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Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home

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Dwight D. Eisenhower
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Dwight D. Eisenhower's signature

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The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home is the presidential library and museum 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,[1] and his final resting place. It is one of the fourteen presidential libraries under the auspices of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

Admission to the Visitor Center, Place of Meditation (gravesite), and the archives is free. Admission to the museum is $12 for adults and includes a tour of the Boyhood Home. The complex is open every day except New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.[2]

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. [3]

Establishment of the Foundation

As World War II came to an end, admirers of the Supreme Commander of UN forces in Europe decided that he deserved to be honored with a tourist attraction. In 1945, a non-profit foundation was set up to purchase his boyhood home and build a museum on the property. The museum would focus on World War II in general and the military Eisenhower in particular.[4]

Problems and Scandals

The first problem the foundation faced was the General's mother Ida, who was still alive and refused to sell the property. With her death in 1946, another bid to purchase the property was made, this time successfully. The fund-raising tactics of the foundation, however offended the General and his brothers, and this almost scuttled the project. Strict rules were then laid down in a so-called "Gentlemans' agreement" and the General's brother Milton was put in charge.[4]

Construction of the Museum

Mrs. Eisenhower's home opened to the public as a museum on June 22, 1947.[4] and the cornerstone of an Eisenhower/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 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

With the constraints on the foundation by the "gentleman's agreement" still in place, the Kansas Legislature took up the slack authorizing a separate "Eisenhower Presidential Library Commission", and over the next five years enough money was raised to begin construction in 1959. Again, President Eisenhower 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:[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.
  • A chapel, known as "The Place of Meditation;" the final resting place of the president, the First Lady, and their first-born son.

Also on the site:

  • A statue of General Eisenhower by Robert L. Dean, Jr., presented to the campus by the Harry and Edith Darby Foundation.
  • Five pylons inscribed with phrases commemorating Eisenhower's life from birth through the Presidency.
  • Graves of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower
    Graves of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower
  • Graves of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower and Mamie Eisenhower
    Graves of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower and Mamie Eisenhower
  • Graves of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower and Mamie Eisenhower
    Graves of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower and Mamie Eisenhower
  • The Eisenhower family home
    The Eisenhower family home
  • The Eisenhower family home
    The Eisenhower family home

References

  1. ^ Tanner, Beccy (December 9, 2015). "Abilene Site Celebrates Eisenhower's Life". Pantagraph.com. The Pantagraph. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  2. ^ "Hours and Admissions". Eisenhower Presidential Library. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  3. ^ Pusey, Merlo J. (1956). Eisenhower: The President. New York: The MacMillan Company. ISBN 9780758190826.
  4. ^ a b c "The Presidential Libraries". White House History. 40.
  5. ^ Tanner, Beccy (August 23, 2015). "Eisenhower Foundation Launches Fundraising Campaign to Update Abilene Exhibits". The Wichita Eagle. Abilene, Kansas. Retrieved March 4, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  6. ^ Stokes, Keith (2016). "The Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum". KansasTravel.org. Keith Stokes. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  7. ^ http://ks-eisenhowerpresidentiallibrary.civicplus.com/260/Campus-Features


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