Presidential Libraries

[Fillmore]

Went to the FDR house and Presidential library back on 11/6.

We took my Mom (83) so we couldn't do the walk bridge, she didn't feel up to it.

I was mesmerized by the history, did his house tour and saw his his childhood bedroom, his birth room etc. loved the paintings and stuffed birds.

Fascinated at the library where we saw his car, White House desk, a piece of the USS Arizona, a bomb piece dropped on England and the small stuff like Eleanaor's drivers license, Diners Club credit card.

Saw the adjacent grave site.

Went to the Eveready diner (as recommended here) was fantastic, I had a cheeseburger that came with cole slaw, fries, and a pickle (loved it).

We would like to see them all, we're thinking the JFK one in Boston next, possibly early spring.

Has anyone been to the JFK one ? any other ones ?

[neilpilot]

Ones we enjoyed: JFK (Boston), Nixon (Yorba Linda, Ca), Reagan (Simi Valley, Ca), GW Bush (SMU campus in Dallas)

One we didn't enjoy: Clinton (Little Rock, Ar)

[nisiprius]

My wife and I visited the Truman Library in Independence Missouri, because it happened to be on our way in a road trip, and both of us were surprised by how moving we did find it.

We went to the JFK library a long time ago (decades), and I think it's had at least one major revamp since then, so my observations wouldn't be valid. I thought it was "OK."

[JonFund]

About a month away from retirement, visiting more Presidential libraries is one of my bucket list items. I've been to the Reagan, LBJ, and George (HW) Bush libraries.

[jebmke]

I have been to the JFK one a couple of times but not recently. Well worth the trip.

[dpa789kd]

I have done a few and hope to do them all when I have time. Here's what I've done:

Truman- Way exceeded my expectations. It was recently remodeled and had so many interactive displays. He had much more going on during his presidency than I realized. I went after lunch and spent 4 hours there. Ended up having to come back for the next morning to finish it all.

Clinton- It's a really nice building, and there was a lot of information in it but I wouldn't put it as high as Trumans. It was worth a stop though. I was in the area doing some hiking so it was a good excuse to see it.

Dwight Eisenhower- This one is interesting but pretty short compared to the other ones. Spent maybe 2 hours here. Worth it if you're in the area but there's not much else around. I drove to Topeka after and toured their really beautiful capitol building and climbed to the top of the dome. It was worth a stop.

Hoover- Probably the least interesting of the 4 I've been to. Worth a stop if you're driving down the interstate in Iowa but you could see it all in 1-2 hours. Also not much else around of interest.

Lincoln- While not an official Library the museum and visitors center I thought was really neat. They had redone it recently and the last area had a hologram giving a talk. At the time (2010ish) it really blew our mind. I don't know if it still holds up today.

I can't wait to do JFK and Reagan but haven't made it to those areas yet. I've heard they are really neat.

[mhc]

During one trip we went to Eisenhower's and Truman's. We really enjoyed Eisenhower's but we were disappointed in Truman's. This was about 5 years ago.

We enjoyed Lincoln's. As mentioned already, the library is nothing but the museum is nice. You can also go to his grave, house, and capitol while there.

[Mr. Rumples]

While the George Washington Presidential Library at Mt. Vernon is not open to the public, only to researchers by appointment, a visit to Mt. Vernon is well worth the trip. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/. https://www.mountvernon.org/plan-your-visit/

The Jefferson Library at Monticello is now open to the public by appointment. A visit to Monticello is also well worth it. If it's now open to the public, the third floor is a bonus as the original cat doors were found so the cats could wander to catch rats and mice.

https://www.monticello.org/research-edu ... n-library/
https://www.monticello.org

If visiting both, its might be of interest to learn more about Washington's and Jefferson's relationship. At the end of his life, Washington was so angry with Jefferson, he cut off all contact. For more, Chernow's Washington: A Life is the new classic on him.

While the gardens are not at their peak, to avoid crowds, go during the winter or at least when schools are in session.

