Jimmy Carter National Historical Park

The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, located in Plains, Georgia, preserves sites associated with Jimmy Carter (born 1924), 39th president of the United States. These include his residence, boyhood farm, school, and the town railroad depot, which served as his campaign headquarters during the 1976 election. The building which used to be Plains High School (opened in 1921 and closed in 1979) serves as the park's museum and visitor center. As Carter lives in Plains, the area surrounding the residence is under the protection of the United States Secret Service and is not open to the public.

Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Visitor Center
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park is located in Georgia
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park is located in the United States
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
Location300 N. Bond St., Plains, Georgia
Coordinates32.0304393°N 84.4182473°W / 32.0304393; -84.4182473[1]
Area71 acres (29 ha)
Visitation51,580[2] (2018)
WebsiteJimmy Carter National Historical Park
NRHP reference No.01000272[3]
Significant dates
Designated NHSDecember 23, 1987
Designated NHP2021

The Carters returned to Plains in 1981. The former President and First Lady Rosalynn Carter pursue many of the goals of his administration through the Carter Center in Atlanta, which has programs to alleviate human suffering and to promote human rights and world peace. When they are in Plains, Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church, which is open to the public.

It was established in 1987 by Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 100–206 as Jimmy Carter National Historic Site and renamed as a national historical park in 2021.

Visitor center and museum

The former Plains High School, which both Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter attended, now serves as the park's visitor center and museum.[4] It features a classroom, principal's office, and auditorium which have been restored to look as they would have when Jimmy Carter attended.[4] An exact replica of the Resolute desk, which Jimmy Carter brought back to the Oval Office to use as his presidential desk, is exhibited, as is his 2002 Nobel Peace Prize. Other rooms feature exhibits that explain the lives of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, and a short video focuses on the life of Jimmy Carter according to his friends, neighbors, and family.[4]

Boyhood home

The farm in rural Archery where Jimmy lived from age four in 1928 until he left for college[4] in 1941 has been restored to its appearance before electricity was installed in 1938.[4]

Campaign headquarters

The former Plains Train Depot, where Carter headquartered his presidential campaign, now serves as a museum focusing on the 1976 Presidential Campaign and Election.[4] It features exhibits which highlight Jimmy Carter's campaign for President. The train depot operated from 1888 until 1951,[4] when all public transportation to and from the area ceased.[5]

Carter compound
Main article: 209 Woodland Drive

The current home of the Carters, 209 Woodland Drive, while not open to the public, is technically a part of the park.[6] The Carters have lived in the home since 1961.[7] During his presidency, it was used as his Summer White House.[7]

The Carters intend to be buried in the grounds of the house by a willow tree on the lawn of the property.[8] The intent is for the National Park Service (NPS) to turn the house into a museum and open to public tours after the couple's deaths.[8][9]

Photos

Plains Train Depot
  • Plains train depot, which served as the 1976 Carter campaign headquarters
    Plains train depot, which served as the 1976 Carter campaign headquarters
  • Interior of the campaign headquarters
    Interior of the campaign headquarters

Visitor Center and Museum
  • Carter's High School, now a museum and visitor center
    Carter's High School, now a museum and visitor center
  • Detail of classroom
    Detail of classroom
  • Auditorium
    Auditorium
  • Historical Marker
    Historical Marker

Carter Boyhood Farm
  • Map of farm
    Map of farm
  • A water pump powered by a windmill
    A water pump powered by a windmill
  • Barn and old farm equipment
    Barn and old farm equipment
  • Blacksmith shop
    Blacksmith shop
  • Earl and Lillian Carter home
    Earl and Lillian Carter home
  • Detail of front porch
    Detail of front porch
  • Detail of dining room
    Detail of dining room
  • Detail of bedroom
    Detail of bedroom
  • Detail of bedroom
    Detail of bedroom
  • Carter family country store
    Carter family country store
  • Detail of country store
    Detail of country store
  • Rachel and Jack Clark's tenant house
    Rachel and Jack Clark's tenant house
  • Tenant house, main room
    Tenant house, main room
  • Tenant house, kitchen
    Tenant house, kitchen

See also

Sources
  1. "Jimmy Carter National Historical Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. "Park Statistics - Jimmy Carter National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov.
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. "Jimmy Carter National Historic Site - Things To Do". Retrieved June 20, 2012.
  5. "Jimmy Carter National Historic Site - Things To Know Before You Come". Retrieved June 20, 2012.
  6. "Jimmy Carter National Historic Site - Hours". Retrieved June 20, 2012.
  7. "Presidential Avenue: Jimmy Carter". Archived from the original on December 31, 2003. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
  8. Kevin Sullivan; Mary Jordan (August 17, 2018). "The un-celebrity president". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  9. Rob Hotakainen (November 13, 2019). "Jimmy Carter, Park Service prepare for 'life after death'". E&E News. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
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