Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home is the presidential library, museum, and resting place of Dwight David Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States (1953–1961), located in his hometown of Abilene, Kansas. The museum also includes his boyhood home, where he lived from 1898 until being appointed to West Point in 1911. It is one of the thirteen presidential libraries under the auspices of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

Admission to the Visitor Center, Boyhood Home, Place of Meditation (gravesite), and the archives is free. Admission to the museum is $12 for adults. The complex is open every day except New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

History

The Eisenhower Presidential complex is only one of two that 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.

Establishment of the Foundation

As World War II came to an end, admirers of the Supreme Commander of UN forces in Europe, decided that deserved to honored with a tourist attraction, and in 1945, a non-profit foundation was set up to purchase his boyhood home and build a museum on the property which would focus on World War II in general and the general in particular.

Problems and Scandals

The first problem the foundation was faced with was the General's mother Ida, who was still alive and refused to sell the property. With her death in 1946, a another bid to sell the property was made, this time more successful. However, fund-raising tactics offended the General and his brothers, almost scuttling the project. Strict rules were laid down in a so-called "Gentleman's agreement" and the General's brother Milton was put in charge.

Construction of the Museum

Mrs. Eisonhower's home opened to the public as a museum on June 22, 1947. and the cornerstone of an Eisonhower/World War II museum was laid in June 1952 by the General himself, just before he accepted the draft and formally announced his candidacy for President.

The museum was completed in 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.

Construction and dedication of the library

With the constraints on the foundation by the "gentleman's agreement" still in place, the Kansas Legislature took up the slack authorizing a separate "Eisonhower Presidential Library Commission", and over the next five years enough money was raised to begin construction in 1959. Again, President Eisonhower was there when ground was broken on October 13, 1959. The project took three years and the now former President was there at the dedication on May 1, 1962.

Running of the site was turned over to the NARA in 1966, becoming the fourth library in the system.

The Campus

The campus has five buildings:

• The Library

*The Museum

The museum was restored and rededicated in 1971,

*Visitors Center

As with most facilities of it's kind, it houses a gift shop and theater where a short film on the President is shown several times daily.

*Boyhood Home

Also, a small graveyard, known as "The Place of Meditation" is the final resting place of the president, the First Lady, and their first-born son. There is also a statue of the President as a General by Robert L. Dean, Jr. was presented to the campus by the Harry and Edith Darby Foundation.

Gallery

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  Graves of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower
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  Graves of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower and Mamie Eisenhower
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  Graves of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower and Mamie Eisenhower
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  The Eisenhower family home
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  The Eisenhower family home
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External links

• Official site of the Eisenhower Library, Museum and Boyhood Home website
• Records of the General Services Administration regarding Eisenhower Presidential Center site acquisition, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library regarding site acquisition, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home
• "Life Portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower", from C-SPAN's American Presidents: Life Portraits, broadcast from the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, October 25, 1999