2023 Special Events and Programs

Browse this page for all sorts of information about programs and special events, both on-site and in the community!

NPS

Join us for special events and programs throughout the year. Unless othewise noted, programs and events are free and take place at the Garfield site.

We can also do virtual programs for your group! Call us at 440-255-8722 or e-mail [e-mail] to inquire about group tours or to receive a list of programs we can present offsite or virtually for your group or club!

January

Wednesday, January 11—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue) Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: The Emancipation Proclamation Join James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! On Jan. 1, 1863, the Civil War became about more than just saving the Union. On this date, the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, making abolition of slavery a Union war aim and also giving the North the authority to recruit Black men to serve in the United States Army and Navy. Learn more about one of the most important presidential actions in American history in 2023’s first “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era” program! Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Alan Gephardt, James A. Garfield NHS.

February

Wednesday, February 8—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue) Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: Warrior to White House: Civil War Veterans as President of the United States (Encore) Join James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! Being a military veteran is not an official requirement to be President of the United States, but after the Civil War five different veterans of that conflict were elected to the nation’s highest office. This program will take a look at those Civil War veterans and how their military service impacted their personal and political lives, their campaigns, and their presidencies. This is a perfect talk for the month that includes Presidents’ Day! Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Todd Arrington, James A. Garfield NHS.

Monday, February 20—11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Presidents’ Day February 20 is Presidents Day, and what better way to celebrate than visiting a presidential home? James A. Garfield NHS will be open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for tours of the Garfield home, presidential trivia, kids’ activities, crafts, and more! We might even get a visit from a president or two! Everything is free of charge, so come out, learn, and enjoy at the home of Mentor, Ohio’s favorite son: 20th President of the United States James A. Garfield! Sponsored by the James A. Garfield Alliance (jgarfieldalliance.org).

March

Wednesday, March 8—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue)Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: How the Civil War Changed Fashion Join James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! The Civil War affected every aspect of American life is some way between 1861-65 and beyond. One facet of our national life you might not think of but that saw much change due to the war was fashion for both men and women. This month, learn more about how the war impacted fashion for military members and civilians alike! Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Rebecca Grimke, James A. Garfield NHS.

April

Monday, April 10—1 p.m.-3 p.m.White House Easter Monday Egg Roll This kid-friendly day and favorite of the general public takes place on the same day as the Easter Egg Roll at the White House in Washington, D.C.! Games, activities, Easter egg hunts, and the Easter egg roll for kids are all part of this fun day that also commemorates a White House tradition in which President Garfield participated in 1881! Sponsored by the James A. Garfield Alliance (jgarfieldalliance.org). Free. PLEASE NOTE: This is an OUTDOOR event that may be canceled if inclement weather occurs.

Wednesday, April 12—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue)Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: Saving Letters: Creating a Library and a Legacy Join James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! Join widow Lucretia Rudolph Garfield as she shares the backstory of creating the nation’s first presidential memorial library. Though recognized as having historical significance before the mid-twentieth century, presidential papers and effects were generally understood to be the private property of the president. By preserving James Garfield’s papers-including Civil War correspondence-in her “memory room,” Mrs. Garfield set the precedent for the modern presidential library system as well as safeguarded her husband’s reputation and legacy. Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Mrs. Lucretia Rudolph Garfield (portrayed by Debbie Weinkamer, Lead Volunteer, James A. Garfield NHS).

Saturday, April 22—9 a.m.-12 p.m. Behind the Scenes Day: A National Park Week Event National Park Week is April 22-30! To mark the beginning of this annual celebration of the role of national parks in American life, visit James A. Garfield NHS and go behind the scenes with the staff! Come see areas of the Garfield home and property normally closed to the public: the Garfield home’s third floor, the windmill, the historic barn and chicken coop, and more! This event is free and open to visitors of all ages, and it will take place rain or shine. PLEASE NOTE: the ability to climb multiple staircases is required to participate. Please wear comfortable shoes.

