Trump Spotlight Revives McKinley Tourism in Ohio \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Interest in President William McKinley has surged following Donald Trump’s recent praise of the Gilded Age leader. Ohio, McKinley’s birthplace and final resting place, offers numerous museums and monuments for curious travelers. Historians caution against comparing the two Republicans too closely, given differing political eras and policies.
Quick Looks
- Surge in McKinley-related tourism follows Donald Trump’s public admiration of the 25th president.
- McKinley was born and buried in Ohio, with key attractions in Niles and Canton.
- Historians say Trump and McKinley differ widely in political style and policy.
- The McKinley Presidential Library and Monument are major highlights in Canton.
- McKinley’s early life is honored at a classical memorial in Niles.
- An animatronic McKinley and artifacts draw visitors to the McKinley Gallery.
- A relocated statue from California adds to Canton’s McKinley attractions.
- The Saxton-McKinley House offers a glimpse into the couple’s home life.
- McKinley’s church affiliations and stained glass tributes still stand in Canton.
- Additional McKinley-linked destinations include sites in Columbus, Fremont, and Buffalo.
Deep Look
Interest in President William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, is enjoying an unexpected revival—thanks in part to recent comments from former President Donald Trump. Trump has praised McKinley’s leadership during the Gilded Age and highlighted his economic policies, sparking renewed curiosity in a long-overlooked historical figure. In response, Ohio—the birthplace and final resting place of McKinley—has seen a notable uptick in interest across websites and historical tourism destinations tied to the late president.
McKinley served from 1897 until his assassination in 1901, steering America through a period of rapid industrial growth, overseas expansion, and protectionist economic policy. Today, monuments, libraries, and museums throughout Ohio commemorate his legacy and draw history buffs looking to connect with this pivotal chapter in U.S. history. Officials in Ohio hope this renewed attention will translate into a surge in summer tourism, particularly around the sites most associated with McKinley’s life.
Kevin Kern, a historian and associate professor at the University of Akron, said public interest in McKinley hasn’t reached this level in over a century. “The last time we saw this kind of attention was in 1928, when McKinley appeared on the $500 bill,” Kern explained. While Trump has spoken positively about McKinley’s policies, Kern cautioned that the two Republicans governed in dramatically different times. “It’s really apples and oranges,” he said.
At the heart of the debate is McKinley’s embrace of tariffs to protect American manufacturing—a policy Trump has similarly advocated. But the global economy of today differs vastly from the late 19th-century industrial landscape. Furthermore, McKinley himself began softening his stance on tariffs near the end of his life. In fact, in a speech delivered just one day before his assassination, McKinley seemed to signal a shift toward more open trade, complicating his legacy as a staunch protectionist.
For those eager to explore McKinley’s story firsthand, Ohio offers a treasure trove of historic destinations. In Niles, about 70 miles east of Cleveland, visitors can find the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial. This grand Greek-style marble monument stands on the site of McKinley’s childhood schoolhouse. It includes a statue of McKinley, a small museum, a research center, and the local public library—all flanking a manicured plaza known as the Court of Honor.
Roughly an hour’s drive from Niles is Canton, the city where McKinley built much of his adult life after serving in the Civil War. He practiced law, married Ida Saxton McKinley, and began his political ascent here. Canton is home to the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, which explores his personal and political life. Visitors are greeted by animatronic versions of William and Ida, and can browse through exhibits featuring campaign memorabilia, historical clothing, and even his famous rocking chair from the 1896 “front porch” campaign.
The centerpiece of the Canton site is the McKinley Monument, a domed granite structure that towers atop a hill, accessed by 108 stone steps. The mausoleum holds the remains of McKinley, his wife Ida, and their two daughters. Nearby, the Canton Classic Car Museum features more McKinley artifacts among its vintage vehicles.
One unexpected addition to Canton’s McKinley landscape is a statue formerly located in Arcata, California. The statue—depicting McKinley holding the annexation treaty for Hawaii—was removed in 2018 after local debate over his imperialist policies. It had originally survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and was later relocated to Arcata, where it remained until being bought and restored by a Canton foundation. It now stands outside the Stark County Courthouse, where McKinley once served as prosecutor.
Just a short walk away, the Saxton-McKinley House offers a more personal glimpse into the McKinleys’ domestic life. Now part of the National First Ladies Historic Site, the restored Victorian mansion once belonged to Ida’s family and served as a residence for the couple at various points. Though not the house from which McKinley launched his front porch campaign—it was demolished in the 1930s—a replica porch and the original campaign chair are preserved in the museum.
McKinley’s spiritual side is also honored in Canton. Christ Presbyterian Church, formerly First Presbyterian, was the site of the McKinleys’ wedding in 1871. A few blocks away, Crossroads United Methodist Church, where McKinley worshipped, still displays stained glass panels commissioned by Ida to commemorate her husband’s life.
For travelers willing to venture farther, Ohio offers more McKinley-linked destinations. In Fremont, about 85 miles west of Cleveland, the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums—the nation’s first presidential library—features a section about McKinley’s Civil War service under Hayes. In Columbus, a McKinley statue stands in front of the Ohio Statehouse, marking where he once tipped his hat to Ida from the steps below their apartment at the old Neil House hotel.
And to complete the arc of McKinley’s life, visitors can head to Niagara Square in Buffalo, New York, where a towering 96-foot obelisk honors the president at the site of his assassination during the 1901 Pan-American Exposition.
Whether you’re drawn to McKinley for his economic views or his place in America’s emergence as a global power, Ohio offers a deep dive into a legacy newly spotlighted by modern political conversation.
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