> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hiking-ohio.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # First Ladies National Historic Site - URL: https://hiking-ohio.com/first-ladies-national-historic-site/ - Published: 2024-06-05T02:39:35.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-02T18:02:28.000Z - Description: First Ladies National Historic Site, Canton, OH: 0.5-mi easy stroll, 30 min. Kid-friendly history in Stark County. Full visitor guide with hours & directions. - Author: Lori Jordan - Tags: Easy, Loop Trail, Year Round, kid-friendly Trail FactsFirst Ladies National Historic Site 0.5 miDistance EasyDifficulty 10 ftElevation 30 minDuration LoopType Year RoundKid-friendly Hey there fellow hiking enthusiasts! Have you ever heard of the First Ladies National Historic Site in downtown Canton, Ohio? If not, let me tell you all about this hidden gem that is a must-visit for anyone interested in history and the role of First Ladies in shaping our nation. The site consists of two properties - the home of First Lady Ida Saxton-McKinley and an Education Center where you can learn all about how the position of First Lady has evolved over time to include a public role. As a huge fan of hiking and exploring new places, I can't recommend this site enough for anyone looking to dive deeper into the history of our country and the incredible women who have served as First Lady. ## First Ladies of the United States | **"A position where I can do the most good..." - Eleanor Roosevelt** Over 50 women have held the role of First Lady as of today. However, not all those who have served as a first lady were spouses to the presidents. If the president was a bachelor or widower, or if his wife was unable or unwilling to perform the role, other female relatives or friends were called upon to carry out the first lady's official duties; thus, there have been more first ladies than presidents. For more information and biographies on each of the first ladies, visit the [National First Ladies Library](http://firstladies.org/biographies/?ref=hiking-ohio.com). **Our First Ladies** **Martha Washington** *Wife to President George Washington*1789-1797 **Abigail Adams** *Wife to President John Adams*1797-1801 **Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph** *Daughter to President Thomas Jefferson*1801-1809 **Dolley Madison** *Wife to President James Madison*1809-1817 **Elizabeth Monroe** *Wife to President James Monroe*1817-1825 **Louisa Adams** *Wife to President John Quincy Adams*1825-1829 **Rachel Jackson** *Late Wife to President Andrew Jackson*1828 **Emily Donelson** *Niece to President Andrew Jackson*1829-1834 **Sarah Jackson** *Daughter-in-law to President Andrew Jackson*1834-1837 **Angelica Van Buren** *Daughter-in-law to President Martin Van Buren*1838-1841 **Anna Harrison** *Wife to President William Henry Harrison*1841 **Jane Harrison** *Daughter-in-law to President William Henry Harrison*1841 **Letitia Tyler** *Wife to President John Tyler*1841-1842 **Pricilla Cooper Tyler** *Daughter-in-law to President John Tyler*1842-1844 **Julia Tyler** *Second wife to President John Tyler*1844-1845 **Sarah Polk** *Wife to President James Polk*1845-1849 **Margaret Taylor** *Wife to President Zachary Taylor*1849-1850 **Mary "Betty" Bliss** *Daughter to President Zachary Taylor1849-1850* **Abigail Fillmore** *Wife to President Millard Fillmore*1850-1853 **Jane Pierce** *Wife to President Franklin Pierce*1853-1857 **Harriet Lane** *Niece to President James Buchanan*1857-1861 **Mary Lincoln** *Wife to President Abraham Lincoln*1861-1865 **Eliza Johnson** *Wife to President Andrew Johnson*1865-1869 **Martha Johnson Patterson** *Daughter to President Andrew Johnson*1865-1869 **Julia Dent Grant** *Wife to President Ulysses S. Grant*1869-1877 **Lucy Hayes** *Wife to President Rutherford B. Hayes*1877-1881 **Lucretia Garfield** *Wife to President James A. Garfield*1881 **Ellen Arthur** *Late Wife to President Chester Arthur*1880 **Mary Arthur McElroy** *Sister to President Chester Arthur*1881-1885 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Rose Cleveland** *Sister to President Grover Cleveland*1885-1886 **Frances Cleveland** *Wife to President Grover Cleveland*1886-18891893-1897 **Caroline