William Howard Taft, like many other presidents, has a fair number of memorials dedicated to his memory and career. The 27th president of the United States was the first president to be buried in Arlington Cemetery. He died on March 8, 1930, at the age of 72 after battling an illness for five weeks.
A 14-foot-5-inch monument to Taft stands at Arlington.
According to DC By Foot, it was commissioned by Helen Taft and lists his accomplishments as both president and chief justice as he was the only man in U.S. history to serve as both. The monument was sculpted by James Earl Fraser and is made out of Greek granite. Helen Taft is buried beside him.
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Originally, a simpler headstone was planned to be made by the Vermont Marble Company listing only Taft’s presidency from 1909-1913 as his biggest accomplishment. His wife had arranged for Fraser to construct the monument around that same time.
According to Arlington National Cemetery, it's not known if the original headstone was ever erected. The monument came be seen year-round during the normal visiting hours of Arlington.
Taft retired as the chief justice on February 3, 1930, because of his illness and he died five weeks later. In addition to being president and chief justice, he was also appointed as the governor general of the Philippines by President William McKinley in 1900, and was appointed secretary of war by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. He was appointed chief justice by President Warren Harding in 1921.
In Cincinnati, Ohio, there is the two-story Greek revival home where Taft was born and raised.
The home is part of the National Park Service. According to the website, there aren’t any entrance fees at the William Howard Taft National Historic Site. The Taft Education Center, which is adjacent to the home, has brochures, a gift shop, interactive exhibits, and an orientation film. The rooms of the Taft home have been historically decorated and reflect parts of Taft’s career as well.
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