William Henry Harrison became our nation’s ninth President on March 4, 1841. Just thirty-one days later he passed away from pneumonia resulting from giving an incredibly long inauguration speech in the biting cold weather. This, unfortunately, was Harrison’s biggest claim to fame – being the first President to die in office, having the shortest term, and being the oldest President ever elected (until Ronald Reagan broke his record in 1980). Before his short-lived Presidency, he held many imporant roles as well – not the least of which was Governor of the Indiana Territory and as an Ohio Senator, but we will never know what Harrison might accomplished as our country’s Chief Executive.
My excursions to William Henry Harrison’s personal locations have been limited to visits to his birthplace and final resting place, which came (a symbolic?) nine years apart -and in reverse chronological order – but both were during road trips with my friend Bob Satterfield, with a follow-up to the grave ten years after the first.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007 – William Henry Harrison Birthplace – Harrison was born in the family’s Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia. His father Benjamin was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and is buried on the grounds (see here). Although we toured the Berkeley house, the upstairs area where Harrison was actually born was closed off to public and had been renovated for offices. Although tempted to sneak upstairs, I settled for a picture of the room’s window from outside.
Me at the obligatory birthsite sign
Me in front of the Berkeley house
The room in which William Henry Harrison was born. I’m guessing that the air conditioner was added later
Saturday, August 22, 1998 / Sunday, August 4, 2008 – William Henry Harrison Grave – Bob and I were on a road trip touring the Presidential sites in Ohio when we made our first stop of Saturday in North Bend, Ohio – a small town on the outskirts of Cincinnati. Here was the enormous monument to Harrison as well as a nearby sign just down the road commemorating the site of Harrison’s former home, which also happened to be the location where his grandson – and future President – Benjamin was born (as seen here). As we arrived at a very early hour, the monument had not yet been opened for the day, so we only got to see the outside of it, which I captured in the two photos below.
A giant memorial for a 31-day President!
My photo of the text on the monument, Harrison’s impressive credentials
Ten years later as Bob and I were on our second road trip (along with my girlfriend Jackie), we made another stop at the monument of William Henry Harrison. This time I was able to both see and learn more about the memorial. I gathered the same shots of the outside memorial (this time with me in the photos). Luckily a groundskeeper was there to unlock the monument so that we could actually enter this time.
A sign points the way to the William Henry Harrison Memorial in North Bend
More tomfoolery at the now-traditional Ohio Presidential timepiece
Finally in a photo with the Memorial
The stairs on the side, leading up to the Memorial
The giant monument looms over me
Just inside the monument, this is as far as people can usually go to peek into the actual tomb. The Harrisons are entombed on the right side of the crypt.
The original tomb of William Henry Harrsion was constructed upon his death in 1841. It wasn’t until 1922 – more than 80 years later – that the gigantic memorial was actually erected in front of the tomb. The first gate is generally open to visitors to go inside the monument, but the second gate into the tomb remains locked.
I, however, got the bright idea to plead my case to the groundskeeper and ask if he could unlock the second gate and allow us to pose for photos inside the actual tomb. He kindly obliged and we were able to get some nice rare photos posing with not only the tombs of William Henry and First Lady Anna Symmes Harrison, but also with their son John Scott – the only man in history who was both the son and father of a United States President.
The rear of the Memorial clearly shows where the monument ends and the actual tomb begins
With Presidential Son and Presidential Father, all in one guy
William Henry Harrison and me
Continue to the next President…
Return to Tuesday 2007 in Virginia…
Return to the 1998 Ohio trip… (under construction)
Return to the 2008 Ohio trip…
I know Harrison had impressive credentials, but–when you give an eight-hour inaugural address in the pouring rain and won’t wear a hat even though people have advised you to, well of course you’re going to catch pneumonia! I always thought that if this was an example of Harrison’s decision-making skills, maybe the country was blessed that he didn’t serve a full term.
Randy Skretvedt
December 9th, 2007
I remember when we pulled up and saw this huge memorial, that I thought that it was funny to have such a grand tomb for a man who was President for an hour and a half!
Bob
December 20th, 2007