May

Saturday, May 6—2 p.m.Author Talk and Book Signing: Dr. Eugene D. Schmiel, Author of Searching for Irvin McDowell, Forgotten Civil War General James A. Garfield NHS is excited to have our friend (and Cleveland native) Dr. Gene Schmiel back to the site! He was here several years ago to discuss his book on James Garfield’s good friend and fellow Ohioan and Civil War Union general Jacob D. Cox. His latest book is a biography of another Garfield friend: Union General Irvin McDowell. Garfield and McDowell were so close during the war that Garfield named one of his sons Irvin McDowell Garfield! Learn more about McDowell when Dr. Schmiel speaks in our auditorium. He will sign books afterwards. Program is free of charge.

Wednesday, May 10—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue)Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: American Foreign Policy, 1861-98J oin James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! We naturally think of the Civil War as a domestic issue, but the United States still had to conduct foreign policy and diplomacy during the war. How did the Civil War affect U.S. foreign policy from 1861-65, and what permanent changes to American diplomacy did the war initiate? This program will go all the way up to America’s next major conflict after the Civil War: the 1898 Spanish-American War. Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Alan Gephardt, James A. Garfield NHS.

June

Thursday, June 8—7 p.m. University Heights Symphonic Band Performance on the Lawn

Join us for a beautiful summer evening band concert on the lawn behind President and Mrs. Garfield’s home! We welcome the University Heights Symphonic Band to James A. Garfield National Historic Site for the third time. The expansive lawn here at James A. Garfield NHS makes for a perfect venue for an outdoor concert featuring music from different periods of American history. Feel free to bring lawn chairs, drinking water, and picnic baskets! (Alcoholic beverages are NOT permitted.) Sponsored by the James A. Garfield Alliance. Free.

Saturday, June 10—2 p.m.Author Talk and Book Signing: Dr. Brian Matthew Jordan, Author of A Thousand May Fall: Life, Death, and Survival in the Union ArmyJames A. Garfield NHS is thrilled to welcome back northeast Ohio native Dr. Brian Matthew Jordan, who was here several years ago to speak about his last book Marching Home: Union Veterans and Their Unending Civil War (a Pulitzer Prize finalist). His latest work, A Thousand May Fall, centers on the wartime experiences of the 107^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a regiment made up largely of ethnic Germans. Dr. Jordan, a professor of history at Sam Houston State University in Texas, will speak in our auditorium and sign books afterwards. Program is free of charge.

Wednesday, June 14—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue)Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: Mapping the Civil War Join James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! The Civil War ended over 150 years ago, but relics and artifacts are still being found and studied today. This presentation will explore the methodology of historical archaeology and GIS mapping, and the ethical issues surrounding excavation of Civil War artifacts. Best practices for those interested in “unearthing” the Civil War will also be discussed. Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Alex Murray, James A. Garfield NHS.

Saturday, June 17—12 p.m. Flag Retirement Ceremony In honor of the recent June 14 observance of Flag Day, join members of local Boy Scout troops as they properly and respectfully retire used and unserviceable American flags. Visitors and citizens are encouraged to bring flags they would like to have retired or drop those flags off in our Visitor Center in the days before the ceremony. Free.

July

Saturday, July 1—7 p.m. The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival Presents “As You Like It” Several of Shakespeare’s plays are found on the shelves of the Memorial Library at James A. Garfield National Historic Site. This evening, enjoy Shakespeare in the great outdoors as the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival presents As You Like It on the expansive lawn behind the Garfield home! The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival is the one of the nation’s largest free outdoor Shakespearean companies! No reservations are required, and the performance is FREE. Feel free to bring lawn chairs and a picnic dinner! No alcoholic beverages permitted. For more information about the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, visit www.cleveshakes.org. Free.

Friday, July 7—10 a.m. Naturalization Ceremony In honor of the recent Fourth of July, visit the site to witness dozens of individuals from nations across the globe take the oath as America’s newest citizens. The Garfield home provides an appropriate and idyllic setting for this uniquely American ceremony. This event planned in partnership with the League of Women Voters, Citizenship & Immigration Services (U.S. Department of Homeland Security), and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The public is invited to attend this uniquely American event. Free.

Wednesday, July 12—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue) Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: The Battle of Gettysburg (Encore) Join James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! The largest and deadliest battle of the entire Civil War took place in and around a small southcentral Pennsylvania town called Gettysburg from July 1-3, 1863. Learn more about this pivotal battle that many argue is the most consequential battle of the war and inspired President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address a few months later. Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Todd Arrington, James A. Garfield NHS.

