William McKinley Tomb

William McKinley Tomb is the final resting place of the 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, and his wife, Ida Saxton McKinley, located in West Lawn Cemetery in Canton, Ohio. The tomb was designed by Harold Van Buren Magonigle and built between 1905 and 1907, with the construction supervised by the McKinley National Memorial Association. The tomb is a prominent example of Neoclassical architecture in the United States, similar to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the Grant's Tomb in New York City. The design of the tomb was influenced by the Pantheon in Rome, a famous Ancient Roman building, and the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C., which was designed by William Thornton.

● History

The construction of the tomb began in 1905, after the McKinley National Memorial Association was established by President Theodore Roosevelt and Mark Hanna to oversee the construction of the memorial. The association was composed of prominent Republicans, including George B. Cortelyou and Elihu Root, who were close associates of President McKinley. The tomb was built using Barre granite from Vermont, and the construction process involved the labor of skilled stone carvers and masons from Italy and Scotland. The tomb was dedicated on September 30, 1907, in a ceremony attended by President Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and other notable figures, including John Hay and Elihu Root. The ceremony was also attended by Ida Saxton McKinley, who was the wife of President McKinley and a prominent figure in Canton, Ohio.

● Architecture

The tomb is a large, domed structure with a Greek cross plan, similar to the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C.. The dome is made of Barre granite and is supported by Doric columns, which are similar to those found in the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The interior of the tomb features a large, circular chamber with a mosaic floor, designed by Harold Van Buren Magonigle and executed by Ravenswood Mosaic Company from New York City. The chamber is surrounded by a colonnade, with Ionic columns that are similar to those found in the Temple of Athena Nike in Athens, Greece. The tomb is also adorned with sculptures and reliefs, including a bust of President McKinley by Charles Henry Niehaus, a prominent American sculptor who also created works for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

● Significance

The tomb is a significant example of Neoclassical architecture in the United States, and it reflects the classical ideals of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, which were popular during the Gilded Age. The tomb is also a testament to the legacy of President McKinley, who was a prominent figure in American politics during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. President McKinley was a key figure in the Spanish-American War, and his presidency was marked by significant events, including the Annexation of Hawaii and the Gold Standard Act of 1900. The tomb is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark, recognized by the National Park Service and the United States Department of the Interior.

● Visitors_and_Museum

The tomb is open to the public and attracts thousands of visitors each year, including school groups and tourists from Europe and Asia. The tomb is managed by the Stark County, Ohio government, in cooperation with the McKinley National Memorial Association and the National Park Service. The tomb features a small museum that exhibits artifacts related to the life and presidency of President McKinley, including personal belongings and historical documents. The museum also features exhibits on the history of Canton, Ohio and the industrial development of the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the steel industry and the railroad industry.

● Restoration_and_Maintenance

The tomb has undergone several restoration and maintenance projects over the years, including a major restoration project in the 1990s, which was funded by the National Park Service and the Stark County, Ohio government. The project involved the repair of the dome and the columns, as well as the restoration of the mosaic floor and the sculptures. The tomb is regularly maintained by the Stark County, Ohio government, in cooperation with the McKinley National Memorial Association and the National Park Service. The maintenance work includes the cleaning of the granite exterior, the repair of the roof, and the upkeep of the grounds, which are designed by landscape architects from Harvard University and the University of Michigan. The tomb is also protected by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which is administered by the United States Department of the Interior and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Category:National Historic Landmarks in Ohio