The Taft Education Center (TEC) is a 10,000 square foot facility built to highlight the Taft family, their values, and their contributions to Cincinnati and beyond. Aside from providing much needed curatorial archive space, staff offices, and community meeting rooms, the TEC was designed to be a center for research, education, and community outreach programs. Because the historic site offered visitors not only a snapshot of William Howard Taft’s childhood, but also highlighted his distinguished public career, it was decided that the TEC should highlight the entire Taft family, with a focus on their commitment to community and public service.
In addition to hosting traveling exhibits, this multi-functional facility houses Taft family legacy exhibits, displays of family artifacts, and its signature interactive visit with a life-size animatronic “Mr. Cincinnati” Charlie Taft who offers insight into the lives and times of select family members.
This vision of the TEC as a community center focusing on the Taft family values of education, community, and service is the cornerstone of the Friends’ mission.
Past TEC programs include speakers on history and current events, live music concerts, and programs focusing on literacy such as essay contests for local students.