William Howard Taft National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Ohio. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in William Howard Taft
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to William Howard Taft. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Botanical Gardens (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At William Howard Taft the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:56 AM | 8:37 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:40 PM | 243° | 9h 43m |
| February | 7:31 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:16 PM | 255° | 10h 45m |
| March | 7:50 AM | 8:26 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:45 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 7:02 AM | 7:38 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:15 PM | 284° | 13h 13m |
| May | 6:26 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:45 PM | 296° | 14h 19m |
| June | 6:12 AM | 6:52 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:06 PM | 302° | 14h 54m |
| July | 6:25 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:25 PM | 9:04 PM | 299° | 14h 39m |
| August | 6:52 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:35 PM | 289° | 13h 43m |
| September | 7:20 AM | 7:55 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:48 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:48 AM | 8:24 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:01 PM | 260° | 11h 13m |
| November | 7:22 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:25 PM | 247° | 10h 03m |
| December | 7:51 AM | 8:33 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:17 PM | 240° | 9h 26m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.1197, -84.5076); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From William Howard Taft, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:45 AM – 5:55 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:54 AM – 6:14 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:50 AM – 5:20 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:52 AM – 4:32 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 11:05 PM – 4:05 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:58 PM – 2:48 AM | 3.8 | 22° |
| August | 10:14 PM – 12:44 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 9:19 PM – 10:39 PM | 1.3 | 19° |
| October | 8:30 PM – 8:40 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
8 Estimated Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white.
Weather & best time to visit
The park lies in a humid continental zone with a generally temperate climate. Winters are mildly cold with average temperatures around 48 degrees (F). Summers are hot and humid with an average temperature around 77 degrees (F). Average annual total rainfall is just under 40". Snowfall in the winter is generally light with an average total snowfall of less than 12"
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (75%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
From I-71 north; Take Exit 2 (Reading Road and Eden Park Drive). Stay in right lane; turn left at first stoplight onto Dorchester Avenue, and go to the top of the hill. Turn right on Auburn Avenue and go 1 ½ blocks to the site. Park will be on the right. From I-71S, take Exit 3 (Taft Road). Follow Taft Road westbound. Go 0.75 mile to Auburn Avenue. Turn left and go 0.5 mile to the site. Park will be on the left.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Food
- Dining
- Guided Tours
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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