Oct. 21 and 22 - The walking path behind the greenhouse to the corner of Hayes and Cleveland Avenues will be closed for road repair. The other trails remain open.A Presidential Christmas: Make holiday magic with a season of events at Hayes Presidential
The Hayes Presidential Library & Museums has a season of magical events for making memories. Get all the details here.
Partial funding for A Presidential Christmas is by Wright Leather Works.
"Hayes Train Special" Model Train Display
Friday, Nov. 27, 2026 - Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027
Since 1994, model trains at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums have delighted visitors of all ages throughout the holiday season.
The “Hayes Train Special” is a multi-tiered exhibit of model trains that wind through a winter wonderland reminiscent of President Rutherford B. Hayes’ day with interactive buttons that let visitors get involved with the display.
There are also several backdrops that offer great photo opportunities.
The display opens Friday, Nov. 27, and will be on exhibit through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027. Admission to the train display, which is in the museum auditorium, is free. A donation box will be available for those who wish to make a gift to Hayes Presidential for the display.
Visitors can watch the trains wind through a display of villages and Victorian scenes and push buttons that run one of the trains, turn the Ferris wheel, send the ice skaters gliding across the pond and more.
Deck the Doors Holiday Wreath Class
Sunday, Nov. 29
Make your own beautiful holiday wreath with fresh evergreens from Spiegel Grove, the estate of President Rutherford and First Lady Lucy Hayes, during a class on Sunday, Nov. 29, at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums.
During the Deck the Doors with River Bend Homestead class, leader Becca Matthews will walk you through creating your own wreath design. The class is from 1 to 3 p.m.
All supplies are provided, and light refreshments will be served. The class will take place in the garage of the Carriage House at Spiegel Grove, the grounds of Hayes Presidential.
Tickets are $60 for non-members and $55 for Hayes Presidential members. They are available below. Advance tickets are required and will be available for sale until 11:59 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27.
Model Train Clinics
Saturdays, Dec. 5, 2026, and Jan. 2, 2027
Do you need help troubleshooting some problems with your model train?
Or maybe you’re wondering how best to care for it?
Model train enthusiasts can help, and they’re offering two opportunities this holiday season at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums.
Train clinics will be given from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, and Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, in the museum auditorium.
Admission is $5 per person ages 6 and older. Kids ages 5 and younger are admitted for free. Tickets can be purchased at the museum front desk the day of the event or online below:
Veteran model train hobbyists will examine model trains that guests bring in and help them with advice and issues. Those who bring trains to the clinic can also run their trains on the “Hayes Train Special” model train display track. The track fits standard, O-gauge and G-gauge trains. For details, click here.
Lights of Spiegel Grove
Friday, Dec. 11
Get in the holiday spirit by seeing Santa light the 50-foot outdoor Christmas tree at Spiegel Grove, an arboretum and the estate of President Rutherford and First Lady Lucy Hayes, during Lights of Spiegel Grove on Friday, Dec. 11.
Lights of Spiegel Grove is from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and the tree and rest of the grounds will be lighted at 6:15 p.m. Enjoy refreshments, carolers, visits with Kris Kringle (the Victorian name for Santa) a campfire and more.
Jarrett Tree Service of Clyde has generously donated its time and resources to help Hayes Presidential staff put lights on the large outdoor tree.
Carolers will sing around Spiegel Grove, and attendees are welcome to join in on the beloved holiday songs.
From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., there will be an open house of the first floor of the Hayes Home, which will be lightly decorated in a historically accurate manner. Visitors can walk through and see the house and ask staff questions.
During the event, participants also can take a short walk of the lighted grounds. Admission to this event, including the Hayes Home open house, is free.
Inside the museum, the “Hayes Train Special” model train display will also be open to visitors. Admission to this display is free.
Hayes Home Holidays: A White House Christmas at Spiegel Grove
Friday, Dec. 18, and Saturday, Dec. 19
Celebrate the magic of the holiday season in the Victorian mansion of 19th president and first lady, while enjoying the White House traditions of several presidents throughout a special evening tour offered two nights only.
Hayes Home Holidays: A White House Christmas at Spiegel Grove will take participants through the beautifully preserved home of President Rutherford and First Lady Lucy Hayes and share traditions they and other first families created in the White House.
Enjoy the warmth of the Hayes Home at night, a time when it is not often open to visitors. Before tours, guests can enjoy the “Hayes Train Special” model train display in the museum auditorium.
Tours are Friday, Dec. 18, and Saturday, Dec. 19. They are offered every half hour starting at 5 p.m. with the last tour beginning at 8 p.m.
Tickets for non-members are $18 for adults ages 19 and older, $10 for kids 6-18 and free for kids 5 and younger. Tickets for Hayes Presidential members are $15 for adults 19 and older, $8 for ages 6-18 and free for kids 5 and younger.
Tickets are available below. Members will need to log in to receive their discount.
They will be available online until one hour before each tour begins. They will also be available at the museum front desk the days of the events, pending availability. For details, click here.
Horse-drawn sleigh and trolley rides
Saturday, Dec. 26 - Thursday, Dec. 31
Celebrate the holidays by riding through the wooded estate of President Rutherford B. Hayes in a horse-drawn sleigh or trolley during the week after Christmas.
Sleigh and trolley rides by South Creek Clydesdales will be offered from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26; Sunday, Dec. 27; Monday, Dec. 28; Tuesday, Dec. 29; Wednesday, Dec. 30; and Thursday, Dec. 31.
The sleigh can fit 4 people, and the trolley can fit 16 to 18 people.
Sleigh rides are $7 per person ages 3 and older and free for ages 2 and younger. Trolley rides are $6 per person ages 3 and older and free for ages 2 and younger.
Tickets are available online below.
If the website only allows for purchase of a certain number of tickets, such as 1, that means only that number of tickets is available for that time slot.
In-person trolley and sleigh ticket sales end at 3:45 p.m. each day the rides are offered.
Rides will take place whether or not there is snow. However, if the wind chill is below 15 degrees or there are thunderstorms, rides will be canceled. For updates, visit rbhayes.org or Hayes Presidential’s social media pages.
If Hayes Presidential cancels the rides, refunds for the tickets will be issued. Otherwise, there are no refunds. For details, click here.