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Contact: Kim Schuette: 614.297.2314 or 800-340-6131
kschuette@ohiohistory.org
For Immediate Release: June 25, 2009
Ohio Presidential Site
Harding Tomb Restoration Set To Begin
(COLUMBUS, OHIO)-The Ohio Historical Society has announced that the restoration of the Harding Tomb in Marion is set to begin July 6 and is planned to be completed by the middle of September. The refurbishment has been made possible by funding from the past two capital appropriations bills passed by the Ohio legislature.
Work to Be Done
Contractor for the project is Quality Masonry of Marion. The contract will be for $256,100 and includes cleaning the base of the tomb, relaying the terrace pavers to help eliminate staining on the base, repairs to the marble and interpretative plaques, and site and landscape improvements.
"It is our goal to have the work completed before the annual observance of President Harding’s birthday on Oct. 11 when the wreath sent by President Obama is laid at the tomb," says George Kane, Ohio Historical Society director of Historic Sites and Facilities. "We invite the city of Marion to attend the event and to see the improvements at the memorial site."
Memorial Befitting a President
Harding, the 29th President of the United States, died in 1923 while still in office. Florence K. Harding died the following year. Both were originally buried in the receiving vault in Marion Cemetery. School children sent in pennies to raise money for the memorial to President Harding. Construction of the tomb was completed in 1927 and President and Mrs. Harding's bodies were moved to the tomb in December of that year. On June 16, 1931, the tomb was officially dedicated by President Herbert Hoover.
The Harding Tomb is at the corner of State Route 423 and Vernon Heights Boulevard in Marion. Vernon Heights is about 1-1/2 miles west of U.S. Route 23 off of State Route 95 in Marion County.
The Harding Home and Tomb are a part of the 58-site system administered by the Ohio Historical Society, a nonprofit organization that serves as the state’s partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio’s history, natural history and archaeology. For more information, visit www.ohiohistory.org.
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