Harrison** *Wife to President Benjamin Harrison*1889-1893 **Mary McKee** *Daughter to President Benjamin Harrison*1892-1893 **Ida McKinley** *Wife to President William McKinley*1897-1901 **Edith Roosevelt** *Wife to President Theodore Roosevelt*1901-1909 **Helen Taft** *Wife to President William Howard Taft*1909-1913 **Ellen Wilson** *Wife to President Woodrow Wilson*1913-1914 **Margaret W. Wilson** *Daughter to President Woodrow Wilson*1913-1914 **Edith Wilson** *Second wife to President Woodrow Wilson*1914-1921 **Florence Harding** *Wife to Warren G. Harding*1921-1923 **Grace Coolidge** *Wife to President Calvin Coolidge*1923-1929 **Lou Hoover** *Wife to President Herbert Hoover*1929-1933 **Eleanor Roosevelt** *Wife to President Franklin D. Roosevelt*1933-1945 **Bess Truman** *Wife to President Harry S. Truman*1945-1953 **Mamie Eisenhower** *Wife to President Dwight D. Eisenhower*1953-1961 **Jacqueline Kennedy** *Wife to President John F. Kennedy*1961-1963 **Lady Bird Johnson** *Wife to President Lyndon B. Johnson*1963-1969 **Patricia Nixon** *Wife to President Richard Nixon*1969-1974 **Betty Ford** *Wife to President Gerald Ford*1974-1977 **Rosalynn Carter** *Wife to President Jimmy Carter*1977-1981 **Nancy Reagan** *Wife to President Ronald Reagan*1981-1989 **Barbara Bush** *Wife to President George H.W. Bush*1989-1993 **Hillary Clinton** *Wife to President Bill Clinton*1993-2001 **Laura Bush** *Wife to President George W. Bush*2001-2009 **Michelle Obama** *Wife to President Barack Obama*2009-2017 **Melania Trump** *Wife to President Donald Trump*2017- 2021 **Dr. Jill Biden** *Wife to President Joe Biden*2021- | --- ![](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2024/05/1717190914402-Old-Postcard.png) ## National First Ladies Visitor and Education Center Begin your visit at the visitor center, located in Canton's historic City National Bank. At the visitor center visitors can explore our small museum of rotating exhibits, watch a film, earn Junior Ranger badges, and get their official passport cancellation. ### Address 205 Market Avenue South Canton, OH 44702-2105 ## Directions Of Course You Want To Go! [205 Market Ave S · 205 Market Ave S, Canton, OH 44702Building![](https://www.google.com/images/branding/product/ico/maps15_bnuw3a_32dp.ico)205 Market Ave S · 205 Market Ave S, Canton, OH 44702![](https://geo0.ggpht.com/cbk?cb_client=maps_sv.tactile&output=thumbnail&thumb=2&panoid=I5BRCUk-SH4l-Zwk6v7STw&w=900&h=900&yaw=291&pitch=0&thumbfov=75&ll=40.797530,-81.375157)](https://www.google.com/maps/place/205+Market+Ave+S,+Canton,+OH+44702/@40.7975867,-81.3779273,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8836d0787ee26d69:0xdbdef194d5f8f661!8m2!3d40.7975867!4d-81.3753524!16s%2Fg%2F11bw4clv6n?entry=ttu&ref=hiking-ohio.com) --- ## Saxton-McKinley House ![](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2024/05/1717191301436-house.jpg) Saxton-McKinley House ### Home of the National First Ladies Library In 1998, the Saxton-McKinley House became the home of the National First Ladies Library. The new library was dedicated at a ceremony attended by former first lady Rosalynn Carter. The purpose of the National First Ladies Library is to house and make available the collection and library of materials about the first ladies. This library is the only one of its kind, focusing solely on the First Ladies of the United States. ### The Education Center The Education Center, located at 123 E. Market Street, is a modern facility that houses educational programs and exhibits about the First Ladies of the United States. The center features interactive displays, multimedia presentations, and artifacts from the collections of the National First Ladies' Library. ![](https://cdn.hiking-ohio.com/blog-hiking/2024/05/1717191415373-clothes.jpeg) Part of the exhibits ### Ida Saxton-McKinley's House The library itself is unique, as is the story of the Saxton-McKinley House. The National First Ladies Library took great care in carefully restoring the home to the Victorian era with the help of Dr. Sheila Fisher. After leading the restoration process of the Saxton-McKinley House, Dr. Fisher described the job as being one of "historic restoration and historic renovation." Aside from being a beautiful