Rutherford B. Hayes, Presidential Center, Mansion and Museum

Sunday Anne-Marie and I toured the Rutherford B. Hayes, Presidential Center, Mansion and Museum, in Fremont, Ohio.  This was our first Presidential Museum visit, and we really didn’t know about it until we were looking for local attractions around Sandusky, Ohio.  President Hayes was a veteran of the Civil War, served in Congress, was Governor of Ohio, and elected President 1877-1881.  He served after President Grant and before President Garfield.

The gates to the grounds were from the White House, retired when autos started to be used, and the openings were too narrow.  Anne-Marie at the Memorial, and family Cemetery.

The Museum, and the home.  The home had been added onto many times in Hayes lifetime and now has 26000sq ft. 31 rooms, 18 bedrooms, 15 fireplaces, 10 chimneys, and a full basement.  I tried to find the specifications on the house, but the museum folks are waiting till the the house is fully restored before printing a booklet up with pictures and all.  I got these numbers from the tour guide, and the lady at the front desk.

The house is huge, and the tour of it didn’t allow pictures.  The rooms have 12 and 13 ft. high ceilings on all three floors and all walls and ceilings are wallpapered.  The furnishings are the same items or as exact as possible for the period.  Original paintings and portraits were displayed through out.  Anne-Marie on the front porch, that has a view of the grounds.

Many items that were used by President Hayes, and others before him were on display.  Anne-Marie by a desk used by him, and a tall ornate desk with a dropdown front, that was used by a cabinet member.

The carriage that he used while at the White House was in the basement, as doll houses built for their daughter.  There were items displayed that were collected by one of his sons, who served in the military in the Spanish-American wars.

This set of crystal was used in the White House by Andrew Jackson – through Hayes term in office, including President Lincolns.  The basement had a room of china displayed and it was all Haviland China, from various collections.

The Spiegel Grove Squires is a ball team that plays by 1860 rules, and they have a league that they play in.  No ball mitts, gloves, or helmets, and the rules are unique to the period and the umpire wears a top hat.  They were hosting a home game today.