Presidential Libraries

We like to visit Presidential homes and libraries. President Hoover's home and library are in Iowa and worth visiting, just a short distance off I-80 west of Iowa City. I believe his was the first Presidential library, but recently in Springfield, Illinois, a new Lincoln Library has been created and opened. Harry Truman has his library in Independence, Missouri, not too far from his home. You can now also visit the home, but only the main floor, since Bess Truman thought it inappropriate for visitors to view the bedroom area. Eisenhower's library is in Abilene, Kansas, and both he and Mamie are buried there, and his boyhood home has been moved to be nearby the library. The only home he and Mamie owned was purchased in the latter years of his presidency and located in Gettysburgh and can also be visited. F.D.R.'s library and home are on the Hudson River at Hyde Park. He and Eleanor are buried there on the grounds of the library. Kennedy's library is in Boston near the Charles River, but his home is not open for visitors. Johnson's library is in Austin at the Universiy of Texas, and one can make trips to the outside of his home on the Pedernales River near Johnson City. Now that Lady Bird has died, perhaps the home will soon be open to the public. Nixon's library and home are located in Whittier, California, I think, but we have not visited that one at this time. Ford's library is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is where he was recently burried. His home is not open for visitors. Carter's library is in Atlanta, Bush's is in College Station, and Clinton's is in Little Rock, AR. We have not visited Clinton's library, either. Reagan's is in the Los Angeles area near the new Getty Art Gallery, but one can easily see that Nancy did the WHOLE thing. The homes and libraries are a wonderful collection of Presidential collectibles and important papers of the times, which we have thoroughly enjoyed. I am sure that future biographers will have a treasure trove at each site.