First Ladies National Historic Site

The First Ladies National Historic Site is the only institution in the United States dedicated to the history of America's First Ladies. Managed by the National Park Service, it occupies the restored Saxton McKinley House in downtown Canton — the Victorian mansion where Ida Saxton grew up before becoming the wife of the 25th president.

The exhibits trace the evolving role of presidential spouses from Martha Washington to the present day, examining how each First Lady shaped or was shaped by the politics of her time. The Saxton McKinley House has been restored to its late-19th-century appearance and is toured by ranger-led groups. Admission is free, which makes it an easy addition to any visit to the McKinley sites nearby.

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A story
The site centres on the Saxton McKinley House, childhood home of Ida Saxton, who became First Lady as Ida McKinley. She suffered from epilepsy at a time when the condition was deeply stigmatised. President McKinley's public tenderness toward her during seizures — covering her face with his handkerchief to shield her from view, then quietly resuming conversation — was widely noted and admired by contemporaries.

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