Dayton’s Old Courthouse: The Steps Where Presidents Are Made
What do Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan have in common? They all stood on the steps of Dayton’s Old Courthouse. Discover how this iconic Dayton landmark has played a pivotal role in American politics.
On This Day in 1859, Lincoln Spoke at the Old Courthouse, Launching His Presidential Ambitions
It might surprise you to learn that the steps of Dayton’s Old Courthouse have hosted many presidential speeches over the years, including Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, James Garfield, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton.
Often called the most beautiful building in Dayton, the Old Courthouse has witnessed history unfold on its steps
Completed in 1850, the Old Courthouse in Dayton commands the northwest corner of Third and Main. With its impressive Greek Revival architecture, it's certainly one of the city's most beautiful and significant landmarks.
On September 17, 1859, Abraham Lincoln arrived in Dayton by train and delivered an anti-slavery speech on the courthouse steps to an audience of 300–500 people. A bronze sculpture of Lincoln, 11 feet tall, was unveiled at Courthouse Square in 2016 on the anniversary of the speech. Lincoln was elected president the following year in 1860 and served from 1861 until his assassination in 1865.
The plaque reads as follows:
"ABRAHAM LINCOLN SPOKE AT THIS COURT HOUSE ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1859. HE STOPPED HERE BETWEEN SPEECHES IN COLUMBUS AND CINCINNATI AT THE INVITATION OF HIS FRIEND, DAYTON LAWYER ROBERT C. SCHENCK. THEY HAD MET WHILE BOTH WERE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. THESE OHIO SPEECHES INTRODUCED LINCOLN AS A SERIOUS POLITICAL FIGURE OUTSIDE OF ILLINOIS. THIS LED TO AN INVITATION TO SPEAK AT THE COOPER UNION IN NEW YORK CITY, WHICH MADE HIM KNOWN TO THE REST OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND TRANSFORMED HIM FROM A REGIONAL POLITICIAN TO A NATIONAL LEADER. AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN MAY 1860, WITH OHIO'S HELP LINCOLN WAS NOMINATED, AND THAT FALL HE WON THE ELECTION. HIS PRESIDENCY PRESERVED THE UNION AND ENDED SLAVERY. THIS STATUE IS A GIFT OF THE LINCOLN SOCIETY OF DAYTON - SEPTEMBER 17, 2016."
One hundred years later, Senator John F. Kennedy gave a speech on the courthouse steps on October 18, 1960, during his presidential campaign. Kennedy went on to win the 1960 election and was inaugurated in 1961.
In 1968, Richard Nixon delivered a 25-minute campaign speech to a crowd of 5,000 at the courthouse. He quipped, “This is the home of the cash register, so I want to tell you that the American people are going to ring up ‘No Sale’ on Hubert Humphrey on November 5.” Nixon won the 1968 election and served from 1969 until his resignation in 1974.
President Ronald Reagan flew from Washington, D.C., to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base during his 1984 campaign and began his day with a speech at the courthouse.
The Old Courthouse is more than just a beautiful building; it's a living monument to American history. Today, the courthouse stands as a powerful symbol of civic life and a testament to the enduring significance of public spaces.
Read more: The fascinating history behind Dayton’s Old Courthouse
