian game?
ReplyDeleteSince I live in the CLE, yes, I've been to both the R&R and many, many Tribe games.
DeleteWhat a cool museum! I love the insider information. I must admit, I know very little about most of the First Ladies. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDay tripping is the best. :)
I really didn't know that much about them either!
Delete