McKinley Memorial
Also known as: National McKinley Birthplace Memorial and Park
Why it's listed
Built around 1915 in the center of Niles, Ohio, this marble memorial honors William McKinley, the 25th President, near the site of the school he first attended and close to his birthplace. McKim, Mead and White won an architectural competition against five other nationally known firms with a Neo-Classical Revival design. The building is 232 feet long and centers on a Court of Honor with twenty-eight marble columns, an Italian garden and a statue of McKinley by sculptor J. Massey Rhind. Wings on either side hold a 1,000-seat assembly room and a library, and a museum holds a notable collection of McKinley relics. Private donations paid for construction, with Henry Clay Frick the largest single contributor. Its monumental Doric gateway recalls the Brandenburg Gate. The memorial faces an open park and serves as the main urban design element for the surrounding commercial and civic area. It was listed for its architecture, sculpture and role in the town's planning.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a major work of McKim, Mead and White and a prime example of Neo-Classical Revival architecture, chosen through a competition among six nationally known firms. It also holds a notable collection of McKinley relics and includes sculpture by J. Massey Rhind. It serves as the main green space and urban design focal point of downtown Niles.
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 75001544, listed October 31, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 40 N. Main St., Niles |
|---|---|
| County | Trumbull County |
| Listed | October 31, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001544 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1915 |
| Architect / builder | McKim, Mead and White (architects); J. Massey Rhind (sculptor) |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition and altered. The form notes an inoperative furnace and ventilation system, basement water seepage and two closed restrooms. It remains in use as a memorial, library, museum and assembly hall. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.18102, -80.76600 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 75001544.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6974277
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.