Visiting the Presidents

BONUS episode featuring my summer of presidential travels as I fit in as many birthplaces, gravesites, homes, and other sites into one history professor's summer break. The first of three parts, join me as I visit California, Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio! Click here for Part 2 ! Links to Previous Episodes Mentioned: Ulysses Grant Birthplace Benjamin Harrison Birthplace...

Heading to the Capitol for the first of many visits, this time for the home of William Howard Taft in the Kalorama neighborhood! Learn about William Howard's legal and political career; his election and Presidency; his wife, Helen, and accomplished children; as well as his many homes!   Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended readi...

Heading back to the Empire State and the stately home of Theodore Roosevelt, the iconic 26th President. Learn about Theodore's political career; his Vice Presidency and game-changing Presidency; his wives, Alice and Edith, and children; as well as his sprawling estate, Sagamore Hill, on Long Island! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, reco...

A Visiting the Presidents BONUS! Andrew and I met because of "Visiting the Presidents" and we have developed a great friendship, sharing a love for Presidents and travel. Hear Andrew's perspective on these presidential travels, his favorite sites, and his ideas about the importance of travel! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, a...

Heading back to the Buckeye State and Canton, Ohio, and the homes of William McKinley, 25th President of the United States! Find out what happened to the famous front-porch campaign house, as well as how his other home is now commemorated, as well as his political career, election and Presidency, his wife, Ida, and family, and more! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aid...

How many of us just want a second chance? Grover Cleveland did, winning the popular vote for the third straight time (only Andrew Jackson and Franklin Roosevelt can claim that!) and becoming our only president to serve non-consecutive terms! We won’t do his home at Westland over…Check out Episode 22, " Grover Cleveland and Princeton ," for that info!  Instead, Episode 24 is a Question an...

Hoosier 23rd President? Benjamin Harrison! Let's explore Benjamin's beautiful home in Indianapolis, as well as his political career; election and Presidency; and his wives, Caroline and Mary, and children! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other information! Episode Page: https://visitingthepresidents.com/20...

Grover the Good? Or Grover the Non-Consecutive? Whichever you pick, Grover Cleveland has quite the life story, and we'll explore his political rise; his contentious elections and two Presidencies; his wife, Frances, and children; and his homes! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other information! Episode Page: ht...

Forgotten President in the Big City, Chester Alan Arthur's home is still standing, but under very different management! Learn about Arthur's reluctant turn to politics; his vice presidency and Presidency; his wife, Ellen, and children; and what happened to his home! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other in...

A Visiting the Presidents BONUS! Kurt and I became friends through our various social media profiles dedicated to Presidential sites. Hear Kurt's perspective on these presidential travels, why he enjoys "hunting graves," and his favorite Presidential graves and homes! Check out Kurt's website KurtsHistoricSites.com and find him on Instagram at @kdgravehunter! Check out my websi...

Lawnfield is not the most creative name, but it is a very attractive and historic mansion, containing the history of one of our most brilliant men to become President, James Garfield! Learn about James' political rise; his election and brief presidency; his wife, Lucretia, and children; as well as his beautiful home! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, p...

Rutherford Hayes' fraudulent status did not extend to his amazing home, Spiegel Grove, in Fremont, Ohio! Listen as we explore Hayes' political rise; his approach to his single term as 19th President; his wife, Lucy, and family; as well as his incredible home!   Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other informa...

Unconditionally Surrender to Ulysses Grant's Episode on his homes in St. Louis, Mount McGregor, and of course, Galena, Illinois. Learn about the 18th President's transition from military life to politics, his tumultuous presidency, his wife, Julia, and family, as well as his homes! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended readi...

A Visiting the Presidents BONUS! Brittany got to see my love for Presidents firsthand, and we shared a lot of formative memories as a family around traveling. Hear her perspective on these presidential travels! Listen to Brittany's version of events and the importance of travel! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, and other information! Su...

Tennessee Johnson built a real home for himself at the foot of the Great Smokey Mountains, rising from illiterate tailor to 17th President of the United States! Learn about Andrew Johnson's political career and beliefs, his tumultuous term as vice president and even more tumultuous term as President, his wife, Eliza, and children, as well as his home(s) in Greeneville! Check out the website a...

Honest Abe is so iconic: the log cabin, the stove pipe hat, the beard! Let's explore Abraham Lincoln and the 16th  President's home in Springfield, Illinois--not just his house, but the neighborhood, as we learn about his political rise, his presidency, his wife, Mary, and sons, as well as the place he called home. Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links...

Check out Ol' Buck in Wheatland! Learn about James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States, and his home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania! Listen to his political rise, his tragic administration, his personal life, and, of course, his great home! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other information! Episode Page:...

Handsome Frank of the Granite State, Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States! We will explore his homes in Concord, New Hampshire, as well as his melancholic home life, his political career of starts and stops, as well as his administration! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other information! Episode Pag...

A Visiting the Presidents Bonus! Nate and Alex have indulged my love for travel and we've met up in several places across the country, so I wanted to get their perspective on these presidential travels! Listen to Nate and Alex's version of events and the importance of travel! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, and other information!...

"Millard Fillmore was President?!" And he lived where? Learn about Millard Fillmore, 13th President, and his political rise and administration, his wives and children, and his homes in Buffalo and East Aurora! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other information! Episode Page: https://visitingthepresidents.co...

Tracking down Ol' Rough and Ready, Zachary Taylor, 12th President, and his homes in locations like Louisville, Baton Rouge, and along the Mississippi River! Learn about Zachary's military career and turn to politics, his brief administration, his wife, Peggy, and children, as well as what happened to his homes! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, pa...

Young Hickory around the house! Heading back to the Volunteer State for Columbia, and the home of James Polk, 11th President! Learn about Polk's unique approach to work, his political rise and election, his tumultuous administration, his wife, Sarah, and his homes! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other informat...

Every “outlaw” needs a Sherwood Forest! Head back to the James River area for Sherwood Forest, home of John Tyler, 10th President, outside Charles City, Virginia! Hear about Tyler's complex political rise, his unprecedented ascension, his sprawling family, and his iconic home! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and ot...

Way down on the Wabash River, Far, Far, From Home! in Vincennes, Indiana, is Grouseland, the home of William Henry Harrison, 9th President of the United States! While he doesn't get to serve for long, learn about the long path he took to get to the Executive Mansion, his sprawling family, and his homes! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes,...

We are heading back up to Ol' Kinderhook, New York, and the striking home of Martin Van Buren, 8th President, Lindenwald! Hear about Martin's political rise and skill at building connections, his wife and children, his presidency, and the great Lindenwald! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other information!...