Ryan's Presidential Quest
  • Home
  • Tips for beginners
  • Presidential Grave List
  • 1) George Washington*
  • 2) John Adams*
  • 3) Thomas Jefferson*
  • 4) James Madison*
  • 5) James Monroe*
  • 6) John Quincy Adams*
  • 7) Andrew Jackson
  • 8) Martin Van Buren*
  • 9) William Henry Harrison
  • 10) John Tyler*
  • 11) James K. Polk
  • 12) Zachary Taylor
  • 13) Millard Fillmore*
  • 14) Franklin Pierce*
  • 15) James Buchanan*
  • 16) Abraham Lincoln
  • 17) Andrew Johnson
  • 18) Ulysses S. Grant*
  • 19) Rutherford B. Hayes
  • 20) James A. Garfield
  • 21) Chester A. Arthur*
  • 22) Grover Cleveland*
  • 23) Benjamin Harrison
  • 24) Grover Cleveland*
  • 25) William McKinley
  • 26) Theodore Roosevelt*
  • 27) William Howard Taft*
  • 28) Woodrow Wilson*
  • 29) Warren G. Harding
  • 30) Calvin Coolidge*
  • 31) Herbert Hoover
  • 32) Franklin D. Roosevelt*
  • 33) Harry S. Truman
  • 34) Dwight D. Eisenhower
  • 35) John F. Kennedy*
  • 36) Lyndon B. Johnson
  • 37) Richard M. Nixon*
  • 38) Gerald R. Ford
  • 39) Jimmy Carter
  • 40) Ronald Reagan*
  • 41) George Bush
  • 42) Bill Clinton
  • 43) George W. Bush
  • 44) Barack Obama
  • 45) Donald Trump
  • 46) Joe Biden
  • 47) Donald Trump
  • Other Historical People

Martin Van Buren

8th President

1 term

1782-1862

Democrat

Was the first President to be born an American citizen

Held many political offices before becoming President

Was a great friend and supporter of Andrew Jackson

Birthplace: Kinderhook, NY

On Decemeber 5, 1782, Martin Van Buren became the first President to be born an American citizen.  The tavern fell into ruin and was demolished in the 1940's.

The Story

On October 3rd, 2009, we had been planning on going to Vermont.  This was the plan up until a few hours prior to leaving, when my mom, realizing my brothers had soccer games, said no.  We then decided to go to a place closer to home, and we decided on revisiting Kinderhook to see the Birthplace, Home, and Gravesite of Martin Van Buren.  We arrived in Kinderhook after about 45 minutes worth of driving, and searched for Hudson Street, hoping that this would not turn out like our nearly in-vain search for Fordham Drive in Buffalo.  It wasn't.  We quickly located the road and then located the birthsite.

Birthplace

Martin Van Buren was born in a barn on this site in 1782.
Picture

Home: Washington, D.C.

Martin Van Buren lived here while he was Andrew Jackson's Secretary of State, it is called "Decatur House".

Home: Kinderhook, NY

Martin Van Buren lived here from 1839-1862.  It is named "Lindenwald".

The Story

Upon leaving the birthplace, we decided to go in chronological order and see his home next.  For some reason, I had thought that we had seen it, but not gone in, at the time of our first visit in 2008, and the origin of my assumption was explained because we had driven by it, but not entered or toured, in 2008.  After signing up for a tour, we then went on a guided tour of the home.  I was quite impressed by the style of the home's exterior, and also impressed that you could not only a) go to the upper floors, but also b) see Van Buren's deathbed.  The estate not only featured the house, but also a number of educational signs and a gatehouse, one of 2, where Van Buren's farmhands would stay.

