Site of McKinley's Magical Front Porch
Canton, Ohio
Thanks to the backing of powerful men, William McKinley won the presidency in 1896 and 1900 without ever having to leave his front porch. In 1896 he gave prepared speeches from the porch to an estimated 750,000 people who would travel by train to Canton, then parade up the street to McKinley's house. In 1900 he didn't even do that; he made one front porch speech announcing his candidacy, then sat back and cruised to a comfortable victory.
In the Depression of the 1930s the house and porch were torn down and their lumber was used to build benches and park shelters.
A library was eventually built on the site, and today a historical marker stands in front of it, all that remains to mark the magical spot.