Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home
Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home | |
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General information | |
Location | Abilene, Kansas,U.S. |
Coordinates | 38°54′44″N97°12′39″W/ 38.91222°N 97.21083°W |
Named for | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
Management | NARA |
Website | |
Eisenhower Library, Museum and Boyhood Home |
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World War II
34th President of the United States
First Term
Second Term
Presidential campaigns Post-Presidency
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TheDwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Homeis thepresidential libraryand museum ofDwight David Eisenhower,the34thpresident of the United States(1953–1961), located in his hometown ofAbilene, Kansas.The museum includesEisenhower's boyhood home,where he lived from 1898 until being appointed toWest Pointin 1911,[1]and is also the president's final resting place. It is one of the thirteen presidential libraries under the auspices of theNational Archives and Records Administration(NARA).
History
[edit]The Eisenhower Presidential complex is only one of two whose creation preceded the close of a presidency, and while this is obviously the case with his boyhood home, construction of the library itself began in 1958, and the museum portion before he even took office, coinciding with the then-General's announcement of his presidential candidacy in June 1952.[2]
Eisenhower Foundation
[edit]AsWorld War IIcame to an end, local admirers of theSupreme Commander of Allied forces in Europe,such asCharles L. Brainard,decided to honor Eisenhower with a museum. In 1945, a non-profit foundation in his name was created to purchase his boyhood home and build the museum on the same property. It was to house artifacts from veterans, and the honors of Eisenhower in particular.[3]At the time, the General's motherIdawas still alive and refused to sell the property. When she died in 1946, another purchase attempt was made. However, the fund-raising tactics of the foundation offended Eisenhower, and this almost scuttled the project. New fundraising rules were established for the Foundation after its discussion with Ike's youngest brotherMilton,and agreement by all the Eisenhower brothers.[3]They ultimately donated the house to the Foundation, and the entire site, in south Abilene, later became the Eisenhower Presidential Center.[4]
Construction of the Museum
[edit]Mrs. Eisenhower's home opened to the public as a museum on June 22, 1947.[3]and the cornerstone of an Eisenhower/World War II museum was laid in June 1952 by the General himself, just before he accepted thedraftand formally announced his candidacy for President.
The museum was completed in 1954, and the President was in attendance when it was formally opened on November 11 of that year. He was impressed by the results, and told the leadership of the foundation that if they could raise the money to build a facility, he would donate his papers and other materials to it.
A fundraising campaign launched in 2015 seeks to refresh and expand the museum's exhibits in 2018. If plans remain the same, the museum would be closed for about a year while the remainder of the site would remain open as usual.[5]
Construction and dedication of the library
[edit]With the fundraising constraints on the foundation still in place in 1954, theKansas Legislaturetook up the slack, authorizing a separate "Eisenhower Presidential Library Commission," and over the next five years enough money was raised to begin construction. Again, President Eisenhower was present when ground was broken on October 13, 1959. The project took three years to complete, andVice PresidentLyndon B. Johnsonjoined the retired President Eisenhower at the dedication on May 1, 1962.[3]
Operation of the site was turned over to theNARAin 1966, when it became the fourth library in the system.
Campus
[edit]The campus has five buildings:[6][7]
- The Library
- The Museum,restored and rededicated in 1971.
- Visitors Center,containing a gift shop and theater where a short film on the President is shown several times daily.
- Boyhood Home
- A chapel,known as "The Place of Meditation;" the final resting place of the president, the First Lady, and their first-born son, Doud Eisenhower.
Also on the site:
- A statue of General Eisenhowerby Robert L. Dean, Jr., presented to the campus by the Harry and Edith Darby Foundation.
- Five pylonsinscribed with phrases commemorating Eisenhower's life from birth through the Presidency.
Gallery
[edit]-
Grounds as seen from approach to place of meditation
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Front of Eisenhower boyhood home, southwest corner
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Southeast corner of boyhood home
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Eisenhower statue in "Champion of Peace" circle, with memorial pylons in background
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Inside Museum lobby;Defense SecretaryRobert Gatesand Army Capt. Josh Mantz, 2010
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Museum tour; Secretary Gates and Museum Director Karl Weissenbach, 2010
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View from entry corridor of "Place of Meditation"
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Graves of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Doud Dwight Eisenhower and Mamie Eisenhower
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Grave of Dwight D. Eisenhower
See also
[edit]- Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport
- Presidential memorials in the United States
- List of residences of presidents of the United States
- List of burial places of presidents and vice presidents of the United States
References
[edit]- ^Tanner, Beccy (December 9, 2015)."Abilene Site Celebrates Eisenhower's Life".Pantagraph.The Pantagraph.RetrievedMarch 3,2017.
- ^Pusey, Merlo J. (1956).Eisenhower: The President.New York: The MacMillan Company.ISBN9780758190826.
- ^abcdWeissenbach, Karl (2016). "Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home".White House History(40). White House Historical Association: 45–49.ISSN0748-8114.
- ^Clotworthy, William G. (May 2008).Homes and Libraries of the Presidents(3rd ed.). Blacksburg, Virginia: The McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company. pp. 258–9.ISBN0-939923-34-3.
- ^Tanner, Beccy (August 23, 2015)."Eisenhower Foundation Launches Fundraising Campaign to Update Abilene Exhibits".The Wichita Eagle.Abilene, Kansas.RetrievedMarch 4,2017.
- ^Stokes, Keith (2016)."The Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum".KansasTravel.org.Keith Stokes.RetrievedOctober 7,2014.
- ^Olsen, Karen Torme (June 17, 2016)."After a Visit to Abilene, I Like Ike".Chicago Tribune.Abilene, Kansas.RetrievedMarch 5,2017.
External links
[edit]- Official site of the Eisenhower Library, Museum and Boyhood Home
- The Eisenhower Foundation (Kansas) website
- "Life Portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower",fromC-SPAN'sAmerican Presidents: Life Portraits,broadcast from the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, October 25, 1999