Gettysburg has welcomed nearly all of our nation’s Presidents to visit, but President Eisenhower chose to retire there after this presidency. His home is now available to tour as part of the Gettysburg National Military Park.
The Eisenhower National Historical Site is set just outside of Gettysburg, on the outskirts of the Battlefield. The farm, which is now run by the National Park Service, is where President Eisenhower and his family escaped the White House on weekends and where world leaders met. This is also where they lived after his presidency.
Typically, you purchase your tickets at the Gettysburg Visitor Center and travel by bus to the farm, however due to COVID, visitors were permitted to park on site in 2020 and 2021. Check the National Park Service site for details before your trip. Students who are in the 4th grade are eligible to tour the house and gardens for free, so be sure to bring your Every Kid Outdoors pass when you go to purchase your tickets.
When you approach the farm, you’ll drive down a long driveway lined with fifty Norway spruce trees. These trees represent the fifty U.S. states and were given to the President as a gift from the states. Upon arriving, you should visit the on-site visitor center that includes artifacts from his campaign and presidency, as well as a short film.
If it’s open, you should plan to tour the house. When you step inside, it’s like going back in time. The house looks just like it did in the 1950s and gives you a glimpse into the Eisenhower’s life. See Mamie’s pink bathroom, the simple office where the President ran the country after recovering from a heart attack, and many of the other 24 rooms they spent their time in. See original paintings by Ike and all of Mamie’s collectibles. Almost all of the furnishings are the originals owned by the Eisenhowers.
After you’ve toured the house, you’ll have a chance to walk through the gardens and even visit the horse barn where Eisenhower practiced “Barnyard Diplomacy” with world leaders.
The best part about our visit, was that the boys were able to become Junior Secret Service Agents here, as part of the National Park’s Junior Ranger Program. They learned all about how real Secret Service Agents work to keep the President and his family safe at all times. They visited a room off the barn that served as a Secret Service office and searched for hidden cameras throughout the property. They even listened to a secret recording to find a code. Along the way they learned all about President and Mrs. Eisenhower and other world leaders who met here. At the end, they received a gold star pin to commemorate their achievement.
Things to Know Before You Go
We spent about 2-3 hours here. The boys loved running through the grounds outside. If you are taking the bus be sure you know what time the bus returns to the Visitor Center.
