Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
Privacy and Disclaimer / Copyright 2026 Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
Search

Curiosities Collections

Back to all Collections

Whitney Home Gymnasium

DateDimensionsAccession_numberMaterials
1882H: 58 3/4" W: 30" D: 9"368.a-.g.1-.5Wood, metal, rope, and brass

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: "Whitney Home Gymnasium / Rochester, N.Y., Patent Apl. F.'R. 1882". Brass rail at each end of top.

Read More Download 3D Object

Whitney Home Gymnasium

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:
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:
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:
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:

Curiosities

Get intrigued with unusual ephemera
Nursery 3D screen shot

3D Nursery Room

See Artifact
Log Cabin Pattern Quilt

Log Cabin Pattern Quilt

See Artifact
A plate that says

"Votes for Women" Plate

See Artifact
Cat figurine that says

Suffrage Porcelain Cat

See Artifact
Ivory colored flask that depicts Teddy Roosevelt wearing sash that says

Flask

See Artifact
wooden campaign ax

Wooden Ax

See Artifact
This small bale of cotton was presented to Mrs. Harrison during a Presidential visit to Galveston, Texas, April 18, 1891. It is covered on all sides with a grosgrain silk fabric, but the fabric comes around the two wide sides partially leaving a small

Small Bale of Cotton

See Artifact
William Henry Harrison Bootjack

Bootjack

See Artifact
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.

Signature Crazy Quilt

See Artifact
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:

Gymnasium

See Artifact
Wooden cigar box with inlaid top that says

Cigar Box

See Artifact
Marked near bottom center:

Bird's Eye View of World's Columbian Exposition

See Artifact
Heavy white paper, brown of gold printing with cardboard mat attached.

Souvenir of trip to California Poem

See Artifact
Be Creative

Experience our Collections

What draws you in? Color. Texture. Je ne sais quoi? Go with your gut and experience a new take on learning. Enjoy this individually curated section.

A personal approach See this artifact
There’s always that one in the crowd See this artifact
A revolutionary idea See this artifact
The weight of the world See this artifact
In sacred memory See this artifact
Closeup of the engraved glass on the door. Shows french style patterning with curves and hard edges.
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.
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:
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.
Oil on canvas by Lilly M. Spencer (Lilly Martin Spencer) of Caroline Scott Harrison in profile view. Spencer signature is in lower left (not visible when portrait is in frame). Many engravings and prints were made from this image of Caroline Harrison. She is wearing a dark dress with white lace trim at the high neck, gold earrings, and hair is pulled back in a bun. Background is green in varying dark to medium shades. Pat. date of 1885 on metal corner brackets of wooden stretcher.
Close up of a figure on the composition. Shows a soldier hoisting an american flag and a sword, with little detail.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
This close up of Caroline's gold dress shows an inscription on the inside that reads,
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.
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.
Door Panel

A personal approach

See this object

Declare your Support

Share

Share the life stories, arts and culture of your 23rd President

Renew

Renew your membership with us.

 Preserve

Support a legacy.
Share

Share the life stories, arts and culture of your 23rd President

Renew

Click to renew your membership.

Preserve

Click to support the legacy.

Subscribe to eNews
Browse Upcoming Events
Buy Tour Tickets
See Hours and Closings
1230 North Delaware Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 631-1888
Site Credits
Privacy and Disclaimer
Copyright 2026 Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
AboutHarrison in the NewsBlogSocial ImpactTicketsDonateContact
X

Attention Guests

The Presidential Site will be closed Saturday, May 23 - Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. We look forward to welcoming you on Tuesday, May 26.

Buy Tour Tickets
X

Thank You!

Thank you for being an important part of the Presidential Site and sharing a legacy in action!

X

Enter your email below to check your subscription