James A. Garfield Memorial


The James A. Garfield Memorial was built in memory of the 20th U.S. President, James A. Garfield, who was assassinated in 1881. The memorial is located at 12316 Euclid Avenue in Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. The country grieved for his loss almost as much as they had done for Lincoln, 16 years previously. In Washington, 100,000 plus citizens visited his casket, lying in state in the Capitol. Part of the memorial's funding came from pennies sent in by children throughout the country.
The caskets of the President and Lucretia Garfield lie in a crypt beneath the memorial, along with the ashes of their daughter and son-in-law,.
The tomb was designed by architect George Keller, with reliefs depicting scenes from Garfield's life. All the stone for the monument came from the quarries of the Cleveland Stone Company, and was quarried locally. The exterior sculptures were done by Caspar Buberl. Its construction began in 1885, and it was dedicated on May 30, 1890. Its cost, $135,000, was funded entirely through private donations. The round tower is in diameter and high. Around the exterior of the balcony are five terra cotta panels with over 110 life size figures depicting Garfield's life and death. The interior features stained glass windows and window like panes representing the original 13 colonies, plus the state of Ohio, along with panels depicting War and Peace; mosaics; deep red granite columns; and a -tall white Carrara marble statue of President Garfield by Alexander Doyle. An observation deck provides views of downtown Cleveland and Lake Erie. The monument was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
It is open to the public daily from April 1 through November 19 from 9am to 4pm.