Lindenwald

This is the Mansion at the Estate.
Picture

Spire

This tower juts off of the roof of the Mansion.  Unfortunately, because of fire safety codes, you are unable to go to the top of the tower. 
Picture

Sign

This sign tells about the importance of Lindenwald as a house.
Picture

Sign #2

This sign tells about the operations at Lindenwald while it was an active farm.
Picture

Sign #3

This sign tells about Van Buren as a farmer.
Picture

Sign #4

This sign tells about the slaves at Lindenwald.
Picture

Gatehouse

This is the lone surviving gatehouse that housed Van Buren's farmhands.  It is the South Gatehouse.
Picture

Sign #5

This sign tells how Van Buren transformed the house after he bought it.
Picture

Sign #6

This sign tells about Van Buren's political life.
Picture

Stones

These stones are arranged like a circle for some reason.  I do not know what it is for certain, but I believe that it marks the site of the North Gatehouse.
Picture

Sign

This sign tells abouth the North Gatehouse, it was demolished in the 1950's, about 20 years before Lindenwald became a National Historic Site.
Picture

Me at the Entrance

Me standing at the entrance to the Lindenwald Estate.  The visitor center can be seen in the backround.
Picture

Table

The very lengthy table was used to seat Van Buren's family.
Picture

Wallpaper

This wallpaper is original to the house during Van Buren's lifetime.
Picture

Cards and Card Table

Van Buren loved to play cards.  His son was actually forced to sell Lindenwald to pay off depts he acquired while gambling.  Thankfully, the house remained relatively unchanged from the time of the sale to the time the National Park Service acquired it in 1974.
Picture

Piano

This piano was located in the house.
Picture

Harp

This harp is in the home.
Picture

Portrait

This portrait of an older Martin Van Buren hangs in Lindenwald.
Picture

Portrait

This portrait of Thomas Jefferson is one of three Presidential Portraits at Lindenwald.
Picture

Chair

This was Van Buren's chair.
Picture

Portrait

This portrait of Hannah Van Buren also hangs in Lindenwald.
Picture

Dining Table

This table is in Lindenwald.  The refrigerator box to the left is also original.
Picture

Dining Table

This dining table was used by the slaves.  The china on it is the original china used by the slaves.
Picture

China

This is more of the china used by slaves here.  It is also original.  It is amazing that the dishes are still in original condition in that these were not made to last.
Picture
Picture

Fireplace

This fireplace was used to heat Lindenwald.  Martin had heat installed shortly after he purchased the house.
Picture

Water Pump

This pump was used to get water in Lindenwald.
Picture

Drying Rack

This was used to dry towels and clothes at Lindenwald.
Picture

Martin's Bed

This was the bed used by Martin at Lindenwald.
Picture

Staircase

This staircase is long and leads to the top floor of the house.
Picture

Bust

This bust of Martin Van Buren is located in Lindenwald.  He is depicted like a Roman Emperor.
Picture

Running Water?

This bathtub and sink, also quite modern for their day, were used by Martin Van Buren.  Back then, it was uncommon for men to bathe more than once a month, however, Van Buren was an asthmatic, and thus bathed multiple times a week.
Picture
Picture

Sowing Kit

This sowing kit was used by Hannah Van Buren.
Picture

Portrait

This portrait of Angelica Van Buren hangs in Lindenwald.
Picture

Chairs

These chairs were used by the Van Buren family during their stay at Lindenwald.
Picture
Picture

Desk

This desk was used by Van Buren at Lindenwald.
Picture

Shaving Stand

This was also used by Van Buren.
Picture

Cane

This cane was given to Van Buren as a gift by his friend.  The cane is made out of HICKORY wood.  Who do you think gave him the cane?
Picture

Portrait

This portrait of Martin Van Buren's friend and political advisor, Andrew Jackson, hangs in Lindenwald.  The house has a number of pictures of Andrew Jackson.  However, The Hermitage, Jackson's home in Tennessee, contains no pictures of Martin Van Buren.
Picture

Bag

This bag was used by Martin Van Buren while he traveled.
Picture

Deathbed

Martin Van Buren died on July 24, 1862 at Lindenwald.  He died in his son's (Martin Van Buren, Jr.'s) bed.
Picture

Grave: Kinderhook, NY

Martin Van Buren was the 8th President of the United States, he is buried in Kinderhook, NY.

