Eisenhower National Historic Site facts for kids
|
Eisenhower National Historic Site
|
|
HABS photo of the main house
|
|
 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Cumberland Township, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Area | 690.5 acres (279.4 ha) |
| Visitation | 61,210 (2010) |
| Website | Eisenhower National Historic Site |
| NRHP reference No. | 67000017 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | November 27, 1967 |
| Designated NHL | May 23, 1966 |
The Eisenhower National Historic Site is a special place that protects the home and farm of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was the 34th President of the United States. The site covers about 690.5 acres (279.4 ha) of land. It is located in Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. This is right outside the town of Gettysburg.
General Eisenhower and his wife Mamie bought the farm in 1950. It became a quiet place for the President to relax on weekends. It was also a spot where important world leaders would meet. After leaving the White House in 1961, it became the Eisenhowers' full-time home.
The farm had a putting green and a skeet range. It also had great views of South Mountain and the Gettysburg Battlefield. This helped President Eisenhower relax from his busy life in Washington. The farm also raised cattle, especially black Angus cattle. Famous guests who visited included Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, French President Charles de Gaulle, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and California Governor Ronald Reagan.
Contents
History of the Eisenhower Farm
Eisenhower's Connection to Gettysburg
Dwight D. Eisenhower, often called "Ike," had a long connection to the Gettysburg area. In 1915, his class from the West Point visited the famous battlefield. Later, in 1918, he was in charge of a tank training unit at nearby Camp Colt. This was his first independent command as an army officer. He and Mamie Eisenhower had just gotten married.
Finding a Home
Throughout his long career in the army, Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower never owned their own home. They moved often from one army base to another. After Eisenhower became president of Columbia University in 1948, Mamie really wanted a place they could call their own. Friends of theirs, George and Mary Allen, had bought a farm near Gettysburg. They suggested the area to the Eisenhowers.
In 1950, the Eisenhowers found an old, "run-down farm" near Gettysburg. They bought the farm and its 189 acres (76 ha) for $40,000. This was from a man named Allen Redding, who had owned it since 1921. Eisenhower felt a strong connection to the land. He said he could feel the "forgotten heroisms" from the Battle of Gettysburg that happened there.
Rebuilding the Farmhouse
When they bought the farm, it had 600 chickens, 25 cows, and many old, falling-apart buildings. These buildings dated back to the 1700s and 1800s. Plans to fix up the farm were put on hold. This happened when Eisenhower became the supreme commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1951.
After he became President in 1953, Mamie asked him to rebuild the old house. Much of the original building was in such bad shape that it had to be torn down. The total cost to rebuild was $250,000. This was a lot of money partly because Mamie wanted many things. It was also because Eisenhower hired union workers. These workers traveled 75 miles from Washington, D.C., each day to work on the farmhouse.
In 1955, the Eisenhowers celebrated their wedding anniversary. They held a party to mark the completion of the work on the house. The entire staff of the White House was invited. They came in two groups so the White House would still have staff working. The staff were very thankful to the Eisenhowers for including them.
Life at the Farm as President
From 1955 until he left office in 1961, President Eisenhower spent 365 days at his Gettysburg farm. His longest stay was 38 days in late 1955. This was when he was getting better from a heart attack he had that September. After 1955, the Eisenhowers spent most weekends and summer breaks at the farm. They sometimes went to both the Gettysburg farm and Camp David.
The farm also caused a few small problems. Some people from the Democratic Party criticized Eisenhower. They said he was a "part-time president" because he spent so much time away. When his World War II friend Bernard Montgomery visited, Eisenhower talked about a battle strategy. He said he would have fired a soldier who made a certain mistake during the Pickett's Charge battle.
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited the farm in September 1959. He was very friendly to the Eisenhower grandchildren. David Eisenhower, the President's grandson, even said Khrushchev was so nice that he (David) might become a Communist if he didn't know better! This was a funny moment for the family.
The Farm Becomes a Historic Site
The Eisenhowers gave their home and farm (about 230 acres (93 ha) at the time) to the National Park Service in 1967. This meant the former president could live there for the rest of his life. Two years later, Eisenhower passed away at age 78. Mamie Eisenhower chose to stay on the farm until her death in 1979. The National Park Service opened the site to the public in 1980.
Exploring the Grounds
_(cropped).jpg)
Mamie Eisenhower made most of the decisions for decorating and building the house. At one point, Eisenhower told the builder, "For God's sakes, just give her what she wants and send me the bill." His main concern was mixing the paint for the barn. He thought the red color was ugly, so he painted it a light gray-green. Mamie was happy to finally use all the things they had kept in storage. She decorated with items that had special meaning to her.
The farm also raised cattle. Eisenhower loved to barbecue on the farm. Once, he made a mistake by saying which cow he was cooking. It turned out to be his granddaughter Susan Eisenhower's favorite cow, which made her very sad.
A line of fifty Norway spruce trees stands along the main driveway. These trees represent the fifty U.S. states. Each tree was a birthday gift to Eisenhower from the Republican Party chairman of a different state in 1955. The tree furthest from the house was from Texas. It was a sign of Eisenhower's recovery that he could walk that far after his heart attack.
The Eisenhowers, especially Dwight, spent a lot of time on a glass-covered porch. This porch looked out over Seminary Ridge. They enjoyed reading and playing cards with friends there. It is said that Eisenhower would sit for hours, thinking about his life and what he had achieved.
Visiting Today
The Eisenhower National Historic Site is open every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. You can take tours of the home, the grounds, the barns, and see where the cattle were raised. Visitors can get to the site by taking a shuttle bus. The bus leaves from the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center. The total land area of the site is about 690 acres (280 ha). Two different films share stories about the site and President Eisenhower's life.
- Eisenhower National Historic Site
-
Porch
-
Living Room
