Skip to Main Content

William McKinley statue.

McKinley Memorial: Statue and Museum

Field review by the editors.

Niles, Ohio

President William McKinley had been dead for over 16 years when this memorial and museum opened on October 5, 1917. It was the idea of steel baron Joseph G. Butler Jr., a McKinley pal, and its original construction was partly paid for with the sale of special one-dollar gold coins.

The temple-like memorial features an open colonnade with a 12-foot-tall, 35-ton marble statue of McKinley by sculptor J. Massey Rind. It's surrounded by a "Court of Honor" of bronze busts of other powerful men of 1917, including former Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, and future President Warren Harding.

Most of McKinley's presidential mementos were gone by the time this museum opened, but it does display his office chair, his piano, one of his desks, and the McKinley horse-drawn sleigh -- occupied by costumed dummies of the President and First Lady.

Roadside Presidents
Roadside Presidents App for iPhone. Find this attraction and more: museums, birthplaces, graves of the Chief Execs, first ladies, pets, assassins and wannabes. Prez bios and oddball trivia. Available on the App Store.

McKinley Memorial: Statue and Museum

National McKinley Birthplace Museum

Address:
40 N. Main St., Niles, OH
Directions:
National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Library and Museum. On the west side of Hwy 46/N. Main St. between W. Church St. and W. Park Ave. Parking lot is behind the memorial. If the museum is locked, walk across the colonnade to the library and ask someone for the key.
Hours:
M-Th (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
330-652-4273
Admission:
Free
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Fake Birthplace Home of William McKinleyFake Birthplace Home of William McKinley, Niles, OH - < 1 mi.
20-Foot-Tall Steelworker Made of Junk20-Foot-Tall Steelworker Made of Junk, Niles, OH - < 1 mi.
Big Mary on a Rock TowerBig Mary on a Rock Tower, North Jackson, OH - 5 mi.
In the region:
Night of the Living Dead Cemetery, Evans City, PA - 46 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in Ohio

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in Ohio.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Ohio Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings