McGuffey, William H., Boyhood Home Site
Why it's listed
This farmland in Coitsville Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, is the site where William Holmes McGuffey spent much of his boyhood. The McGuffey family apparently lived on the property by 1802 and bought the tract in 1814. Of the original 165.96 acres, about 73 remain together, and crops such as corn, potatoes and onions are grown there. No buildings from the family's time survive, and the precise spot of their log cabin is disputed, though its general location near a low glacial ridge is agreed. McGuffey, born in 1800, was taught at home by his mother and attended local schools before leaving in 1817 for an academy in Pennsylvania. He later became a college professor and wrote the Eclectic Readers, six texts that taught four generations of Americans to read and sold roughly 122 million copies. The site is recognized for its link to his early education and to his lasting influence on American schooling.
Significance in brief: McGuffey was a leading advocate of public schooling and the author of the Eclectic Readers, which were used in 37 states for over 70 years and sold some 122 million copies. He spent about 16 formative years on this pioneer homestead, where his education began with his mother's teaching.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000617, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | McGuffey Rd., near OH 616, Coitsville Township |
|---|---|
| County | Mahoning County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000617 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1802-1818 |
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 23, 1966 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | No structures from the McGuffey period remain; the exact location of the log cabin is disputed. About 73 acres are in single private ownership and used for farming, with a historical society working to acquire the land. |
| Acreage | 73 |
| Coordinates | 41.11587, -80.55843 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000617.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8010506
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.