President's Day Special! Three presidential homes in three days in three states: Part 1 Jimmy Carter/Plains, GA

Chris outside of Plains High School, now a museum.

 

In honor of President's Day, we're posting our latest Presidential Homes/Libraries trifecta. This month, en route from Florida back to our home in Michigan, we visited three presidential homes, in three different states in three days. We are now up to eleven such POTUS landmarks, with less than forty to fulfill our goal of setting foot in all. 

Large "tea mug" purchased at museum gift shop.

We first stopped in Plains, Georgia, home of Jimmy Carter, then on to Columbia, Tennesse to the James K. Polk Museum and, finally, to Hodgenville, Kentucky to see Knob Creek, early residence of Abraham Lincoln.

All three sites were, coincidentally, homes of the presidents when they boys or young adults, however, they displayed a range of original possessions from none at all to rooms filled with family treasures. 

We'll devote three separate blogs to each of these presidential sites, starting in order of our travels. First up, the 39th President, Jimmy Carter.

The home of Jimmy and Roslyn Carter - to open to the public later this year.

Jimmy Carter's home in Plains, GA.

Jimmy Carter's home in Plains, Georgia is a short car ride from the small town which once included brother Billy's working gas station and the public high school, now a museum. 

Billy Carter's gas station.

Billy's gas station, in Plains, no longer open.

As one who remembers not only Jimmy Carter's presidency and First Lady Rosalyn, but Billy Beer and Miss Lilian, Plains seemed comfortingly familiar. After a stop at the high school, which pays great homage to both Jimmy and Rosalyn - the latter was Valedictorian, class of 1944 - and a "supermarket sweep" tour of the gift shop (Jimmy Carter heavy duty tea mug, pewter peanut earrings), we drove through town in the direction of the childhood home and farm of the 39th President. On the way, we passed Billy's gas station as well as the former home of Jimmy and Rosalyn, set to be opened to the public later this year. (But, worth noting, the high school museum docent told us that the gardens will be available to visit later this spring).

Outside Jimmy Carter's boyhood home.

Carter's peanuts on display in museum

Once at the Carter farm, it's a quick walk from the parking lot to the home. However, there were no docents at this location - it was a self-guided tour, complete with descriptive placards in each room and optional recordings. 

Although, there are few original items of the Carter's, period pieces are used to represent what the family would have used. Jimmy Carter's father, Earl, moved the family here in 1928. He originally grew cotton, corn and peanuts, but switched to focus primarily on peanuts a decade later.

Bathroom small and rustic - but no complaints.

Outdoor facilities before indoor bathroom.

   

That was also the time electricity came to the Carter home - a much-welcomed addition along with indoor plumbing.  In the house bathroom, you can see the somewhat primitive shower set up, but, per the overhead recording, no one complained of the cold water or small space. Everyone appreciated having indoor facilities, a real improvement from the open-air alternative.

Dining room outside the kitchen, used for special guests.

The back of the home faces the railroad tracks. The train would thunder past in the early morning hours, waking any guests who weren't used to the bellowing sound. However, the sisters of Jimmy Carter who shared the back bedroom closest to the tracks were said to enjoy getting up every now and then to view the trains as they went by.

Back porch facing the nearby railroad tracks.

In addition to the farm, the Carter family also ran a store on the grounds. (I spotted a tea kettle, but not sure if that was part of typical merchandise sold there).

Carter farm and store. Reaching for a tea kettle, though, not original merch.

This presidential home was especially meaningful on the heels of Jimmy Carter's passing in December of last year, living until 100 years of age. He and his family saw - and accomplished - a lot in those many decades. It's worth a visit to see just how far that journey went from Plains to Washington and back home again.