Jimmy Carter National Historical Park (original) (raw)

National Historical Park of the United States in Georgia

United States historic place

Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Former U.S. National Historic Site
U.S. National Historical Park

Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Visitor Center
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Location	300 N. Bond St., Plains, Georgia
Coordinates	32°01′50″N 84°25′06″W / 32.0304393°N 84.4182473°W / 32.0304393; -84.4182473 [2]
Area	71 acres (29 ha)
Visitation	51,580[3] (2018)
Website	Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
NRHP reference No.	01000272 [1]
Significant dates
Designated NHS	December 23, 1987
Designated NHP	2021

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, including the burial site of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter (1927–2023) is under the protection of the United States Secret Service and is not open to the public.

The Carters returned to Plains in 1981. The former President and First Lady pursued 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. Carter taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church, which is open to the public.

It was established in 1987 by Pub. L. 100–206 as Jimmy Carter National Historic Site and renamed as a national historical park in 2021.

Visitor center and museum

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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 and farm

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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

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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 home and burial site

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The current home of the Carters at 209 Woodland Drive, while not open to the public, is 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]

Rosalynn Carter is buried on the grounds of the house by a willow tree on the lawn of the property. Jimmy Carter intends to be buried next to his late wife upon his death.[8] The intent is for the National Park Service (NPS) to turn the house into a museum and open it to public tours after Jimmy Carter's passing.[8][9]