Eisenhower was the 34th president and a five-star general during World War II. He opposed Communism abroad, McCarthyism at home, and authorized the establishment of NASA. His library, museum, and boyhood home is a must-see for Cold War enthusiasts!
The Library
The Eisenhower Presidential Library has 26 million pages of historical records and papers, 335,000 photographs, 768,000 feet of original motion picture film, 1,130 hours of audio on tape and CD, and 70,000 artifacts from his life and administration. Some of this is open to the public, but there are also dedicated research areas.
The Museum
The museum nearby is made of Kansas limestone and was dedicated on Veteran's Day in 1954. While the museum houses many artifacts from his life and career, it also contains President Eisenhower's collection of fine art. There are five galleries covering over 30,000 square feet. These include an introductory gallery, a first lady's gallery, galleries dedicated to his time in the military and as president, and a gallery set aside for temporary exhibits.
The museum also holds events in the area, such as a "Pop-Up Museum" at the local symphony. The Pop-Up Museum is a sort of historical potluck where locals are invited to bring their own historical memorabilia to display and share its story.
The Boyhood Home
In 1898, David Eisenhower and his wife Ida bought a fairly unremarkable nineteenth-century home from David's uncle, Abraham Lincoln Eisenhower. President Eisenhower lived here until 1911 when he entered West Point. Ida lived here until she passed away in 1946, and the home still contains its original furnishings and identical wallpapers. In 1947, the house was used as a World War II Veterans Memorial and today stands as part of the Eisenhower Library.
The Grounds
In addition to the three main sites, the grounds also hold the Place of Meditation where the former president is interred with his wife Mamie and their first-born son Doud. The building features Kansas limestone and includes a place where Eisenhower hoped that visitors would reflect on the ideals that made America great. There is also a statue in bronze of the man himself constructed by Robert Lee Dean. There are even five pylons bearing a short history of the homestead and laying out the family's ideals.
The Surrounding Area
With less than 7,000 people, Abilene, Kansas, is a small town. But, there are a few things worth checking out. The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad runs public excursion trains that show tourists the surroundings from both a modern train and from a vintage steam locomotive. The Great Plains Theater runs plays and films out of a converted Presbyterian church from 1881, and Old Abilene Town is a replica historic district that includes several of the town's original buildings gathered together for the sake of keeping history alive.
