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The McKinley Birthplace Museum is located in the West and East balconies of the right wing of the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial located in Niles, Ohio. The memorial and museum are dedicated to William McKinley who was born in Niles on January 29, 1843 and served as the 25th President of the United States from March 4, 1897 to September 14, 1901.The memorial opened in 1917 and was erected by the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Association, who continue to run the museum today.

The National McKinley Birthplace Memorial

The National McKinley Birthplace Memorial

The auditorium stage features fifty state and four territorial flags, and a bust of William McKinley

The auditorium stage features fifty state and four territorial flags, and a bust of William McKinley
The McKinley Birthplace Museum is located in the West and East balconies of the right wing of the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial located in Niles, Ohio. The memorial and museum are dedicated to William McKinley who was born in Niles on January 29, 1843 and served as the 25th President of the United States from March 4, 1897 to September 14, 1901.The memorial opened in 1917 and was erected by the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Association, who continue to run the museum today. The museum does not charge admission and is open Monday-Wednesday from 9AM-5 P.M., Thursday from 9AM-3PM, and other times by advance appointment. Please phone ahead to schedule large group tours.

The museum contains memorabilia from McKinley's early life in Niles, artifacts from the Civil and Spanish American wars, and items from his presidencies and campaigns. The museum also displays mannequins of the President and Mrs. McKinley, a piano belonging to the President's mother, Nancy Allison McKinley, a sleigh belonging to the President, and the President's law desk, among many other items.

Please visit us and learn more about the fascinating history of President William McKinley! We will be looking forward to your visit!

Mission Statement:
The National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Museum is dedicated to honoring the memory of our nation’s 25th President, William McKinley, who was born in Niles, Ohio, on January 29, 1843. The museum memorializes President McKinley by maintaining, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting its collections to educate the community and promote an understanding of President McKinley’s life, career, and untimely death, along with the history of the McKinley Birthplace Memorial Building itself.

Staff:
Patricia Scarmuzzi, Curator of Collections
Theresa Martin, Curatorial Assistant

TIMELINE OF MCKINLEY'S LIFE

-Born in Niles, Ohio on January 29, 1843
-Attended Allegheny College
-School Teacher in Poland, Ohio in 1860
-Enlisted in Union Army in June of 1861
-Promoted to Second Lieutenant on September 24, 1862
-Promoted to First Lieutenant on February 7, 1863
-Promoted to Captain on July 25, 1864
-Promoted Brevet Major for Gallantry in 1865
-Attended Albany Law School in New York
-Admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1867
-Elected State's Attorney in 1869
-Married Ida McKinley in January 1871
-Daughter Katherine is born December 25, 1871
-In the spring of 1873, daughter Ida is born. She only lives 5 Months.
-Daughter Katherine dies in 1876.
-Elected to Congress in 1876
-Relected to Congress in 1878, 1880, 1882, 1884 to 1890
-Elected Governor of Ohio in 1891
-Reelected Governor in 1893
-William McKinley chosen as Presidential nominee at Republican National Convention on June 16, 1896
-McKinley accepts nomination in speech at Canton on August 8, 1896
-Elected President November 3, 1896, Vice President Garret Hobart
-First Inauguration March 4, 1897
-Reelected President November 6, 1900, Vice President Teddy Roosevelt
-Shot by Leon Czolgosz on September 6, 1901 in Buffalo, NY
-Died in Buffalo, NY on September 14, 1901

TIMELINE OF THE MCKINLEY MEMORIAL:

-The National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Association was incorporated by a special Act of Congress on March 4, 1911
-Groundbreaking began in 1915 with the corner stone being laid on November 20, 1915.
-The building was dedicated on October 5, 1917.