Got up and left our home around 9:00 AM. The drive today was near Tiffin, Ohio – about 100 miles away. When we looked online, we saw there was the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum near Tiffin. We both decided to go, even though it wasn’t in my little book of Presidential libraries. The weather was overcast but okay. It actually got hot (80’s) later in the day – and then rained and stormed.
We stopped at a nearby McDonald’s (I know, we’re boring and predictable but we like our travel breakfast) for breakfast, got some gas, and then headed out.
We had another border crossing.Nice bridge.Ohio has a lot of farm land.
We got to Fremont, Ohio and the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum at around 10:30 AM. It’s quite lovely and we wished we had more time because we didn’t get to see the Rutherford B. Hayes home, which is an additional tour.
The home of the Hayes family.Edie found this online and we incorporated a visit into our itinerary.We found the library with no problem.Six gates on the property, a gift from the US government.House on left, Museum on right.
We only got tickets ($6.50 per person for the old person discount) for the Museum. We also found out the Rutherford B. Hayes Museum was the first Museum and Library but it’s not part of the National Parks. It is privately held.
It’s a great museum and very well done, plus it’s just generally lovely.
Lovely.Impressive first library.His son dreamed of and realized the first Presidential Library.Edie is so on it. We are headed to Tiffin, Ohio and she spots an unlisted Presidential Library on the way!RB Hayes was by nature, inclination, habit and tradition a collector, tagger and diary keeper. All of this made for a wonderful base upon which to build a Presidential Library, in fact, the first.His rank as General made serious collecting of Civil War items easier.He seriously collected.Serious collectorLucy was a civil war angel.I believe he collected animals like anything else.He was brave in battle.I liked this knife.Worldly, but innocent, they went forward optimistically into the election.It got ugly quick.The election turned out to be one of the most bitterly contested contests in the history of the US.No end of accusations.No end of controversy. Three months of fighting, “The Great Compromise” and the Republican Senate Majority leader declared Hayes the winner by one electoral vote.Trump thought he had problems.Hayes only wanted one term. He set to work and took on the issues of the day.
Presidential limo.A almost tomb like room with his bust and best quotes.Beautiful ceiling.One of Hayes’ most famous quotes.
We enjoyed all the exhibits and, in particular, enjoyed the room with the resolute desk (it was Rutherford B. Hayes who received the original resolute desk from Queen Elizabeth) and the wall with all the presidential signatures (from George Washington on). He was a one term president, one of several from Ohio.
The story of Resolute. We have seen it at several libraries and didn’t appreciate that Hayes was the actual President that received it from Queen Victoria.A duplicate of Resolute.Handsome.Brass plaque.
Washington to Obama with all the Presidents in between. Way cool.One of the neatest things at the Museum, medals and signatures for all the presidents.WashingtonWashington Medal.John Adams.
Jefferson.
Really like the sign off, “Your Friend and Obt Servt, Z. Taylor, Maj Gen, U.S. Army”Barack!Ronald Reagan.George Bush.Bill ClintonGeorge W BushJimmyGerald R FordHerbert HooverI had lost Edie and left. Now I think I should have slowed down and photographed them all. Harrison.If you have a touch screen and can enlarge the photo, the entries from his diary is an excellent read.Kitchen buffet.
Hayes kids.
We left and went to Tiffin. We stopped at a grocery store and then Subway to get some sandwiches to take with us to visit some family from Michael’s first wife, Renee. Michael was married before to Renee for about ten years until she died of cancer. Michael has kept in touch with some of Renee’s sisters. Today’s visit was with Renee’s oldest sister, Alice. Alice and her husband, Arnold, visited us in Prunedale a few years after Aaron was born, so probably 25 years ago. It was so good seeing Alice and Arnold. They’re older but doing okay. We also got to meet their oldest son, who lives with them and helps them out.
75 degrees out today.I love this carport.Really lovely houses in Ohio.Beautiful red bud trees.Country roads to their house.Family awaits, it has been a long time.
We left after a few hours as we were tired but we plan on going back tomorrow for a short visit because their daughter, Cynthia, is flying in. We haven’t seen her in years either. We are now in our home for the night (Day’s Inn in Tiffin, Ohio – “go fast” points and around $60.00) and watching the news because of the severe weather.
Tonight’s home.We had a hard time finding our room, a nice young lady helped us with directions.Edie and I agreed, the worst bed of the whole trip, so soft.Usual.