Saturday, July 15—2 p.m.Author Talk and Book Signing: C.W. Goodyear, Author of President Garfield: From Radical to Unifier The first new birth-to-death biography of James A. Garfield in over forty years will be published by Simon & Schuster on July 4, and we’ve got author C.W. Goodyear here to speak and sign books at James A. Garfield NHS! He’ll speak about what sparked his interest in Garfield, what surprised him while researching the book, and more! Program is free of charge; books will be for sale in our bookstore.

Saturday, July 29—7 p.m. The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival Presents “Measure for Measure” Several of Shakespeare’s plays are found on the shelves of the Memorial Library at James A. Garfield National Historic Site. This evening, enjoy Shakespeare in the great outdoors as the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival presents Measure for Measure on the expansive lawn behind the Garfield home! The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival is the one of the nation’s largest free outdoor Shakespearean companies! No reservations are required, and the performance is FREE. Feel free to bring lawn chairs and a picnic dinner! No alcoholic beverages permitted. For more information about the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, visit www.cleveshakes.org. Free.

Sunday, July 30—2 p.m. Lakeland Community College Civic Band Performance on the Lawn

Join us for our third outdoor concert of the summer when the Lakeland Community College Civic Band performs on the lawn behind President and Mrs. Garfield’s home! Experience live music as it was enjoyed on the Garfield property during the summer of 1880 when Garfield ran his “front porch” presidential campaign from the home. This will be the Lakeland Civic Band’s fifth time performing here at James A. Garfield NHS! Feel free to bring lawn chairs, drinking water, and picnic baskets! (Alcoholic beverages are NOT permitted.) Sponsored by the James A. Garfield Alliance. Free.

August

Saturday, August 5—2 p.m. Lake Effect Concert Band Performance on the Lawn
Join the Lake Effect Concert Band on the grounds for an hour of music from President Garfield’s era—and a few contemporary tunes for good measure! The band is familiar with many of the marches and patriotic songs of the last 130 years, and you can enjoy them just as the Garfield family might have: gathered under a beautiful canopy of trees. Feel free to bring lawn chairs, drinking water, and picnic baskets! (Alcoholic beverages are NOT permitted.) Sponsored by the James A. Garfield Alliance. Free. Rain date: Saturday, August 12, 2 p.m.

Wednesday, August 9—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue) Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: The National Park Service’s Reconstruction Era National Historical Network Join James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! For decades, historians criticized the National Park Service for having dozens of Civil War parks but no parks dealing with the complicated postwar history of Reconstruction. The National Park Service now has Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in South Carolina but also a larger Reconstruction Era National Historical Network of places with history tied to Reconstruction. Learn more about what the National Park Service is doing to preserve and interpret this difficult but critically important history. Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Allison Powell, James A. Garfield NHS.

Saturday, August 19—2 p.m. Great Geauga County Fair Band Performance on the Lawn
Join the Great Geauga County Fair Band for the final live outdoor concert of the summer at James A. Garfield NHS! They’ll play an hour of music from President Garfield’s era—and a few contemporary tunes, too! The band plays many of the marches and patriotic songs of the last 130 years, and you can enjoy them just as the Garfield family might have: gathered under a beautiful canopy of trees. Feel free to bring lawn chairs, drinking water, and picnic baskets! (Alcoholic beverages are NOT permitted.) Sponsored by the James A. Garfield Alliance. Free.

September

Wednesday, September 13—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue) Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: Connecting the Dots Between Buffalo Soldiers in Arizona Territory in 1885 and President James A. Garfield Join James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! In 1885-86, while Mrs. Lucretia Rudolph Garfield was overseeing construction of a beautiful Memorial Library addition to her Mentor, Ohio home as a tribute to her late husband, three troops of African American Buffalo Soldiers in a remote area of Bonita Canyon in Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains were constructing their own memorial to the assassinated president. This presentation is about that place, those soldiers, and that ten-foot stone monument. Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Sharon Kennedy, author/historian from Arizona.

