EXPLORE THE FIRST LADIES
BE INSPIRED AT THE NATIONAL FIRST LADIES LIBRARY & MUSEUM
Make a day of it in downtown Canton when you visit the National First Ladies Library & Museum at the First Ladies National Historic Site. Tours of the historic Saxton-McKinley House are first-come, first served and are offered at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. daily. We recommend planning about 2 to 3 hours for your visit, which includes the 50-minute tour of the Saxton-House, ample time to explore our exhibit galleries on the three floors of the museum, and time to browse the newly expanded gift shop. Come in the morning and enjoy lunch at a restaurant in downtown Canton...or come in the afternoon and stay for dinner. You can also bring your lunch and enjoy it in the picturesque First Ladies Park!
YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE
This is a place to honor all our nation's First Ladies — the women leaders who have impacted our country in so many ways. It's a place where everyone can celebrate these American icons, from Martha Washington to Dolley Madison...from Mary Lincoln to Ida McKinley... from Eleanor Roosevelt to Jackie Kennedy... from Nancy Reagan to Barbara Bush, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Melania Trump, Dr. Jill Biden...and all those in between.
WHERE TO CHECK IN
Start your journey to the First Ladies National Historic Site at the Visitor Center and Museum, located at 205 Market Ave. South (at the corner of Market Avenue and Second Street in downtown Canton, Ohio). Free parking is available one block south at the National Historic Site Parking Lot near the Saxton-McKinley House. Please note: Your visit begins at the museum, NOT at the historic Saxton House.
PARKING
While you will park near the historic Saxton-McKinley house, ALL TOURS, VISITS, AND EVENTS BEGIN AT THE MUSEUM’S VISITOR CENTER LOCATED AT 205 MARKET AVE. SOUTH. Please park and walk one block north to the Visitor Center.
Car Parking
A designated FREE museum parking lot is available next to the Saxton-McKinley House on Market Ave. South for guests. Additional museum parking is available for a fee in the public garage between the National First Ladies Library & Museum and the Saxton-McKinley House.
Bus Parking
Bus parking is available on Third St. South, near Market Ave. South. Please inform the Director of Education at sbohnak@firstladies.org upon making your reservation so that we can reserve a space for your group.
Summer Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Off-Season Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
WELCOME TO CANTON
The National First Ladies Library & Museum is located in the Hall of Fame City of Canton, Ohio — rich in history, entertainment, dining, fine arts, and more. After you’ve spent time walking our halls with the First Ladies, there’s so much to explore. Find out more here:
SITE ACCESSIBILITY
The Saxton-McKinley House (331 Market Ave. S) is a historic building that contains stairs alongside an elevator system that is wheelchair accessible. The First Ladies Library & Museum/Visitor Center (205 Market Ave. S) is also a historic building, contains stairs, and has a wheelchair-accessible elevator. Wheelchair accessibility for the Museum/Visitor Center is located on the south side of the building. Public restrooms are available in the Museum/Visitor’s Center on floors LL-2.
INFORMATION FOR GROUPS
PUBLIC TOURS
Ranger-Led Public Tours of the Historic Saxton-McKinley House (50 min.)
Available first-come, first served during historic site visitor hours (see above). This tour of the historic Saxton-McKinley House is is offered on a first-come, first-served basis at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. and are led by Park Rangers from the National Park Service. The house was the childhood home of First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley and was also the Canton home of President and Mrs. McKinley during William McKinley’s time in office. The home has been meticulously restored to its late-1800s Victorian splendor.
PRICING
- Adults: $7
- Seniors: $6
- Children under 18: $5
- America the Beautiful Passholders: $4
- Every Kid Outdoors, Military, and Access Passholders along with children under the age of 2: Free
GROUP TOURS
Engage with history and become the future through the exceptional stories of the women who witnessed and influenced the foundation and rise of the United States of America. Schedule a guided tour or conduct a self-guided exploration of our public exhibits — including our 2024-2025 Leaders in Literacy: First Ladies as Teachers, Educators, and Librarians Exhibit.
Group tours with guide(s) are by appointment only during designated hours. Please note that at this time, guided tours are only available for groups of 8 or more. For smaller groups and individuals, the exhibit is currently free and open to the public for self-guided experiences during our open hours.
Our one-hour, guided tour is given by our expert curatorial staff and showcases our 2024-25 featured exhibit, Leaders in Literacy: First Ladies as Teachers, Educators, and Librarians. Participants may also plan time to browse the rest of the museum and the gift shop if desired.
PRICING
- Adults: $16 per person
- Seniors: $14 per person
- Children 12 and under: $12 per person
*Groups must register at least three weeks prior to their requested tour date. Group tours require an 8-person minimum. Tour groups over 20 have the potential to be split up into rotations and need approval from the Director of Education.
For reservation requests, please email the Director of Education or call 440-717-3753.
