Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library – Abilene Kansas
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The Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene Kansas was an unexpected surprise on my cross-country road trip. Initially, Presidential Libraries sound kind of boring, right? I mean why would a visitor from out of town visit a library? If you’re thinking of your local public library, they’re not the same at all. Most Presidential Libraries also include a museum or exhibits about the president. Some even include one of their homes, so you can get a taste of their childhood or the private life of a former leader of the country. They’re very much about digging deeper into the man and his family, his motivations and ideals.
On Day 4 of my cross-country solo road trip, my goal was to drive 443 miles (712 KM) from Manhattan, Kansas to La Junta, Colorado where my next lodging was booked. I expected to drive around 7 hours and was going to gain an hour due to the change from the Central to Mountain Time Zone, so I had some extra time to stop and smell the roses along the way.
If you want to read about my road trip from the beginning, you can start here.
I left my lovely Airbnb around 9:00 am and headed west. After only about an hour on the road, I saw a billboard for the “Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home” in Abilene, Kansas (USA), and couldn’t resist exiting the freeway to check it out.
Why I Stopped in Abilene, Kansas
So here’s the funny thing. Decades ago, if you told me that a Presidential Library would lure me from my projected route I would have thought you were crazy. But, the man I married loves all things presidential. He reads presidential biographies and autobiographies as well as many other historical non-fiction books.
Over the years Terry and I have visited other presidential homes and libraries too. So, after many years of marriage, my travel radar has become keen to not only the things that I love but also the things that he loves. So, even though he wasn’t on this trip with me, I felt compelled to at least take a peek at the Eisenhower Library Complex just to see if it would be worth it for us to come back. This curious detour resulted in several other sweet surprises for me too.
Eisenhower Presidential Library Campus
I exited Interstate 70 onto Kansas 15/Buckeye Avenue and within minutes I felt like I had stepped back in time. I saw the main street lined with stately historic homes boasting wide front porches, perfect for an afternoon glass of lemonade. In less than 10 minutes I was pulling into the parking lot at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home.
Sadly, the complex was closed. I decided to walk around the campus anyway to see what was there for a future visit. . The Eisenhower Presidential Library, Visitor’s Center, Museum, Boyhood home, and Place of Meditation also stand on these grounds.
This is 1 of 15 Presidential Libraries operated by the National Archives of the United States. Presidential Libraries help us learn more about our leaders, the position of the presidency, and the American experience overall.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Museum & Visitor Center
The Visitor Center should be your first stop. Purchase tickets, pick up a map, find out about tours, and watch the 23-minute orientation film. Be sure to pick up souvenirs or books from the Gift Shop there before you leave the campus.
You’ll see and hear President Eisenhower and First Lady, Mamie’s own words in the interactive 25,000 square foot (2300 square meter) museum to help you learn about their experiences, thoughts, and insights on life in their time. You can learn about Mamie as First Lady and friend. You’ll also discover General Eisenhower’s many contributions to our nation and why he was known as the Champion of Peace.
Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Boyhood Home
The Eisenhower family lived in the 2-story home from 1898 until Dwight’s mother, Ida Eisenhower died in 1946. The house sits on its original site surrounded by the 22-acre (9 Hectare) Eisenhower campus.
The house still contains furniture and items left by Mrs. Eisenhower. You can normally take a short guided tour every 15 minutes.
General Eisenhower Statue
I wandered around the quiet campus and was drawn to the 11-foot bronze statue of General Dwight Eisenhower (also known as Ike). It stood prominently in the center. Eisenhower stands proudly in his World War II military uniform. Important quotes are carved on the base of the statue from the wide range of roles that he held in his life. You’ll also see the Great Seal of the United States of America embedded in the pavers in front of the statue
Eisenhower served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, General of the Army, Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, Chief of Staff of the Army, and President of the United States. As you look around from this spot in all directions you can see all the other structures that are part of the campus. If you take a picture at this spot, be sure to tag #StandLikeIke and the Library. @IkeLibrary #IkeLife
Eisenhower Presidential Library
The first floor is a working library open for research for everything from writing projects, genealogy, essays, theses, and books. Find out more here about how to schedule a time to visit the library for research. The Eisenhower Library houses 26 million pages of historical records and papers, 335,000 photographs, 768,000 feet of original films, and 70,000 artifacts relating to the president.
The second floor of the Library offers changing exhibits relating to topics and issues that intersect with Eisenhower’s life. You’ll see an exhibit about how this president was impacted by the 19th Amendment and Women’s right to vote.
Place of Meditation (Burial Site)
This chapel-like building is where the 34th President, Dwight Eisenhower, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, and their first-born son, Doud were laid to rest. The president requested that his casket be a standard $80 government-issue model. The only difference between his casket and those furnished for any soldier buried by the Army is an inner glass seal that costs an extra $115.
