I spent the Summer of 2025 working as an intern at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site. From the start, I knew that the summer was going to be something special. On my very first day in May, a little over a half an hour after I arrived, a busload of fourth graders came to visit the site and I leapt into the fray, ushering them through the house and sharing the little Garfield knowledge I had with them.

And what fun the summer was! In between reading everything I could get my hands on (which the site was happy enough to provide me with!) I got to try my hand at a little bit of everything the site has to offer. The individuals who run the site seemed to never run out of new things for me to do, ranging from a preschool-aged story time in conjunction with the Mentor Public Library to giving tours of the Garfield home to even a naturalization ceremony, which quickly became my favorite event of the summer.

For those unaware, the James A. Garfield National Historic Site is in Mentor, Ohio, and preserves the home and grounds of 20th President James A. Garfield. The home itself is a beautiful, sprawling Victorian mansion, full of rich history and lovely stories which brings the Garfield family to life every moment you spend within its walls. It was the center of family life for the Garfields beginning in 1876 when Mr. Garfield purchased the property all the way through 1934, when the last family member living in the home passed away. In Mr. Garfield’s time, the property was about 150 acres; Today, it is around seven acres of well-preserved green space which doubles as a public park, and you could not ask for a more beautiful setting for an internship.

The staff that populate the site on a day-to-day basis are unlike any team of employees I have ever met. Never have I known a staff to be so passionate about their work and one another. From the start they made an effort to include me in team meetings and discussions, and always gave me an opportunity to speak and ask questions whenever I saw fit. One major compliment I have to provide them with is the sheer volume of knowledge they combine; anything from the tiniest lamp to the largest desk in the house has a story that someone on staff is happy to share with you. As I read, I often wanted more information on certain subjects that I could not seem to find; when prompted, one of the staff members was always able to point me in the right direction to find what I was looking for. When I was preparing my interpretive plan to give tours, the whole team seemed dedicated to ensuring I had all the materials I needed to be successful.

My “semester project” was a teacher packet centered around one of the various outreach programs we do with local schools. I was to update and revise this packet, preparing it as we plan on offering this program to teachers directly rather than us come out to them. In my month and a half of effort on the packet I always had the tools and the resources to effectively complete the project. With two rangers supervising my work and giving me encouragement and feedback, I almost always had a clear sense of direction. The packet turned out wonderfully and I am excited to hear about its use next spring when we give it out for the first time.

Spending the summer with Mr. Garfield was an experience unrivaled by any other job I have held. Delving deep into his journals and letters, along with the various biographies and other written works on him and his short but action-packed life reignited a love and passion for history which I had not felt in some time. The staff of James A. Garfield National Historic Site are a wonderful group of individuals who always seem to have a reason to smile when you arrive in the morning and throughout the day. It is hard to work there and not be swept away by their passion for Mr. Garfield and their little site, and you quickly find yourself part of the team.

I could ramble for pages about this summer, indeed I have to anyone in my life who will listen, but I believe I will leave you with a quote from the man himself. Mr. Garfield’s life captured my imagination because of the way he seemed to ramble happily through life, always ready and willing for whatever lay around the next corner, taking it on as best as he could. A good way to live, and something I shall try to emulate from here on out. “I never meet a ragged boy in the street without feeling that i may owe him a salute, for I know not what possibilities may be buttoned up under his coat”.