Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum - Abilene - TravBuddy

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum is a multi-faceted facility dedicated to the memory of the 34th President of the United States. It consists of the former general and president’s papers housed in the Research Library; The Pylons, a group of obelisk-like monuments that commemorate the six Eisenhower (including Dwight D) who grew to adulthood; The Museum, which holds many objects from the life and careers of Eisenhower; The Eisenhower Boyhood Home, the actual home the president grew up in, and The Place of Meditation, which is a combination chapel and tomb.

When we went in July 2003 I particularly enjoyed the museum. As would be expected there were many World War II items, as Eisenhower commanded the Allied Forces during that conflict. But what I found most interesting were the extraordinary ordinary things. Foremost among them was an electric car, vintage 1914, owned by Mamie Eisenhower’s parents. Through the museum I also learned that Mamie’s parents were well to do, and lived in my home state of Colorado. I knew that the Eisenhower’s held a special place in their hearts for Colorado. This explained why.

The Pylons could use more explanation as to why they were erected and what parts the other Eisenhowers played in US history. But, to be honest we weren’t able to give them a lot of attention on this trip, so we may have missed it.

The Library was not open on the Sunday we went, and is chiefly for research anyway. So the average tourist would not access it anyway.

The Place of Meditation had a very somber feel to it. It very much felt like walking into a church, during a funeral. There are stained glass windows adding to that feel. The graves of the President, First Lady, and their deceased son, Doud Dwight, are at one end. They are laid to rest in a three sided tomb, made of marble, with plain, but powerful, grave covers. There are three brass plaques that give the birth and death information at the foot of the graves.

We did not tour the Boyhood home. I believe we skipped it due to time, and preferred to spend what time we did have at the Museum and Place of Meditation. But the Boyhood home had a very homey appearance and gave every promise of representing a turn of the 20th Century experience.

We spent about an hour, but could have easily doubled that. The museum was smaller than I expected, but not small. His life covered such an important and seminal part of US history, I expected more. Perhaps there is just not room for all they have to display. That does seem likely as space did not seem to be wasted or unused.

If in the area, I would probably see it again, to see what I had missed, but after one complete visit you will have covered the material pretty well.