COMBO TOUR: GUIDED GROUP TOUR OF THE LEADERS IN LITERACY EXHIBIT PLUS THE HISTORIC SAXTON-MCKINLEY HOUSE (2 hrs.)
Enjoy a one-hour tour of our featured 2024-25 exhibit, Leaders in Literacy: First Ladies as Teachers, Educators, and Librarians, given by a member of our expert curatorial staff from the National First Ladies Library & Museum, PLUS a guided one-hour tour of the historic Saxton-McKinley House, childhood home of First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley and the Canton home of President and Mrs. McKinley during William McKinley’s time in office. This home has been grandly restored to its late-1800s Victorian splendor.
PRICING
- Adults: $20 per person
- Seniors: $18 per person
- Children 12 and under: $12 per person
*Groups must register at least three weeks prior to their requested tour date. Group tours require an 8-person minimum. Tour groups over 20 have the potential to be split up into rotations and need approval from the Director of Education.
Group Tours with guide(s) are by appointment only during designated hours. Please note that at this time, guided tours are only available for groups of more than 8 people. For smaller groups and individuals, the exhibit is currently free and open to the public for self-guided experiences during our open hours.
For reservation requests, please email the Director of Education or call 440-717-3753.
CHARTER BUS TOURS OF THE FIRST LADIES NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
Charter Bus Tours must be arranged at least three weeks in advance. Tour options may vary depending on tour size. Please note that we will try to accommodate your group to the best of our abilities.
PRICING
- Bus for up to 40 people: $200
For reservation requests, please email the Director of Education or call 440-717-3753.
GROUP TOUR POLICIES
RESERVATIONS AND GROUP SIZES
Group tour reservations are made by appointment only. Specialized guided tours last between one and two hours depending on reservation request. Please make your reservation at least three weeks in advance to guarantee the time and date of your preferred visit.
Group tours are arranged for 8 or more individuals at the fees listed above. Due to the historic nature of the Saxton-McKinley House, we can only accommodate up to 15 participants in the house at one time. For groups larger than 15 wishing to participate in this tour, please call or email our Director of Education at 440-717-3753 or email to see how we can best accommodate your request.
Large groups exceeding 15 participants may be divided into smaller groups to rotate through the tour. Please note that due to the historic nature of our buildings, we are unable to accommodate more than one coach bus or school bus of visitors at a time.
Please reach out to the Director of Education to discuss options regarding especially large groups as part of the rotation can include other nearby sites with enough advanced notice.
Schools, Youth, and Homeschool Groups: If your group exceeds 15 participants and includes a variety of ages within the group, it is helpful to divide them into age groups. Please make chaperone assignments prior to your arrival.
DEPOSITS AND CANCELLATIONS
A non-refundable deposit of $50 is required to secure your reservation two weeks prior to your visit and will be applied to the overall balance. The remaining balance is to be paid at the reservation start time.
If any reservation information changes between the initial reservation request and tour date, please notify the Director of Education as soon as possible. In the event that you need to cancel your reservation, it must be received by our office a minimum of 48 hours prior to your scheduled arrival. If your cancellation is received with 48 hours’ notice, your tour is adjustable and transferrable and can be rescheduled.
TOUR PROCEDURES
Groups are asked to arrive on time at the agreed upon starting location. If you will not be able to arrive on time, please call the Director of Education at 440-717-1753. We cannot guarantee having a tour guide available earlier than the agreed-upon start time and appreciate your patience. Should you arrive 15 or more minutes later than the designated start time, you will forfeit your tour reservation and fees.
You are welcome to explore our gift shop before and after your tour.
Smoking, food, and drinks are not allowed in exhibits or historical buildings like the Saxton-McKinley House.
Please silence all cell phones before the tour begins.
Non-flash photography is permitted, but any commercial use must be approved by the National First Ladies Library CEO & Executive Director.
PARKING AND BUS UNLOADING
Visitors who arrive via car for tours may park in the designated lot next to the Saxton-McKinley House on Market Ave S. There is additional parking in the garage between the Museum and the historic house, but please note that there is a parking fee.
Buses may park along Third Street South, near the corner of Third and Market Avenue. Please email the Director of Education or call 440-717-1753 if you will be arriving via tour bus so that we can ensure parking is available for you.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you have questions or would like to arrange a specialized group tour at the National First Ladies Library & Museum, please email the Director of Education or call 440-717-3753.
FIELD TRIPS
Embark on an educational adventure with our museum’s captivating field trips, suitable for both homeschool and public/private schools. Our programs, designed for diverse age groups, feature engaging exhibits and enriching lessons that foster curiosity and critical thinking. Proudly affiliated with Twinkl, we seamlessly integrate their educational resources to enhance the learning experience for all students.
To schedule your personalized field trip, please email the Director of Education or call 440-717-3753.