[Chadnudj]

I've done the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, which is excellent -- really makes you appreciate President Ford's unique place in history. Interestingly, President Ford is the only President to separate his museum (Grand Rapids, his hometown) from his library (Ann Arbor, where he was a student). Haven't been to the Gerald Ford Library in Ann Arbor, but I'm sure it's wonderful.

[neilpilot]

I've done the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, which is excellent -- really makes you appreciate President Ford's unique place in history. Interestingly, President Ford is the only President to separate his museum (Grand Rapids, his hometown) from his library (Ann Arbor, where he was a student). Haven't been to the Gerald Ford Library in Ann Arbor, but I'm sure it's wonderful.

Jimmy Carter museum in Plains Ga, library in Atlanta

[Chadnudj]

I've done the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, which is excellent -- really makes you appreciate President Ford's unique place in history. Interestingly, President Ford is the only President to separate his museum (Grand Rapids, his hometown) from his library (Ann Arbor, where he was a student). Haven't been to the Gerald Ford Library in Ann Arbor, but I'm sure it's wonderful.

Jimmy Carter museum in Plains Ga, library in Atlanta

There is a Jimmy Carter museum in Plains, but it's not his official Presidential museum -- it's a National Historical Site: https://www.nps.gov/jica/index.htm.

The official Carter Presidential library and museum is located in Atlanta: https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/.

[Dornhoefer]

I really enjoy the LBJ Library in Austin, have been several times. It has tapes of LBJ phone calls to members of Congress, journalists and others where he’s trying to push his agenda. Fascinating to me — history in action. Museum also gives a good overview of the 1960s through various media.

Agree with the poster above that the Clinton Library building is really striking—worth seeing just for that (I don’t remember anything else about the place, which may be more of a comment on me).

I enjoyed seeing Air Force One at the Reagan Library but not much else.

Agree with OP on FDR-Hyde Park; really enjoy the setting and grounds.

[Doctor Rhythm]

If you’re pressed for time, I heard you can tour the William Henry Harrison library in like five minutes.

[gailwinters]

We have toured the Reagan, Clinton, Carter, and Gerald Ford Libraries. We have throughly enjoyed each of them. We were reminded of so many things that we had forgotten about each administration.

[bh1]

Enjoyed LBJ immensely. Thought Reagan was a waste (walked out thinking, "that's it?"), except for the non-Reagan parts like AF1. Haven't been to any others yet.

[bh1]

If you’re pressed for time, I heard you can tour the William Henry Harrison library in like five minutes.

Under this theory, you would need several days for FDR's.

[HipCoyote]

Been to FDR, Bush, Johnson, Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan. Reagan is by far the best I've seen. I'm lucky to live nearby so go to events there often. Airfore 1, Marine 1, beautiful setting

[midwest_bound]

During one trip we went to Eisenhower's and Truman's. We really enjoyed Eisenhower's but we were disappointed in Truman's. This was about 5 years ago.

We enjoyed Lincoln's. As mentioned already, the library is nothing but the museum is nice. You can also go to his grave, house, and capitol while there.

I haven’t been, but I believe Truman’s has been redone since you last went. Might be better today.

[eosin]

The Reagan and Nixon libraries are close enough to each other geographically that it would be easy to combine them into a short trip. They are both very educational. Agree with previous poster that the Reagan library is in a beautiful setting (up on a hill in open land).

[rob]

The JFK one is well worth the visit. Late spring & autumn are great times to visit Boston.

[lthenderson]

I think it really depends on the person I guess. I've been to both Hoover and Truman, panned above by some, and enjoyed both of them. I've also been to Clinton, perhaps my least favorite of them all but still interesting, Lincoln and John Adams. Like Lincoln, Adams isn't an official library but you can tour his house complex which does contain a library/office. His actual resting place is at a church crypt back in town that is also worth a visit.

I have never made special trips to any of them. I've always just been in the proximity and stopped by to see what there was to see so perhaps my expectations were never high to start with as someone who goes as a destination vacation.

[PinotGris]

Went to the FDR house and Presidential library back on 11/6.

