PARK AND CEMETERY. 
13 
McKinley national memorial and its setting 
The great McKinley national mem- 
orial at Canton, O., was illustrated 
and described in detail in these pages 
at the time of its completion in 1907, 
but the growth of the planting and 
the improvement of the grounds 
around the structure since its inaugu- 
ration make the site and surround- 
ings in their present aspect an inter- 
esting and profitable study. 
Probably no monument in the coun- 
try has a more adequate landscape 
setting. The operations of grading 
and preparing the site, and of build- 
ing the great central approach, with 
its armored concrete foundation, were 
among the most extensive works of 
this character ever undertaken. 
The structure cost some $500,000 
cipal material employed in the con- 
struction of the monument is pink 
Milford granite, which has been util- 
ized not only for the exterior of the 
mausoleum but also for the steps and 
balustrade. The interior of the me- 
morial is finished in light gray Knox- 
ville marble with a honed surface. 
The site is a tract of 37 acres, form- 
ing the crowning eminence of the 
picturesque West Lawn Cemetery. 
Spread out beneath the visitor’s eyes 
is a varied and beautiful landscape, 
beyond which lies the whole pano- 
rama of the city of Canton. 
In the general arrangement of the 
approaches to the tomb there is a 
suggestion of a cross and a sword. 
One of the most conspicuous features 
thus doubly to impress the beholder. 
Another supplementary feature that 
contributes in no small degree to the 
effect is the presence of a statue of 
the late President modeled by Charles 
H. Niehaus which stands at the head 
of the grand staircase and about fifty 
feet in front of the facade of the 
mausoleum. 
As a sort of portal to this patriotic 
Mecca there is a circular plaza. This 
plaza is, however, without any treat- 
ment other than a parapet wall and 
the disposition of the trees, it being 
felt that being merely a turning point 
the attention should not be held by any- 
thing here. From this circle the ap- 
proach to the monument is of great 
beauty. The oblong lake or basin pre- 
PHOTO BY BAERS, CANTON. O. 
LATEST PICTURE OF McKINLEY NATIONAL MEMORIAL, CANTON, O., ITS SURROUNDINGS. 
and the maintenance fund insures that 
the monument and grounds which 
have become a Mecca for sight seers, 
will be kept in perfect condition for 
all time. 
The main structure, designed by 
architect H. VanBuren Magonigle of 
New York, is 108 feet in height and 
79 feet in exterior diameter. The 
grand stairway which constitutes the 
grand approach to the tomb proper 
an essential part of the design, has a 
total length of 300 feet. The prin- 
of the whole scheme is the introduc- 
tion of an artificial lake or basin di- 
rectly in front of the mausoleum. 
The basin, which is more than 500 feet 
in length, widens gradually as it ap- 
proaches the memorial, broadening 
from thirty-five to sixty-five feet, so 
that the vista includes the whole 
width of the steps that rise directly 
from this water pathway to the main 
entrance to the tomb. It is the func- 
tion of this quiet basin to reflect the 
architectural composition beyond, and 
viously mentioned is the central feature 
and is bordered by two avenues shaded 
by trees. 
Various approaches for pedestrians 
have been provided and there is also 
a well .arranged connection between 
the main approach and the system 
of drives in the cemetery. The tomb 
itself is not more than a mile from 
the lines of the principal railroads 
passing through Canton and is there- 
fore within plain view of thousands 
of travelers. 