Friday, September 15—10 a.m. Naturalization Ceremony In honor of Constitution Day (Sept. 17), visit the site to witness dozens of individuals from nations across the globe take the oath as America’s newest citizens. The Garfield home provides an appropriate and idyllic setting for this uniquely American ceremony. This event planned in partnership with the League of Women Voters, Citizenship & Immigration Services (U.S. Department of Homeland Security), and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The public is invited to attend this moving event. Free.

Saturday, September 23—10 a.m.-5 p.m. National Public Lands Day National Public Lands Day is set aside each year for Americans to reflect on and celebrate national parks, fish and wildlife refuges, national forests, and other areas set aside for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. Tour the Garfield home, enjoy the museum exhibits and film, walk the grounds, and learn more than you ever thought possible about Mentor’s own President Garfield! No entrance fees charged at any National Park Service sites across the U.S. on Public Lands Day! Free.

October

Wednesday, October 11—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue) Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: The Wounds of War: Mental, Physical, and Emotional Join James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! As with all wars, soldiers returning from Civil War combat brought home wounds both seen and unseen. Many endured physical pain from war wounds for the rest of their lives, but just as many or more came home with mental and emotional scars that also affected them until their dying days. Learn more about the physical, mental, and emotional tolls the Civil War took on its veterans. Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Allison Powell, James A. Garfield NHS.

Thursday, October 19, Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21—6 p.m. and 8 p.m. An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe was America’s most famous writer of the macabre, and several of his works were among James A. Garfield’s book collection. Visit for two nights of special performances of several Poe stories and poems by David Keltz, America’s foremost Poe performer! This event is for those 16 years and older. Cost is $30.00/per ticket per performance. Tickets are limited, required, and can only be purchased online They will go on sale in early September; check back here for the link. Each night will feature 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. shows. This event is sponsored by our non-profit partner, the James A. Garfield Alliance (jgarfieldalliance.org).

November

Wednesday, November 8—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue) Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: Deconstructing the Gettysburg Address (Encore) Join James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! “Four score and seven years ago… .” Thus begins one of the most famous speeches in human history. But what did Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address really mean? What was Lincoln really saying? How did his words reshape how the Union viewed the Civil War and what the North was fighting for? This program will feature a line-by-line deconstruction and explanation of the Address! Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Todd Arrington, James A. Garfield NHS.

Sunday, November 19—8:30 a.m. Eighth Annual Garfield Gallop 5K Race Runners from far and wide are invited to celebrate President Garfield’s 192^nd birthday by participating in the annual Garfield Gallop 5K! This race is sponsored by Second Sole of Mentor and will begin and end on the grounds of James A. Garfield NHS. Race participants and their families are invited to visit James A. Garfield NHS and tour the Garfield home after the race! Runners must register; please visit Second Sole of Mentor’s Facebook page; visit www.secondsoleohio.com; or call Second Sole of Mentor at 440-290-0185 for more information or to register.

December

Saturday, December 9—6 p.m. A Winter Evening at Lawnfield with Mrs. Lucretia Garfield Join former First Lady Lucretia Rudolph Garfield (portrayed by Debbie Weinkamer) for an intimate evening as she reminisces about the Garfield family’s most cherished holiday memories and traditions. Live music, light refreshments, and a candlelight tour of the Garfield home are included in this very special holiday event. Tickets are $15.00 per person and available online in early November. Sponsored by the James A. Garfield Alliance (jgarfieldalliance.org).

Wednesday, December 13—12 p.m. at Mentor Public Library (8215 Mentor Avenue) Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era Series: Art Inspired by the Civil War (Encore) Join James A. Garfield NHS staff and volunteers at Mentor Public Library on the second Wednesday of each month for a new talk on “Leaders & Legacies of the Civil War Era”! The Civil War impacted the arts—music, literature, poetry, painting, and more—both during 1861-65 but also long after the guns fell silent. In this presentation, learn more about the many classic pieces and styles of artwork inspired by America’s most defining event outside the founding itself: the Civil War. Program is free of charge; please make a free reservation by calling Mentor Public Library at 440-255-8811. SPEAKER: Mary Lintern, James A. Garfield NHS.