Hooked on Netflix's "Death by Lightning"? Explore James Garfield's legacy in Cleveland

The big picture: Garfield's story — from his rise out of poverty in rural Ohio to his reform-minded politics and his death by an assassin's bullet in 1881 — provides a glimpse into the political corruption and national division of the Gilded Age.

🪦 Lake View Cemetery: Garfield's towering, Romanesque memorial at Lake View remains one of the most striking presidential monuments in the United States.

• Visitors can climb its spiral staircase for panoramic views of Cleveland or step inside to see marble reliefs depicting his life and a statue beneath a stunning stained-glass dome.

📍Stop by: 12316 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

• Open daily 9am–4pm.

If you go: Admission is free, though donations are encouraged.

🏛️ Garfield National Historic Site: Head east to Mentor to tour Garfield's home, "Lawnfield," where campaign memorabilia, family artifacts and original furnishings immerse visitors in his 1880 "front porch" campaign.

📍Stop by: 8095 Mentor Ave., Mentor

• Open Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm.

If you go: Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 15 and under.

🎓 Sam's thought bubble: My wife went to Hiram College, where Garfield attended and later taught — back when it was still the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute.

• Today, there's a Garfield statue on campus, and the college library maintains a collection of Garfield's letters, photos, and artifacts in its archives.

🎥 The bottom line: Whether you're bingeing "Death by Lightning" or just drawn to presidential lore, Northeast Ohio offers a front-row seat to the life and legacy of one of America's most fascinating, forgotten leaders.