Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

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Caroline Harrison’s Piano

DateDimensionsAccession_numberMaterials

circa 1890H: 56" W: 63" D: 27"530Wood, metal, and Ivory

Upright piano that belonged to Caroline Scott Harrison. The piano was given to her while in the White House by her son Russell Harrison. At the White House it was in the upstairs corridor (family sitting room) and can be seen in White House photos #1199 and #3132. The piano was made by J & C Fischer of New York. There is a silver plaque mounted above the keyboard with manufacturer's name and information. The wood panels on each side of front have an incised design. Center panel has incised design of violin and mandolin crossed surrounded by flowers and leaves.

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Caroline Harrison’s Piano

Wooden upright piano. There is a silver plaque mounted above the keyboard with manufacturer's name and information. The wood panels on each side of front have an incised design. Center panel has incised design of violin and mandolin crossed surrounded by flowers and leaves.

Furniture

One-of-a-kind and made-to-order pieces from around the world

Wooden upright piano. There is a silver plaque mounted above the keyboard with manufacturer's name and information. The wood panels on each side of front have an incised design. Center panel has incised design of violin and mandolin crossed surrounded by flowers and leaves.

Piano

Tall case or grandfather clock made by George Woltz in Hagerstown, Maryland between 1800 and 1812. Clock has moon dial at top and a date dial below the center of the hands, and strikes on the hour. Cherry cabinet with front legs that curve out . There is a spindle on either side of the face. Rounded center at the top with rosette design. Top corners come up to pointed spindles. Clock face is a half circle at top with the dates above the moon dial, Roman numerals and painted floral designs in four corners, and glass door.

Grandfather Clock

Marble top table, standing on a pedestal with 4 branching

Rococo Revival Table

Original Harrison large rosewood and satinwood Renaissance Revival bed. Satinwood panel in tall head board. Large Egyptian medallion in center of head board that matches smaller medallions in chairs. The head board is 8 feet tall with squared feet. Squared urn design on foot board. Foot board has round massive legs. Ornamental pieces in medallions, scrolls, etched designs, etc.

Renaissance Revival Bed

Gothic or Elizabethan rival chair circa 1850 that belonged to the Harrison family. It has been reupholstered in horse hair fabric with a diamond pattern. Back of chair is an oval shape with carved top ornament and side spooled spindles. Legs are also spooled spindles.

Gothic Chair

One of twelve matching chairs from Harrison's dining room. Walnut with seats and backs upholstered. Two carved spindle supports go across between the front legs. Two plain supports cross between the legs at the sides and back. Small side decorative supports (not Arms) go from the lower part of the back to the seat. The back, sides, and apron under the seat have an incised carved design. They are American Eastlake style dating from the 1870s.

Dining Chair

Several plaque on the back and arms of the chair convey the following: Top plaque:

Horn Chair

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Close up of a figure on the composition. Shows a soldier hoisting an american flag and a sword, with little detail.

Inside cover is heavy cardboard, red edges come out farther than the wood. Inside is pale green. Between each page is a layer of tissue paper. The book is written in Hebrew and opens from right to left. Pages appear to be done by hand.

Crazy quilt with velvet boarder, mostly silk fabric in the pattern. Signatures include, Rutherford B. Hayes, Mrs. James K. Polk, John Wanamaker, Julia D. Grant, W. T. Sherman / general, Benj. Butterworth / Ohio, Agnes Author McElroy, Grover Cleveland, Frances Cleveland, T. DeWitt Talmage, and John J. Ingalls.

Closeup on the ribbon on the metal. Appears to be a sleek blue and white fabric with light bouncing off.

Oak case with iron dumbbell shaped weights (5) on ropes to be pulled, eight sets of wooden dumbbells and pair of Indian clubs. Metal plate:

Original Harrison large rosewood and satinwood Renaissance Revival bed. Satinwood panel in tall head board. Large Egyptian medallion in center of head board that matches smaller medallions in chairs. The head board is 8 feet tall with squared feet. Squared urn design on foot board. Foot board has round massive legs. Ornamental pieces in medallions, scrolls, etched designs, etc.

Photograph showing finer details on the dress skirt. There skirt is ornately connected with buttons and lining the accents vertically, in gold. The fabric is lightly wrinkled.

This close up of Caroline's gold dress shows an inscription on the inside that reads,

This is a close up from the piece of paper on which the illustration was made. The artist has droppings of water colors here, likely used to as a test.

Closeup of the engraved glass on the door. Shows french style patterning with curves and hard edges.

A certificate for a Naval Commission from signed by Ulysses S. Grant for John Parker to be promoted to Ensign in the Navy starting on July 17, 1875. Signed and issued on January 9, 1877. Grant's signature under text at lower right. Also signed by Secretary of Navy Geo. W. Robeson. George Maxwell Robeson (March 16, 1829 – September 27, 1897) appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant as Secretary of the Navy on June 25, 1869. Image of the eagle on top center; bottom center has a blue seal with image of Poseidon coming out of the sea with maidens, etc.

Photograph of crowd in front of Harrison's North Delaware Street home in 1888. Benjamin Harrison is standing near the front door slighlty to the left. Image shows the front of the house as it looked in 1888, picket fence at front sidewalk, and crowd of mostly men and young boys. A few women stand behind Harrison at the front door. The crowd is lined up on the rightside of the walk leading to the front door, in the yard to the left, and on the front sidewalk to the left.

Photograph (sepia tone) mounted on heavy board. Images shows 1888 Campaign Ball with D. E. Brockett (designer and builder) standing to the left with other men behind him and to the right side of the ball. There is also a stack of lumber to the back on the right and a shed type building to the left. Below image on board is the following information:

Designed and hand-painted by Mrs. Caroline Scott Harrison with hand painted purple and lavender Pansies. Edge is a cutout lace pattern with gold paint.

Portrait of Caroline Harrison

First Lady with a gold earring

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Update on Presidential Site Tours & Events In light of new public health announcements made by the CDC—as well as by the Governor of Indiana and Mayor of Indianapolis—we are closing the museum for all public events and all tours through April 5. Until we re-open, please explore our website, which contains an extraordinary array of history & civics e-learning opportunities, including primary resources, original photographs, and 3D scans you can even print!

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