Our Story

Upon school letting out on June 16th, 2008, we decided to travel to Kinderhook, NY, and visit Martin Van Buren's grave.  It was quite surprising that from the size of Chester Arthur's grave, MVB's grave was as small as it was.  The monument was the first thing that we saw, and we assumed that it was the grave, but after exploring around the monument, we discovered the small headstone marking the individual resting place of MVB.  Upon finding the Revolutionary War Veteran Plaque, we were quite confused, until we soon realized that it was his father who served in the war, and not him.  After this visit, we were off again, this time to a much more memorable grave, FDR.

Van Buren's Gravesite

This is the sign outside of the cemetery.


MVB's Grave Sign

This is the sign pointing out the grave.


MVB's Monument

This is me standing by MVB's monument, at first, we thought it was the actual grave.


Monument inscription

This is the hard-to-read incription on MVB's monument.  It says,

MARTIN VAN BUREN
VIIIth PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

BORN DEC. 3 1782

DIED JULY 24 1862


HANNAH VAN BUREN

HIS WIFE

BORN MARCH 8 1780

DIED AT ALBANY N.Y.

FEB. 5 1819




MVB's Family

These are the graves of some of MVB's family members.


Grave

MVB's real grave.


Dad by MVB's Monument.

This is my father standing by the monument.


Initials

Martin Van Buren's initials atop the grave.


Martin Van Buren

Martin's father was a Revolutionary War Veteran.


MVB's Wreath

Martin Van Buren has a wreath by his monument.


Gallery

Return Trip

After leaving Lindenwald, we decided to revisit the gravesite, seeing as how it was on the same road as the birthplace and only 2 roads away from Lindenwald.  We arrived after driving for a few minutes and immediately located the Van Buren Plot.  We then found the large monument and the graves of five Van Buren family members.

Sign

This New York Historical Marker is located near the white arrow pointing to the grave.
Picture

Sign #2

This sign is located at the enterance to the cemetery.
Picture

Arrow

This sign points in the direction of MVB's Grave.
Picture

Arrow #2

This arrow has essentially the same wording as the other, as it replaces the full name with just, "M.V.B.".
Picture

Monument

This is the monument at the gravesite.  It is extremely easy to locate.
Picture

Me by the Monument

 
Picture

The Grave

This is me by Martin Van Buren's grave.
Picture

Inscription

This inscription refers to Martin Van Buren, Jr.
Picture

Hannah Van Buren's Grave

This is the new gravestone for Hannah Van Buren.
Picture
Picture

Hannah Van Buren's Grave

This is the original gravestone for Hannah Van Buren.
Picture

Martin Van Buren, Jr.

His grave.
Picture

Mary Van Buren Grave

Her grave.  She was the mother of President Martin Van Buren.
Picture

Abraham Van Buren

His grave.  He was the father of President Martin.
Picture

Grave of John Van Buren

John is not buried with his parents at Kinderhook Cemetery.  He is buried at Albany Rural Cemetery, the same cemetery where President Arthur was buried, and so, I was able to see his grave during my return trip there on Nov. 3rd, 2009.
Picture

Gallery of John Van Buren

Gallery

Kinderhook Reformed Dutch Church: Kinderhook, NY

The Church owns the cemetery where Van Buren is buried.  He worshiped here, although the building was badly damaged during a fire and had to be rebuilt.

Sign

This New York Historic Marker is located near the Church.
Picture

The Church

This is the full Church building.
Picture

Plaque

This plaque is located on the right side of the door
Picture

Me at the Church

This is me standing at the enterance to the Church.
Picture

Cenotaph to Van Buren

This cenotaph is located near the Church parking lot.
Picture
Picture

Me by the Cenotaph

Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.