From FDR to LBJ, 6 presidential libraries to check out

There are zero books to borrow at the presidential library. These facilities are actually museums, archives, and event spaces filled with documents, photos, videos, and artifacts from past presidents. The National Archives and Records Administration oversees 15 of these libraries, each designed to be immersive and easy to understand, allowing the public to learn about the president's life before and after the White House. You can take a closer look.

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California

When you enter the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, you feel like you're on a movie set. President Reagan, an actor turned politician, knows the power of props and has no shortage of blockbusters. Visitors walk inside the Air Force His One that transported the President from 1973 to his 2001, tour the inside of his Marine Helicopter helicopter, and see his limousine in President Reagan's parade in 1984. You can watch it. A full-size replica of the Oval Office is exactly as it was during the Reagan administration, and not far in the garden is a large section of the Berlin Wall. Nancy Reagan also has her own permanent exhibit, filled with dresses and baubles she wore during her time as First Lady.

Harry Truman Library & Museum in Independence, Missouri

Harry Truman had a front row seat to some of the most defining moments in modern American history. “Harry S. Truman: An Ordinary Man, His Extraordinary Journey” explores his experiences, from his time as a soldier in World War I to his brief foray into a discontinued haberdashery, from the Truman Library. This is a new permanent exhibition. From the recession of 1921 to, of course, his presidency at the end of World War II. An introductory film introduces visitors to Truman, and newsreels, documents, and artifacts fill the remaining galleries. The library, which opened in 1957, recently underwent the largest renovation in its history.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston, Massachusetts

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum explores the shortened presidency and life. This gallery offers a glimpse of Camelot, including a menu covered in Kennedy's handwritten notes, a framed photo of children Caroline and John F. Kennedy Jr. that sat on the Oval Office desk, and Jacqueline Kennedy. Items on display include a watercolor painting of the White House by Mr. The Oleg Cassini dress she wore to the state dinner. The most spectacular exhibit may be “The White House Corridors: Gifts from Heads of State,” which displays the gifts the Kennedy family received from world leaders. Highlights include a gold wallet decorated with diamonds and emeralds from King Hassan of Morocco and a stucco statue of his 2nd century Buddha statue from Mohammad Zahirshah, the last king of Afghanistan.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home in Abilene, Kansas

Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “The proudest claim I can make is that I am from Abilene.” Visitors to his library and museum can learn more about their roots, starting with his boyhood home on the grounds. A guided tour takes you through the cozy wood-framed house where Eisenhower and his brothers grew up, complete with exact replicas of the original furniture and wallpaper. This trendy museum is even larger at 25,000 square feet. Artifacts such as digital displays, photographs, military uniforms, posters, and the table used to plan his day tell the story of Eisenhower and his wife Mamie's life, leadership during World War II, and the presidency. I am.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum (Hyde Park, New York)

After four terms as president, the library will be filled with all kinds of materials. Franklin D. Roosevelt is the reason modern presidential libraries exist. Prior to his inauguration, White House records were often lost, destroyed, and sold, and seeing the vast amounts of paper produced by the administration, FDR decided to create a more appropriate way to store these documents. I thought there needed to be a safe method. Something for future generations to learn from. Permanent exhibits show how President Roosevelt led the country through the Great Depression and World War II, exploring his fireside chats and the relationship between the president, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and the American people. I did. What the library doesn't do is avoid the FDR controversy, allowing visitors to view flipbooks containing documents and photos about Japanese American internment camps.

LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas

Lyndon B. Johnson still lives in a Texas library. The LBJ animatronic was once on display at Neiman His Marcus in Dallas and used audio recordings from the archives to entertain visitors with some of the president's favorite stories. Inside the impressive Great Hall, Johnson appears multiple times in a 50-foot-long photo-sculptural mural by artist Naomi Savage, depicting various stages of his political career. Lady Bird Johnson has also been praised for her work, with the First Lady Gallery dedicated to causes close to her, such as her humanitarian work and environmental protection. Visitors can also step into a replica of the Oval Office and the office where Lady Bird worked.