Victorian building, the Saxton-McKinley House is the last remaining home with direct ties to Ida and William McKinley in their hometown of Canton, Ohio. Ida Saxton McKinley was born and raised in the home, and it remained in her family until 1919\. Additionally, the house served as the primary residence for Mr. and Mrs. McKinley from 1878 to 1891 while William served in the United States House of Representatives. As is the case with many historic residences, the Saxton-McKinley House was constructed in several parts. The rear of the home was built in 1841 by George Dewalt, Ida's maternal grandfather. George would later will the home to Ida's parents, Katherine Dewalt and John Saxton. In 1870, John added the front section onto the home to make room for his large family, which included Katherine, Ida and her two siblings, and their Grandfather Dewalt. Walking through the home of Ida Saxton-McKinley, you can truly feel the presence of history as you learn about her life and the impact she had on the country during her time as First Lady. ## Not Your Average Hike As someone who loves spending time outdoors and immersing myself in nature, I found the First Ladies National Historic Site to be a refreshing change of pace from my usual hiking adventures. It was fascinating to learn about the challenges and triumphs that these women faced during their time in the White House, and how they used their platform to advocate for important causes. From the fight for women's right to vote to tales of heartbreak and hope inside the White House, First Ladies National Historic Park explores the humanity behind the women of the Presidential families. Through their stories, we better understand the history of our nation and the changes these remarkable women inspired. ## Well this is a Hiking Blog! In addition to the parks's historical attractions, there are also plenty of other activities to enjoy. The park has several walking trails. For example there is the First Ladies Heritage Trail, which takes you on a tour of the park's historic buildings and landmarks. So next time you're looking for a new hiking destination, why not consider a trip to the First Ladies National Historic Site in Canton, Ohio? You won't be disappointed by the rich history and fascinating stories that await you at this unique and educational site. And there are many hiking and biking trails of all different distances and difficulty nearby to enjoy. I have not visited these trails. I plan to do so in the future. If anyone has visited these trails, please let me know. - Middle Branch Trail [https://starkparks.com/parks/middle-branch-trail/](https://starkparks.com/parks/middle-branch-trail/?ref=hiking-ohio.com) - Fairhope Nature Preserve [https://cantonparksandrec.com/park/fairhope-nature-preserve/](https://cantonparksandrec.com/park/fairhope-nature-preserve/?ref=hiking-ohio.com) - West Branch Trail [https://starkparks.com/parks/west-branch-trail/](https://starkparks.com/parks/west-branch-trail/?ref=hiking-ohio.com) - Hoover Park Trail [https://starkparks.com/](https://starkparks.com/?ref=hiking-ohio.com) - Covered Bridge Park [https://cantonparksandrec.com/parks/](https://cantonparksandrec.com/parks/?ref=hiking-ohio.com) - Martindale Park [https://cantonparksandrec.com/parks/](https://cantonparksandrec.com/parks/?ref=hiking-ohio.com) - Ink Park [https://cantonparksandrec.com/parks/](https://cantonparksandrec.com/parks/?ref=hiking-ohio.com) - Frank Esmont Park [https://starkparks.com/parks/esmont-park/](https://starkparks.com/parks/esmont-park/?ref=hiking-ohio.com) - Devonshire Park [https://starkparks.com/](https://starkparks.com/?ref=hiking-ohio.com) It is really amazing that Ohio has this historic park. If you have something you would like to submit to have posted on this website, such as a blog submission or a new hiking trail you think we should check out, please contact us! 🥾 Don't get caught in the wilderness wishing you were more prepared. Find great deals on [Hiking Gear.](https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&tag=darkcitadel-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=509df929a607e9d7c3c43140594deb7a&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=sporting&keywords=hiking%20gear&ref=hiking-ohio.com)