Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Harrison residence, home of Brigadier General and President Benjamin Harrison and First Lady Caroline Harrison.

Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Harrison residence, home of Brigadier General and President Benjamin Harrison and First Lady Caroline Harrison.

Whereas, in 1874, construction began on the Italianate-style Harrison residence, carriage house, brick drive, and landscaping;

Whereas Brigadier General and President Benjamin Harrison (referred to in this preamble as “President Harrison”) and First Lady Caroline Harrison chose every detail of the Harrison residence, from the interior layout to the Italianate red brick design;

Whereas H. Brandt was the architect of the Harrison residence and Petrie and Cummings were the excavators;

Whereas the 10,000 square-foot Harrison residence was finished in 1 year at a cost of $24,008.59, complete with 16 rooms, 3 stories, and a basement;

Whereas 2-feet-thick Indiana limestone made up the basement of the Harrison residence, and 380,552 bricks completed the structure;

Whereas the finest French plate windows were installed in the Harrison residence, along with conveniences not enjoyed by most Victorians, including—

(1) running water;

(2) a coal-fed furnace;

(3) 23 working gaslight fixtures; and

(4) 12-foot ceilings;

Whereas President Harrison, Caroline, and their 2 children, Russell and Mary, lived in the Delaware Street Harrison residence;

Whereas President Harrison held many of his famous front porch speeches at the Harrison residence while running for President in 1888;

Whereas President Harrison resided in the Harrison residence after returning from the presidency and passed away in the residence on March 13, 1901;

Whereas, in 1937, the Arthur Jordan Foundation purchased the Harrison residence and furniture from Mary Lord Dimmick Harrison, widow of President Harrison;

Whereas the Harrison residence was used as a dormitory for female students in the Jordan Conservatory of Music, housed in a readapted home on a southern adjoining lot;

Whereas the dormitory residents of the Harrison residence gave tours of the first floor to the public;

Whereas, in 1951, the Jordan Conservatory of Music moved to Butler University, where it continued to be known as Jordan College of the Arts;

Whereas, in 1964, the Department of the Interior named the Harrison residence a National Historic Landmark;

Whereas, in 1966, the Arthur Jordan Foundation created the President Benjamin Harrison Foundation to maintain and operate the Harrison residence in accordance with the statement of purpose;

Whereas, in 2003, the President Benjamin Harrison Foundation earned accreditation by the American Association of Museums;

Whereas, in 2010, the Board of Directors changed the name of the President Benjamin Harrison Foundation to the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site (referred to in this preamble as the “Presidential Site”);

Whereas, as of 2023, the Harrison residence has more than 30,000 visitors from across the country and world;

Whereas the Presidential Site has raised more than $6,800,000 in the capitol campaign “Old Glory, New Vision” to make substantial renovations and improvements to the historic structure and grounds of the Harrison residence;

Whereas tens of thousands of students visit the Harrison residence to learn more about the Federal Government;

Whereas the Presidential Site has developed nationally recognized programming, including Future Presidents of America, Project POTUS, and Candlelight Theater; and

Whereas the Harrison residence has become the location of many special speakers, events, a naturalization ceremony site for many citizens, and an election voting site: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,