We took my Mom (83) so we couldn't do the walk bridge, she didn't feel up to it.

I was mesmerized by the history, did his house tour and saw his his childhood bedroom, his birth room etc. loved the paintings and stuffed birds.

Fascinated at the library where we saw his car, White House desk, a piece of the USS Arizona, a bomb piece dropped on England and the small stuff like Eleanaor's drivers license, Diners Club credit card.

Saw the adjacent grave site.

Went to the Eveready diner (as recommended here) was fantastic, I had a cheeseburger that came with cole slaw, fries, and a pickle (loved it).

We would like to see them all, we're thinking the JFK one in Boston next, possibly early spring.

Has anyone been to the JFK one ? any other ones ?

We have been JFK and Regan libraries. FDR was the best by far. We also visited Hyde Park and the house Elenore lived in with her friends.

[vested1]

I've never been to any of the presidential libraries, thanks for all for the suggestions.

My wife and I did visit Dealey Plaza in Dallas and the 6th floor museum of the Texas School Book Depository however, which was more emotional and impactful than I had imagined it would be. If they're old enough, everyone remembers where they were when JFK was assassinated.

[ScubaHogg]

We did Clinton’s. It was…fine. Basically a love fest. I doubt I’ll do another one (and I’m a person who enjoys visiting historical points of interest).

[Mr. Rumples]

If you’re pressed for time, I heard you can tour the William Henry Harrison library in like five minutes.

Perhaps said in jest, nonetheless his home, Berkeley Plantation, is worth seeing. Virginia is too rich in history to even list all the sites related to presidents. http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/index.html

If one were to visit Berkeley Plantation, along Rt. 5, a person can visit homes that the Founders would have known and would have visited. President Tyler's (1841-1845) home is there, Sherwood Forest. The Tyler family still maintains it and as odd as it seems, one of President Tyler's grandsons is still alive (age 95), due to the Tyler family having children at an advanced age. Traveling west in Henrico County would be Tuckahoe Plantation, Thomas Jefferson's boyhood home and then an hour west Monticello, then up to the homes of Madison and Monroe.

[22twain]

I visited the Gerald Ford museum in Grand Rapids in the early '80s, shortly after it opened. It was kind of spooky, after experiencing his presidency in "real time" in my early/mid 20s, about five years earlier.

I've also visited three presidential museums/libraries in Ohio: Garfield's in Mentor, northeast of Cleveland; Hayes's in Fremont, about halfway between Cleveland and Toledo; and Harding's in Marion (just his home, several years before the library building opened). Any of them is worth a stop if you're on a road trip through that area.

McKinley has significant sites in two towns: Niles, where he was born, and has a memorial/museum; and Canton, where he made his career and is buried at an impressive memorial. I've visited both of them briefly, long ago when I was a kid.

[Barsoom]

I've been to the Reagan library a few times. It's a beautiful place. There is a museum that covers Reagan's life, and then there is the pavilion where his Air Force One and Marine One are housed. They also have an exhibition hall were rotating events are held. At one visit they had a Smithsonian "Lincoln" exhibit that was coordinated with the Lincoln movie. Another time they had a Disney exhibit that had costumes and other memorabilia from the parks and movies.

If you visit the John Adams house in Quincy, MA, you can see his personal library. It's quite extensive.

Also, not a library, but if you are ever in Key West, FL, you can visit Harry Truman's Little White House at the Naval Air Station.

-B

[Wricha]

I've never been to any of the presidential libraries, thanks for all for the suggestions.

My wife and I did visit Dealey Plaza in Dallas and the 6th floor museum of the Texas School Book Depository however, which was more emotional and impactful than I had imagined it would be. If they're old enough, everyone remembers where they were when JFK was assassinated.

Book Depository really blew me away (Not a JFK groupie). Signs as you enter stating this is an emotional experience for some, I thought how is that possibly? Well, I was one of those wingnuts. It transports you back to 1963 well done.

[tooluser]

Extremely interesting if you like historical airplanes:
Presidential Gallery of the National Museum of the USAF
https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit ... l-Gallery/