One of the things we enjoy doing when we are on road trips is stopping at presidential places of interest. We have visited the John F Kennedy Presidential Museum, Jimmy Carter’s Presidential Library, Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace and homeplace and numerous other presidential homes and graves. Recently we were driving through Cleveland, Ohio and then over to Mentor to spend some time at James Garfield’s Grave and Visitors Center.

Learning about Garfield in Cleveland

James Garfield’s Gravesite

We took a few minutes at the Lakeview Cemetary in Cleveland. It’s easy to find James Garfield’s gravesite, just follow the signs and look for the largest memorial in the cemetery.

Make sure you take the time to climb the stairs so you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city of Cleveland.

Famous People

President James Garfield is not the only famous person buried in LakeView Cemetery. Other dignitaries in this Cleveland cemetery include John D. Rockefeller and Henry Sherwin.

Once you finish touring the Memorial, take a 30-minute drive to the Visitors Center in Mentor, Ohio.

The Visitors Center

The Visitors Center doesn’t take long to walk through but gives you a great place to start learning about James A. Garfield. The Visitor Center offers museum exhibits chronicling the life of James A. Garfield, from canal boy to President. An 18-minute video further highlights the accomplishments of the President throughout his lifetime.

James Garfield was elected as the United States’ 20th President in 1881, after nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. His Presidency was impactful, but cut short after 200 days when he was assassinated. Taken from Whitehouse.gov

Find James Garfield Historical Site

8095 Mentor Avenue
Mentor, OH 44060
The Visitor Center is free; tours of the home are $7.