Stories

Find things to do, trip ideas, and more in Ohio.

Learn more about Ranger Lisa as she shares her #MyParkStory about her and her family's history with the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Plan like a park ranger and use these insider tips to have a great visit to First Ladies National Historic Site. We’re expecting an especially busy summer season and want everyone to have a great experience. A little advance trip planning can ensure that your only surprises are happy ones. Check out our top 10 list to get the most out of your visit.

On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment became an official part of the US Constitution. The amendment made it possible for women to vote because it prohibited states and the federal government from denying access to the ballot box based on sex. While the amendment did not guarantee the vote for women, is was an important milestone in women’s equality. Explore the stories of a few important women connected to three National Park sites in northeast Ohio.

Explore the changing role of the First Ladies through an examination of the lives of Frances Cleveland, Mamie Eisenhower and Rosalynn Carter.

The Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Memorial Grove on the Potomac is a designed landscape located in Lady Bird Johnson Park on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. The memorial was designed by landscape architect M. Mead Palmer and constructed between 1974 and 1977. Harold Volger was selected to carve the now iconic megalith at the center of the LBJ Memorial Grove plaza. Today the site serves as a memorial to President Johnson as well as a place of recreation.

Pat Nixon and Mamie Eisenhower had a friendship as unique as this gift, a fabric eyeglasses case which is now in the Eisenhower National Historic Site museum collection. Learn more about this fascinating friendship and unique gift, one you can make your own version of at home!

The Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (Val-Kill) is a 180.5-acre site located in the Hudson Valley of New York State. The cultural landscape preserves the home of Eleanor Roosevelt that began as an informal retreat for the former First Lady and later became her primary residence after the death of her husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in 1945. Val-Kill primarily served as a place for relaxation.

As a champion of conservation efforts and environmental causes, Lady Bird Johnson initiated the Beautification Project to improve the quality of life for residents of Washington, D.C. through the renewal and improvement of public spaces. The environmental and aesthetic improvements of Beautification included tree-lined avenues, floral displays, design guidelines, improvements to pedestrian circulation, renovation of historic buildings, and litter clean up.

Each spring, the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. is alive with crowds of visitors who come to see the iconic monuments framed by delicate pink and white cherry blossoms. The trees that line the walkways were a gift from the citizens of Japan in 1912, an act of landscape diplomacy and design initiated by First Lady Helen Taft. The relationship symbolized by these cherry trees continues to be recognized through both formal ceremonies and the admiration of visitors.

First Lady Lucretia Garfield was in Elberon, New Jersey recovering from malaria in 1881. While there she was told that her husband, President Garfield, had been shot. Learn more about her travel and how she found out about this tragedy.

As First Lady Lucretia Garfield began to recover from malaria it was decided that a trip to Elberon, New Jersey was in order. Learn more about her recovery here!

First Lady Lucretia Garfield suffered from malaria in May of 1881. Her husband, President Garfield, was consumed with worry for her. Readers will view the progression of her illness through diary entries of President James A. Garfield.

Continuation of Lucretia Rudolph Garfield: A Remarkable Life. First Lady Lucretia R. Garfield is a lesser known First Lady because her husband only served 200 days as president. Here at James A. Garfield National Historic Site her story continues about 37 years longer as she changed the family into what visitors see when visiting. Learn more about her as she served the country, created the First Presidential Memorial Library, and much more.