Benjamin Harrison was the first U.S. president to have a Christmas tree in the White House.
The home was the site of Harrison's famous 'Front Porch Campaign' during the 1888 presidential election.
The building was constructed specifically for Harrison while he was a prominent Indianapolis attorney.
The site includes a carriage house that has been converted into a visitor center and gallery space.
Harrison served as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the Civil War before becoming president.
The house remained in the Harrison family until it was gifted to the Jordan Conservatory, later Butler University, before becoming a museum.
The home is one of the few presidential sites to retain a vast majority of its original family furnishings.
Harrison's wife, Caroline, was a professional artist, and several of her paintings remain on display in the house.
The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site is the preserved 1875 Italianate home of the 23rd U.S. President in the Old Northside Historic District of Indianapolis. The museum maintains a collection of over 10,000 original artifacts, including furniture, clothing, and personal papers belonging to the Harrison family. Visitors tour the residence through guided programs that focus on the political career, public service, and domestic life of Benjamin Harrison. The house features its original interior configuration, including period-correct wallpaper and wood carvings. It serves as both a historic house museum and a center for civic education, hosting programs on the U.S. Constitution and presidential history.
The front porch and the ornate entrance hall featuring the original Victorian woodwork.
Book guided tour tickets online in advance, as tour group sizes are strictly limited to preserve the home's interior.
Allow extra time to explore the gardens, which feature heritage plantings reflective of the Victorian era.
Check the official website for special living history events or seasonal evening candlelit tours.
Do not attempt to walk through the home unguided, as the site operates exclusively via scheduled guided tours.
Closed on major holidays and periodically for private events; check the website for seasonal closures or event-based schedule shifts.
Photography is generally permitted for personal use, but flash and tripods are prohibited; maintain a respectful distance from historic artifacts.
