Hail to the Chiefs

Depending on your penchant for reading, the word “library” may conjure up an image of a veritable wonderland of entertainment and knowledge, all accessed on demand, for free. Or, you might picture row after row of dusty stacks and buzzing fluorescent lights—hardly
the kind of place you’d want to spend a few hours. But even for those in the former camp, is a library really the kind of place you’d build a group tour around?

Go ahead and throw out whatever preconceived notion you have about libraries—because presidential libraries are nothing like your local public library. They are the keepers of history for not only the presidents they are dedicated to but also the times in which that president served. And we’re not just talking about official communications and documents; a presidential library’s collection also contains fascinating artifacts, some of which are on display in an adjoining museum. A visit to a presidential library and museum only scratches the surface of these vast collections but will leave a giant impression on any audience.

We have President Franklin D. Roosevelt to thank for the presidential library system as it currently exists. Before Roosevelt, presidents simply kept their documents when they left office. Some of these ended up being preserved, but it wasn’t until Roosevelt agreed in 1939 to donate his personal and presidential documents to the government that it became standard practice. Roosevelt’s own library was dedicated in 1941 and is now one of 15 administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

Most other presidents prior to Roosevelt have some kind of library or center, administered by organizations outside of NARA. The library and museum for President Abraham Lincoln, for instance, opened in Springfield, Illinois, in 2004 and is administered by the state government.

If making your first visit to a presidential library, why not start at the beginning? The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is located in Hyde Park, New York, roughly halfway between New York City and the state capital of Albany. The library sits on the grounds of the Roosevelt family estate, where both the president and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt are buried.

Visitors to the library can examine rotating and permanent exhibits about the life and presidency of Roosevelt, covering the New Deal and his leadership in World War II, among many other topics. History comes alive through immersive and interactive exhibits, such as a recreation of one of Roosevelt’s famous Fireside Chats. And not all the exhibits are presidential; visitors can get an up-close look at Roosevelt’s personal interests, such as his model ship collection and a 1936 Ford Phaeton, specially modified for the president to drive with hand controls.

Also in the Northeast is the NARA system’s biggest library, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. The Kennedy library sprawls over 166,000 square feet of artifacts, interactive exhibits, films, and much more. Visitors can undertake either self-guided or guided tours, depending on volunteer availability, says Halle Ahmaddiya, visitor services coordinator for the library: “These are led by our amazing volunteer docents who are passionate about sharing highlights of JFK’s story and presidency.”

Ahmaddiya notes the library will have a new special exhibit—rotated approximately every 18 months—available to visitors this summer. The facility also features a cafe that offers boxed lunches with advanced notice and free parking for both cars and buses. The library is also fully accessible.

While in the Boston area, add a visit to Adams National Historical Park (NHP) to your itinerary. Administered by the National Park Service, Adams NHP contains the birthplaces and homes of both John Adams and John Quincy Adams. It’s also home to Stone Library, built in 1870 and home to 12,000 volumes dating to the 1700s. While not a traditional presidential library, it does offer a unique insight into the interests of both Adams presidents.

The Northeast is packed with presidential libraries and historical sites—and so too is the middle portion of the country. Nearly in the exact geographic center of the contiguous United States is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home in Abilene, Kansas. The Eisenhower library is a particularly attractive spot for group tours, with large parking lots for motorcoaches, easy freeway access, and reduced rates for groups of 20 or more.

The library is filled with 30 million pages of historical documents, as well as more than 330,000 photos and 768,000 feet of motion picture film. As the library’s full name implies, the 22-acre campus is also home to a museum covering not only the presidency and military career of the five-star general but also his life as a husband to Mamie and father to Doud and John. Visitors can learn about “Ike” and Mamie’s life in their own words through interactive exhibits and artifacts. The site also includes the home Eisenhower grew up in—still in place on its original foundation—and the Place of Mediation, the final resting place of Dwight, Mamie, and Doud.

“We welcome visitors from around the world,” says Dr. Todd Arrington, director of the Eisenhower library and museum. “Guests are often surprised by the fact that not only do we maintain and interpret the home where Ike grew up, but also that Ike and Mamie are laid to rest here in the Place of Meditation building. After visiting the museum exhibits, they leave with a sense of familiarity about Ike and Mamie as people who lived and had real lives, triumphs, and tragedies—just as we all do. Humanizing the Eisenhowers—making them relatable to everyone—is a joy for us and an important part of the job we do here.”

Planners looking to make a grand adventure of presidential libraries could head east to Missouri and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, followed by a trip south to the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park in Little Rock, Arkansas. Then just one more state over is Texas, home to three libraries for three presidents: Lyndon Johnson (Austin), George H.W. Bush (College Station), and George W. Bush (Dallas).

Only three libraries are farther west from here, with the farthest west also being the most-visited library, according to NARA. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is located in Simi Valley, California, less than a two-hour drive south from the Reagan estate known as the “Western White House” during his presidency. The museum features 20 galleries of immersive exhibits, with guided tours available for groups of 25 or more. One of the museum’s highlights is the aircraft that served as Air Force One for Reagan and six other presidents from 1973 to 2001, on display along with a Marine One helicopter and one of Reagan’s presidential limousines.

From coast to coast, presidential libraries make for an enriching stop on any group tour. Although primarily concerned with the presidents they honor, they also blend with the history of the time that president served and lived, making them appealing to tourgoers of many interests.

By Todd Kortemeier

Main Image: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum; Credit: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum