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All the United States Ohio Cleveland Heights James A. Garfield's Memorial and Tomb
AO Edited

James A. Garfield's Memorial and Tomb

The only presidential monument to display a late POTUS's actual casket.

Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Added By
Mark Allender
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The James A. Garfield Memorial   David Plotz
The James A. Garfield Memorial   David Plotz
The James A. Garfield Memorial   Mark 1
The biographical panels.   Mark 1
Inside the dome, Garfield Memorial   David Plotz
The caskets of the president and his wife.   Mark 1
The interior view from the balcony.   Mark 1
A side view of the memorial.   Mark 1
One of the biographical panels.   Mark 1
The 12-foot statue of the president.   Mark 1
Exterior shot after 2020 renovations   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
Crypt (since 2020 renovations)   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
Interior shot since 2020 renovations   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
Parking: it is acceptable to street park  
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Gargoyle on turrets   ski queen / Atlas Obscura User
The caskets of James and Lucretia Garfield   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
  lstraubbruce / Atlas Obscura User
Front and Center - Biographical Panel featuring James A. Garfield   James Wood
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
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  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
Mural of Garfield being shot   David Plotz
Garfield Memorial   David Plotz
View from top floor   SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
Garfield   David Plotz
View from NW facing balcony toward downtown Cleveland   keligeng / Atlas Obscura User
Garfield Memorial   David Plotz
View from the Observation Deck   James Wood
Second-floor balcony wall facing exterior (since 2020 renovations)   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
Mural depicting Garfield taking the oath of office (since 2020 renovations)   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
Exterior shot after 2020 renovations   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
Mural depicting the assassination (since 2020 renovations)   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
Foyer (since 2020 renovations)   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
Upper balcony facing into the rotunda (since 2020 renovations)   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
Upper floor of the rotunda since 2020 renovations   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance to the crypt since 2020 renovations   markallender / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Poor James Garfield: One of the most capable people ever elected president, he was shot in July 1881, just four months into his term, by a disgruntled office-seeker, then died agonizingly 11 weeks later, shoved into the grave by incompetent medical care.

Born in a real-live log cabin, Garfield worked his way up from nothing to become a university president, a highly regarded Union general, and a successful member of Congress before unexpectedly winning the 1880 Republican nomination.

Garfield’s assassination sanctified him, and ensured his place in the pantheon of heroes of Ohio. In the late 1880s, Ohioans helped raise $135,000 to build this stunning memorial to him in Cleveland’s Lake View Cemetery. A stone’s throw from the grave of John D. Rockefeller, the memorial tower features a 12-foot tall statue of the majestically bearded Garfield, along with 14 stained glass windows and murals, (one for each of the 13 original colonies plus Ohio). It is also the only memorial that keeps the dead president's casket on full display. Garfield and his wife Lucretia Garfield are interred in the crypt along with the ashes of their children

Dedicated in 1890, the memorial is a two story, tower-like building built in a number of Gothic and Classical styles. In addition to the elaborate architectural flourishes, the exterior of the building tells the former president's life story via five terra cotta panels reliefs featuring over 110 life-size figures. The interior of the building features stained-glass features, mosaics, and an oversized statue of the late politician. If visitors tire of viewing caskets, the observation deck also offers terrific views of the surrounding city.   

After serving only 200 days as president, Garfield nonetheless ended up with one of the most elaborate and grandiose memorials of any of America's leaders. The James A. Garfield Memorial stands as proof that it's not how long you spend in the White House, it's what you do while you there.

Update as of September 2024: Back to open daily during the season 

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Politics Gravestones Monuments Graves

Know Before You Go

Entrance on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. Once inside the cemetery, signs will point you to the Garfield Monument. While Lake View Cemetery is open all year around, the Garfield Memorial is not. The memorial is open from April 1 through November 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Community Contributors

Added By

markallender

Edited By

Martin, jessecbethea, Jeff Newman, Edward Denny...

  • Martin
  • jessecbethea
  • Jeff Newman
  • Edward Denny
  • SailorAlphaC
  • SemiruralYeti
  • The Outdoor Adventures of Sam and Tim
  • vew5674
  • august16th
  • davidplotz
  • keligeng
  • ski queen
  • lstraubbruce
  • dustinhasemail
  • AbortionCrib

Published

November 18, 2013

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield_Memorial
  • http://www.lakeviewcemetery.com/garfield.php
  • http://www.forgottenoh.com/LakeView/garfield.html
James A. Garfield's Memorial and Tomb
12316 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 44106
United States
41.51004, -81.591425
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