Promoting an Intelligent Patriotism

On May 18th of this year, many of you will join us in marking the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site’s “Grand Inaugural Celebration,” a special dedication of the more than $6 million in capital campaign improvements we’ve made to the National Historic Landmark property and grounds over the past two years. However, I hope you will see—as we do—that while this concludes major construction, it represents a new beginning.

It would be fair to ask, “A new beginning of what?” As the Harrison residence approaches its 150th anniversary in 2024, we are focused on the century to come, building from the capital campaign’s newly laid foundations and amplifying our outreach initiatives. While we are already well known as one the signature field trips in Indiana for 3rd and 4th grade students, our aspirations are greater yet in scope, scale, and measurable impact.

Think of the Johnson-Floyd Family Presidential Commons as more than a point of entry, as it is situated at the very crossroads of civic literacy. The Sarah Evans Barker Citizenship Plaza is a place of reflection calling upon us all to celebrate our rights as citizens but also harkening to our obligations. The Stan & Sandy Hurt Presidential Promenade traces step by step nearly 250 years of American history, and gives cause for pause and reflection as to our triumphs and shortcomings as a nation—with space set aside for the next century of presidential leadership.

It would be easy to rest upon these laurels, but we recognize there is much work yet to accomplish. Did you know that federal investment in government and civics education is equivalent to $0.05 per year, compared to $50 per student per year for STEM? While STEM education is needed, we are doing ourselves a disservice if we do not invest in helping the rising generations understand and appreciate what is best about our country, and how they can take an active part in shaping its future. Surely, we must give as much forethought to the architecture of perpetuating civil society as the civil engineer does to the infrastructure of bridges and buildings.

To borrow from Benjamin Harrison’s assertion in his book, “This Country of Ours,” these efforts “may also tend to promote an intelligent patriotism and a faithful discharge of the duties of citizenship.” You will find in the coming months, years, and decades that this will be our unrelenting aim. We are helping impart the knowledge and perspective between generations for our American system of self-government to continue to thrive beyond May 18th and for many years to come.

We thank each of you for being part of that effort. Now let’s really get started!

Charles A. Hyde, President & CEO

Cover image courtesy of Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site

MAY 2023

COFFEE WITH THE CURATOR

FRIDAY, MAY 5 8:30AM–9:00AM

GRAND INAUGURAL RE-OPENING CELEBRATION

THURSDAY, MAY 18 3:30PM–5:00PM

PRESIDENTIAL PORCH PARTY

THURSDAY, MAY 18 5:00PM–7:00PM

JUNE 2023

COFFEE WITH THE CURATOR

FRIDAY, JUNE 2 8:30AM–9:00AM

JUNETEENTH FOODWAYS FESTIVAL

FRIDAY, JUNE 16 3:30PM–8:00PM*

NATURALIZATION CEREMONY

FRIDAY, JUNE 30 10:00AM –11:00AM

JULY 2023

INDEPENDENCE DAY SOCIAL

TUESDAY, JULY 4 . 11:00AM–2:00PM

COFFEE WITH THE CURATOR

FRIDAY, JULY 7 . 8:30AM–9:00AM

AUGUST 2023

COFFEE WITH THE CURATOR

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4 . 8:30AM–9:00AM

WICKET WORLD OF CROQUET

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12 10:00AM–4:30PM*

LIVE! PRESIDENT HARRISON’S BIRTHDAY

SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 11:00AM–3:00PM*

OFF THE RECORD: CONGRESS CONFIDENTIAL

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23 . 9:00AM–11:00AM*

Coffee with the Curator

FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

8:30AM – 9AM (VIEW ON FACEBOOK LIVE AT 8:45AM)

Free for members & guests | $6 general admission

Join us for a stimulating 30 minutes at our monthly First Friday event! While you enjoy coffee and pastries, you will get a chance to explore some of the most interesting, amazing and unexpected Presidential Site collection items. We promise to satisfy your curiosity and have you on your way to the office by 9am sharp! Upcoming themes include:

May 5 Presidents and Cars (onsite event & simulcast on Facebook Live)

. June 2 Caroline Scott Harrison Art (onsite event & simulcast on Facebook Live)

July 7 On the March: John Phillip Sousa and Harrison (onsite event & simulcast on Facebook Live)

August 4 Harrison’s Birthday: The Big 1-9-0 (onsite event & simulcast on Facebook Live)

Space is limited so reservations are recommended. Find out more by calling 317.631.1888 or visiting PresidentBenjaminHarrison.org.

New Exhibit to Showcase Home of Hoosier President Harrison

Marilyn Odendahl

“Shortly after Benjamin Harrison received word in June of 1888 that he had been nominated for the presidency, he stepped outside to speak to the crowd of 8,000 people who had converged on his lawn and told them that his home would remain a welcoming place.

“My house will always open its doors gladly to any of you when you may desire to see me,” Harrison said.

Harrison’s home in the Old Northside Neighborhood of Indianapolis is now the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, and it will be put into the spotlight as part of a new exhibit. “Residential to Presidential: 150 Years with the Harrisons” will explore the history of the structure as a home, a dormitory for music students and, finally, a memorial to the 23rd president.

The presidential site boasts that 75% to 80% of the artifacts that visitors see when they tour the house are original to Harrison and his family. One of the artifacts that will be part of the exhibit is the guestbook from the late 1930s that was signed by some of the most prominent Hoosiers of the day, including the governor, mayors and judges.”

Read the full article at InsideIndiana Business.com

Circle City Talk

Indianapolis and the Death of President Benjamin Harrison

Chris Wakefield

“Only 28 cities have had the misfortune of being the location of United States presidential deaths. Some are more famous than others. The throngs of unsuspecting onlookers in Dallas, Texas, who watched the brutal assassination of a young and ambitious John F Kennedy. The citizens in Wilton, New York were among the first to learn that former President and Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant had lost his year-long battle with throat cancer. And lest we forget the city of Washington DC watching the last desperate and shallow breaths of Abraham Lincoln in the middle of what would have otherwise been a typical warm spring evening.

But what happened when the eyes of the world were focused on Indianapolis during the death and funeral of the 23rd United States President, Benjamin Harrison? From what we can tell, it was anything but ordinary.”

Read the full article on circlecitytalk.com.