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Farm offers glimpse into president's life

The Eisenhowers managed a working farm of prize-winning black Angus cattle. BY RON MACARTHUR
ron_macarthur
June 3, 2013
The Eisenhower National Historic Site has been restored to the way it looked in the 1960s. BY RON MACARTHUR
The main room and fireplace in the Eisenhower home. They spent more than $250,000 ($2.1 million in today's dollars) to restore the home in the 1950s. BY RON MACARTHUR
A view from a cattle barn shows some of the 690 acres on the farm near Gettysburg. BY RON MACARTHUR
Mamie Eisenhowser's room as it looked in the 1960s. Although renovations were completed in 1955, the couple did not move to the farm until after Dwight Eisenhower's second presidential term ended in 1961. BY RON MACARTHUR
Ike Eisenhower's signature as it appears in a guest book. A host of world leaders' names fill the book on display in the house. BY RON MACARTHUR
The farm's cattle barns were state-of-the art during the 1960s. BY RON MACARTHUR
Spring wild flowers cover a field on the Eisenhower farm. BY RON MACARTHUR
Tours are available of the Eisenhower farm. BY RON MACARTHUR
Walking the grounds of the farm is like stepping back 50 years. BY RON MACARTHUR
An old air pump remains as a reminder of a bygone era.

Eisenhower National Historic Site is the home and farm of General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Located adjacent to the Gettysburg Battlefield, the farm served as a weekend retreat and a meeting place for world leaders.

The Eisenhowers, who moved dozens of times and lived all over the world, considered this their first real home. The Eisenhower National Historic Site is open daily from 9 a.m. 5 p.m., except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. The home, grounds, barns and cattle operation are available for public tours. Visitors can reach the site via a shuttle bus which departs from the Gettysburg National Military Park visitor center.

The home and farm have been preserved as they looked 50 years ago.

Go to nps.gov/eise for more information.

  • Ron MacArthur has lived and worked in Sussex County all his life. As a journalist for nearly 50 years, he has covered everything from county and town meetings to presidential visits. He also has a unique perspective having served as an elected official and lived on both sides of the county.

    Contact Ron at ronm@capegazette.com

    More Mac’s World Blog Posts

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