By Christine Lorraine Morgan, January 19, 2026

Here is a list of U.S. Presidents who have visited Erie over the centuries. There are more, but here’s what’s been compiled thus far. This a factual historic share, not a political post, so please refrain from political commenting. Thank you.

George Washington ~ Ft. LeBoeuf Waterford in 1753. He delivered Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie’s message to the French at Fort LeBoeuf instructing them to leave the Ohio Valley

James Buchanan ~ Came through Erie during the “Log cabin” campaign in 1840.

John Quincy Adams ~ aboard steamboat General Wayne in Erie from 7 to 9 p.m. in 1843

Zachary Taylor ~ Stayed at Dr. William Maxwell Wood’s home at 8th and State for over a week while he recovered from a severe illness in 1849

Abraham Lincoln ~ Train stops at Erie Union Station and the Girard Station (present location of the All Aboard Diner) in Feb. 1861.

Grover Cleveland ~ Came to Erie in 1891 when his friend William L. Scott died.

William McKinley ~ Brief train stop at Erie’s Union Depot on Sept. 4, 1901. His train was greeted by hundreds of people waving and throwing hats into the air. He was shot by an assassin in Buffalo three days later, and passed away 10 days later on Sept. 14.

Union Depot in Erie, PA where McKinley’s train stopped ~ This building was replaced in 1927

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Theodore Roosevelt ~ Train stop where he addressed a crowd of about 5,000 at Erie’s Union Depot on Aug. 25, 1910 regarding Great Lakes’ cleanup.

William Howard Taft ~ Spent two nights at the Mansion of Erie entrepreneur Charles Hamot Strong at 6th and Peach in September 1911. He also visited Corry in 1912, where he suffered an eye injury from the projectile of a young male’s bean shooter. Local folklore tells a tale of the stocky President getting stuck in a bathtub during his stay at the Strong Mansion.

Here’s the 46-room Strong Mansion where Taft stayed during his 1911 visit to Erie. It is situated on the SW corner of 6th and Peach sts.

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John F. Kennedy ~ Conducted a rally and spoke at the Lawrence Hotel in downtown Erie in September 1960.

Lyndon B. Johnson ~ President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) came to Erie on Sept. 28, 1960 as candidate for Vice President. He was here with John F. Kennedy

Richard Nixon ~ Gave a campaign speech at Erie International Airport on Oct. 2, 1968

Jimmy Carter ~ In April 1976 Carter visited Erie, PA, as a presidential candidate, and spoke at General Electric and at a downtown rally.

Ronald Reagan ~ “Presidential candidate and former California Gov. Ronald Reagan returned to Erie on Nov. 17, 1977, to discuss political policy,” ~ Erie Times News

George H. W. Bush ~ Campaigned for president in April 1980 in Erie. His visit was organized by future Governor Tom Ridge.

Bill Clinton ~ This former President addressed a small gathering at Erie International Airport in about 2006. Clinton was also in Erie a couple of times in 2008, once at East High School and again at McDowell Intermediate High School (MIHS)

George W. Bush ~ Addressed a crowd at Erie Veterans Memorial Stadium in September 2004

Academy/Veterans Memorial Stadium in Erie PA where George Bush spoke

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Barack Obama ~ Spoke in September 2025 at the Jefferson Educational Society Global Summit in Erie.

Joseph Biden ~ Spoke at a union hall in Erie October 2020 while campaigning.

Donald Trump ~ The present President has visited Erie multiple times for campaign stops between 2016 and 2024.