Eisenhower National Historic Site facts for kids
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Eisenhower National Historic Site
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HABS photo of the main house
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mostly Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| 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 |
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| Added to NRHP | November 27, 1967 |
| Designated NHL | May 23, 1966 |
The Eisenhower National Historic Site is a special place. It keeps safe the home and farm of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was the 34th president of the United States. The property covers about 690.5 acres (279.4 ha).
This historic site is mostly in Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. It is very close to Gettysburg. President Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie, bought the farm in 1950.
When he became president in 1953, it was a quiet place for weekend breaks. It was also a spot where important world leaders met. 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 offered beautiful views of South Mountain and the Gettysburg Battlefield. This gave President Eisenhower a much-needed rest from his busy life in Washington. He also raised a successful herd of black Angus cattle there.
Many famous people visited the farm. These included Premier Nikita Khrushchev from the Soviet Union. President Charles de Gaulle of France also came. Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Britain was another guest. Even Governor Ronald Reagan of California visited, who later became president himself.
Contents
Eisenhower's Historic Home
The Story of the Farm
A Home for the Eisenhowers
Dwight D. Eisenhower, often called "Ike," had a long connection to the Gettysburg area. His class from West Point visited the battlefield in 1915. Later, in 1918, he was in charge of a tank training unit at nearby Camp Colt. This was his first independent command in the army. He and Mamie Eisenhower were newly married then.
Throughout his many years in the army, Dwight and Mamie never owned a home. They moved often from one army base to another. After Eisenhower became president of Columbia University in 1948, Mamie wanted a permanent home. Friends of theirs, George and Mary Allen, suggested the Gettysburg area. They had just bought a farm there.
In 1950, the Eisenhowers found a "run-down farm" near Gettysburg. They bought the farm and its 189 acres (76 ha) for $40,000. This was from Allen Redding, who had owned it since 1921. Eisenhower felt a connection to the land. He said he could feel the "forgotten heroisms" from the Battle of Gettysburg there.
Building Their Dream Home
When they bought the farm, it had 600 chickens and 25 cows. Many of the buildings were old and falling apart. They dated back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Plans to fix up the farm were put on hold. This was because Eisenhower became the supreme commander of North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1951.
After he became president in 1953, Mamie asked him to rebuild the old house. Much of the original house had to be torn down because it was so old. The total cost to renovate was $250,000. This was a lot of money, partly because Mamie had many ideas. It was also because Eisenhower hired union workers. These workers traveled each day from Washington, D.C., about 75 miles (121 km) away.
In 1955, the Eisenhowers celebrated their wedding anniversary. They held a party to mark the completion of the farm work. 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
From 1955 until his second term ended in 1961, President Eisenhower spent 365 days at the Gettysburg farm. His longest stay was 38 days in late 1955. He was recovering from a heart attack he had in September that year. After 1955, the Eisenhowers spent most weekends and summer vacations at the farm. Sometimes they visited both the Gettysburg farm and Camp David.
The Gettysburg farm also brought some challenges. Some people criticized Eisenhower for spending so much time there. Paul M. Butler, a political leader, even called him a "part-time president."
Once, a military friend, Bernard Montgomery, visited the farm. Eisenhower shared a military thought with him. He said he would have removed a leader who ordered a charge like Pickett's Charge. This was a comment about military strategy.
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited the farm in September 1959. He was very friendly to the Eisenhower grandchildren. David Eisenhower, one of the grandchildren, even said Khrushchev was so nice he might become a communist. This was a lighthearted comment that made the Eisenhowers smile.
The Eisenhowers gave their home and farm to the National Park Service in 1967. At that time, it was 230 acres (93 ha) in size. They kept the right to live there for the rest of their lives. 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
The Main House and Barns
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The farm is mostly in Cumberland Township. A small part of it is in Freedom Township.
Mamie Eisenhower made most of the decisions for decorating and building the house. At one point, Eisenhower told the builder, "Just give her what she wants and send me the bill." His main job was mixing paint for the barn. He thought the old red color was ugly. So, he painted it a light gray-green. Mamie loved using all the things they had kept in storage. She decorated with items that had special meaning to her.
Cattle were an important part of the farm. Eisenhower enjoyed showing off his cattle. He also loved to barbecue on the farm. Once, he made a mistake by saying which cow he was cooking. It was his granddaughter Susan Eisenhower's favorite cow, which made her sad.
Trees and Views
A line of fifty Norway spruce trees stands along the main driveway. These trees represent the fifty U.S. states. Each state's Republican Party chairman gave a tree to Eisenhower for his birthday in 1955. The tree furthest from the house was from Texas. It was a sign of Eisenhower's recovery when he could walk all the way to it after his heart attack.
The Eisenhowers, especially Dwight at first, spent a lot of time on a glass-covered porch. This porch overlooked 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. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. You can take tours of the home, the grounds, the barns, and see the cattle operation.
Visitors take a shuttle bus to the site. The bus leaves from the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center. The total area of the site is about 690 acres (280 ha). There are also two films you can watch about the grounds and President Eisenhower's life.
- Eisenhower National Historic Site
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The glass-enclosed porch
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The living room
See also
