[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 585 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 585
Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Harrison residence, home of
Brigadier General and President Benjamin Harrison and First Lady
Caroline Harrison.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 8, 2024
Mr. Braun (for himself and Mr. Young) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Harrison residence, home of
Brigadier General and President Benjamin Harrison and First Lady
Caroline Harrison.
Whereas, in 1874, construction began on the Italianate-style Harrison residence,
carriage house, brick drive, and landscaping;
Whereas Brigadier General and President Benjamin Harrison (referred to in this
preamble as ``President Harrison'') and First Lady Caroline Harrison
chose every detail of the Harrison residence, from the interior layout
to the Italianate red brick design;
Whereas H. Brandt was the architect of the Harrison residence and Petrie and
Cummings were the excavators;
Whereas the 10,000 square-foot Harrison residence was finished in 1 year at a
cost of $24,008.59, complete with 16 rooms, 3 stories, and a basement;
Whereas 2-feet-thick Indiana limestone made up the basement of the Harrison
residence, and 380,552 bricks completed the structure;
Whereas the finest French plate windows were installed in the Harrison
residence, along with conveniences not enjoyed by most Victorians,
including--
(1) running water;
(2) a coal-fed furnace;
(3) 23 working gaslight fixtures; and
(4) 12-foot ceilings;
Whereas President Harrison, Caroline, and their 2 children, Russell and Mary,
lived in the Delaware Street Harrison residence;
Whereas President Harrison held many of his famous front porch speeches at the
Harrison residence while running for President in 1888;
Whereas President Harrison resided in the Harrison residence after returning
from the presidency and passed away in the residence on March 13, 1901;
Whereas, in 1937, the Arthur Jordan Foundation purchased the Harrison residence
and furniture from Mary Lord Dimmick Harrison, widow of President
Harrison;
Whereas the Harrison residence was used as a dormitory for female students in
the Jordan Conservatory of Music, housed in a readapted home on a
southern adjoining lot;
Whereas the dormitory residents of the Harrison residence gave tours of the
first floor to the public;
Whereas, in 1951, the Jordan Conservatory of Music moved to Butler University,
where it continued to be known as Jordan College of the Arts;
Whereas, in 1964, the Department of the Interior named the Harrison residence a
National Historic Landmark;
Whereas, in 1966, the Arthur Jordan Foundation created the President Benjamin
Harrison Foundation to maintain and operate the Harrison residence in
accordance with the statement of purpose;
Whereas, in 2003, the President Benjamin Harrison Foundation earned
accreditation by the American Association of Museums;
Whereas, in 2010, the Board of Directors changed the name of the President
Benjamin Harrison Foundation to the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
(referred to in this preamble as the ``Presidential Site'');
Whereas, as of 2023, the Harrison residence has more than 30,000 visitors from
across the country and world;
Whereas the Presidential Site has raised more than $6,800,000 in the capitol
campaign ``Old Glory, New Vision'' to make substantial renovations and
improvements to the historic structure and grounds of the Harrison
residence;
Whereas tens of thousands of students visit the Harrison residence to learn more
about the Federal Government;
Whereas the Presidential Site has developed nationally recognized programming,
including Future Presidents of America, Project POTUS, and Candlelight
Theater; and
Whereas the Harrison residence has become the location of many special speakers,
events, a naturalization ceremony site for many citizens, and an
election voting site: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) celebrates the Harrison residence as a historic
landmark that preserves the history of Brigadier General and
President Benjamin Harrison (referred to in this resolution as
``President Harrison''), the only President elected from the
State of Indiana, and the family of President Harrison;
(2) recognizes the prominent role the Harrison residence,
as a museum, continues to play in civic education and
engagement for individuals of all ages through their programs
and endeavors;
(3) recognizes the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site for
its historical significance and community efforts in involving
the public of the United States with its system of self-
government; and
(4) commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Harrison
residence, and as President Harrison himself said, ``Great
lives do not go out. They go on.''.
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