Rutherford B. Hayes ~ October 4, 1822 - January 17, 1893

19th President 1877 - 1881

If you find yourself anywhere near Fremont, Ohio, you can visit Hayes' home, museum, and gravesite in one stop. They are all together on the Spiegel Grove estate. Due to our travel schedule, we could not wait for the next available guided tour of the house but we could wander through the museum on our own. Although it's not part of the Presidential Library system run by the National Archives and Records Administration (there are 13 of those), this museum was the first Presidential Museum, established in 1916.
It holds a lot of interesting artifacts and information, of which these are just a few.
Hayes holds the honor of being one of five presidents who lost the popular vote but still became president (the other four being John Q. Adams, Benjamin Harrison, George W. Bush, and Trump).

The story of the dishes was amusing 😊
Hayes' wife, Lucy, was known as 'Lemonade Lucy' due to her aversion to alcohol and this White House did not serve alcohol to visitors.
The Resolute Desk is a great story and the museum has a replicate.
I really wanted this t-shirt but alas, none were available.
Hayes took his oath of office in the Red Room of the White House and we took these photos on our 2015 White House tour.
Hayes' home on the Spiegel Grove estate is huge and was built by Hayes' uncle.
A short walk brought us to the gravesite of Rutherford, his wife, Lucy, and some of their children.
Rutherford B. Hayes fought in the civil war and received five wounds while in combat, more than any other president. He promised to serve just one term as president and kept his word. Rutherford and Lucy then returned to Spiegel Grove where Lucy passed away in 1889. Rutherford joined her in 1893.
Hayes was the first president to hold the White House Easter Egg Roll and to have a telephone and a typewriter installed in the White House. He is one of seven presidents to have been alive during two presidential assassinations (Lincoln and Garfield in Hayes' case).
"He serves his party best who serves his country best."
"The melancholy thing in our public life is the insane desire to get higher."

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