Hayes Presidential to offer tours of Carriage House for Ohio Open Doors
When the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums opened its Carriage House to the public for the first time ever for free tours in 2024 as part of Ohio Open Doors, tours filled up almost immediately.
They were so popular that when Ohio History Connection announced Ohio Open Doors would be returning in 2026, Hayes Presidential staff decided to again make the Carriage House tours its Open Doors event.
Tours are from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10. and last 15 minutes. Reservations are required and can be made below:
Ohio Open Doors is an annual event organized by the Ohio History Connection. During Ohio Open Doors, historic buildings and places across the state open their doors for free public tours and events.
Hayes Presidential’s Carriage House once held President Rutherford B. Hayes’ carriage and horses. Today, it holds building and grounds equipment, a greenhouse that raises seedlings of Spiegel Grove trees, a screened-in porch that overlooks the rose garden and a spacious upstairs living area.
The living area has been modernized and is used for special events and for event speakers to stay when coming to Hayes Presidential.
Stairs are required to see the living space. The porch and courtyard surrounded by a stone wall are on ground level and accessible.
The Carriage House is located behind the museum, and there is a bathroom in the Carriage House. Parking is available in the back of the museum.
The Ohio History Connection created Ohio Open Doors in 2016 to promote and inspire pride in Ohio’s heritage and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Oct. 15, 1966, the act has proven instrumental in transforming communities from coast to coast, establishing the legal framework and incentives to preserve historic buildings, landscapes and archaeological sites. It drives economic revitalization by attracting investment, supporting small business, stabilizing neighborhoods and creating jobs.
Hayes Presidential is America’s first presidential library and the forerunner of the federal presidential library system. It is partially funded by the state of Ohio and affiliated with the Ohio History Connection. Hayes Presidential is located at Spiegel Grove on Buckland Avenue.
For information, call 419-332-2081, or visit rbhayes.org. Like Hayes Presidential on Facebook and follow on Instagram at rbhayespres and on Bluesky at rbhayespres.bsky.social.