by President William Henry Harrison Tomb & Memorial
In our never-ending quest to check Presidential sites off Doug’s list, we found ourselves in waaaaaaaay southwest Ohio (right up against the borders with Kentucky and Indiana) for some of our least exciting adventures yet. We had to make an arrangement weeks in advance with the Harrison-Symmes Memorial Foundation Museum, so we were able to gain entrance to view a small collection of artifacts and signboards about the ninth president William Henry Harrison and his grandson, 23rd President Benjamin Harrison who was born nearby.
Quite fortuitously, that also got us inside William Henry Harrison’s Monument and Tomb, which was a plain and somber memorial to the first President to die in office in just a month after his inauguration.
But wait, there’s more. We also drove over to look at a historical marker where Benjamin Harrison was born. There are apartments there now, but in 1903 it was a farm where William Henry Harrison’s grandson and future U.S. President came into the world.
Cardboard Boat Museum
Hard though it may be to believe, I’d never heard of a cardboard boat before. But when we saw a sign for the Cardboard Boat Museum in New Richmond, we obviously steered the van in that direction.
It turns out that this tiny town (2023 population: 2,769) hosts the annual International Cardboard Boat Regatta, and naturally needs a place to show off some of the contenders. The Regatta had its inaugural race in 1993, but the first few years saw just a few participants. Now 70 or so hardy souls think they have what it takes, and the event is part of the town’s River Days festival.
The Regatta involves rowing a cardboard boat just 200-yards (double that in the Iron Man event). It’s no easy feat. You may be surprised to learn that some boats sink before they even start, with others sinking or capsizing along the way.
The boats are of course made from cardboard, with tape and latex house paint used to seal off the all the porous openings that define cardboard. Just those three items are allowed to construct the core of the boat, though other materials are allowed for decorations.
Some people travel internationally to participate, though I admit to curiosity at the explanations at customs. “See it’s a cardboard boat, officer, totally legit, no drugs in here!”
Contestants vie for trophies in many categories, including highest speed, best costumes, and the crowd favorite Titanic Award given to the most spectacular sinking in the race.
Butler County Soldiers Monument
We didn’t go to Hamilton planning on visiting the Butler County Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers Monument, but it was across the street from the McCloskey Museum we were visiting, with doors wide open inviting us in. Since it was free – well, we can spare a few minutes.
The 100-foot-tall monument was dedicated in 1906, with the purpose “to honor those who served and sacrificed their lives in the service of our country, as well as celebrate the men and women who first settled in Butler County, Ohio.”
Inside was a collection of military-related items such as swords and uniforms, but the highlight were the life-size stained-glass windows that commemorate the contribution of women during wartime. The Army Nurses (the cover photo to this post) features nurses during the Civil War, but of course my favorite was Our Loyal Mothers and Sisters, which features a cat (in addition to women and children rolling bandages in preparation for war).
Alexander Hamilton: Never Gonna be President
Please admire this amazing statue in Hamilton, The American Cape (2004), by Kristen Visbal. The city was founded in 1791 and named after Alexander Hamilton, who was, among many, many other things, the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1789-1795).