General Eisenhower requested that there also be a place of meditation inside the building. He hoped that visitors would reflect on the ideals that made this a great nation and pledge to uphold those important ideals.
As I walked to my car I realized that Dwight Eisenhower lived the American dream. Starting out in humble beginnings in this small Midwestern town, he used his intellect and insights to earn trust, respect, and increasing responsibilities that ultimately landed him in the White House. What a story! If you’d love to know more about the man, this biography, “Eisenhower in War and Peace” comes highly recommended.
Eisenhower Library – Visitor Information
Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home
Address: 200 SE 4th Street, Abilene, KS 67410
Phone: 785.263.6700 or toll-free at 877.RING.IKE
Hours:
Normally Open Daily
9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., August – May
8 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., June – July
Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Days
Ticket options for the museum, home tour, or a combination ticket.
Adult: $15 Museum, $7 Home, or $20 Combo
Senior (62+): $12 Museum, $7 Home, or $17 Combo
Student (K-12/College with ID): $10 Museum, $7 Home, or $15 Combo
Tickets are good for the following day as well.
Member of the Blue Star Museum Program. Military families (up to 5 family members) receive free museum admission from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day. *Additional discount programs may be available.
Virtual Tours and Online Exhibits are also available.
Dwight D. Eisenhower FAQs
When and where was Dwight Eisenhower born?
Eisenhower was born on October 14, 1890, in Denison, Texas. Dwight was the third of his parents’ seven sons. The family moved to Abilene, Kansas a year and a half later.
What was Dwight Eisenhower’s childhood like?
Dwight’s father, David, worked as a mechanic in a local creamery. His mother, Ida, was a Mennonite and religious pacifist who opposed war. When Dwight was young he did family chores, hunted, fished, and loved playing football. He also was an avid reader of military history.
When did Dwight D. Eisenhower join the military?
In 1911, Dwight was appointed to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. This allowed him a high quality free education. He was a star on the football field until a series of knee injuries forced him to stop playing. In 1915, Eisenhower graduated from West Point and became a second lieutenant.
Was Dwight Eisenhower married?
In 1915, Dwight was stationed in Texas where he met and started dating 18-year-old Mamie Geneva Doud from Denver, Colorado. They were married on July 1, 1916 and coincidentally he was promoted to first lieutenant on the same day.
What was Eisenhower’s role in the military?
Eisenhower enjoyed an illustrious career in the military. Moving around the world, while increasing in experience and rank. In 1942, he was promoted to Major General. A few months later, he became Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces and led Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa.
For most Americans, he’s probably best known for his role in World War II on D-Day, June 6, 1944, when he commanded the Allied forces in the Normandy, France invasion against the Germans.
Click here if you’d like to read more about D-Day and the tour we did in France.
General Eisenhower led his men to witness the atrocities at some of the first concentration camps that were liberated from the Nazis. If you plan to visit any Holocaust museums or historical sites, learn how you can prepare yourself or your kids for these important lessons.
In December of 1950, he accepted an appointment as the first Supreme Allied Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
When was Dwight D. Eisenhower president?
General Eisenhower was elected as the 34th president of the United States on November 4, 1952. He was the first Republican president in 20 years, but won by a landslide, probably due to his military accomplishments. He served two terms, 8 years in office.
Ike Eisenhower As a Boy in Abilene
I still had more time to kill after wandering the Eisenhower Library campus, so I took another detour down the main business street in town. On the corner of Third Street and North Spruce Street, I easily found a parking spot and started exploring the historic downtown area on foot. The first thing that caught my eye was a statue of Ike in his boyhood overalls in “Little Ike Park”. The park itself was quite small, basically the corner of a parking lot. But as I was walking through the gate I saw a display holding paper maps of their “Downtown Abilene Mural Walking Tour”.
I was standing at the beginning of the tour that covers about 5 short blocks in the historic downtown. I love street art and this would give me a taste of what else was in the area. Of course, I wanted to follow the map. I’ll share all about it in my next post, so be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter to be the first to find out when it’s available.
Eisenhower Street Mural
You can also catch another glimpse of Ike on your way back to the Interstate Highway. Head north on Buckeye Avenue from downtown or the Presidential Library and you’ll see this intentionally-pixelated black and white mural on the East side of the street, less than half a mile up the road from the Library. It’s on the side wall at Meysenburg’s Liquor Store, 405 N Buckeye Ave, Abilene, KS.
Did you know that there are no Presidential Libraries for the men who served before Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States? Learn more about the history of Presidential Libraries here. Have you had a chance to visit any of them? What was your favorite thing about it?
Be sure to come back to see what other discoveries I made in this small Midwestern town of Abilene (population 6,300) which I’ll share in a separate post.
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