Not every former US president has built one — only 15 have done so since Congress established the practice with the Presidential Libraries Act in 1955. Maintained by the National Archives, the libraries preserve documents and artifacts from a president's time in office. Some also include museums with exhibits about their administrations.
On a trip to Atlanta in 2023, I spent the afternoon at The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, which opened in 1986. The library stores millions of documents, photos, and hours of video from Carter's time in the White House, and the museum features 15,269 square feet of exhibits about his life and presidency, according to the organization's official website.
Carters's presidential library and museum will continue to preserve his legacy following the former president's death on Sunday at the age of 100.
Here's what I found surprising during my visit.
I didn't realize how many other programs were housed at Jimmy Carter's presidential library.A map of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
The 30-acre campus houses The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conflict resolution, eradicating diseases, and promoting human rights around the world. The grounds also contain a restaurant, non-denominational chapel, reception hall, and meeting rooms for retreats and training sessions.
I was astonished by how many authentic pieces of White House history were on display.The "red phone" displayed at Carter's presidential library and museum.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
The Bible that Carter was sworn in on. The "red phone" that sat on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office that he used to communicate with the US military in crisis. Presidential speeches with Carter's handwritten notes. I figured there would be some notable artifacts at the presidential library and museum, but I didn't realize just how many and how significant they would be.
I also didn't expect to see so many relics from Carter's early life, like his sixth-grade report card.Jimmy Carter's schoolwork, report card, and high-school diploma on display at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Carter grew up in the small farming town of Plains, Georgia, which is about 150 miles south of the presidential library in Atlanta. In a section about Carter's youth, a display case held Carter's sixth-grade report card, high-school diploma, class ring, and an essay that earned him an "A." I loved that the museum focused on his childhood, as well as his presidency.
Walking into the museum's full-scale replica of the Oval Office left me speechless.A replica of the Oval Office at Jimmy Carter's presidential library and museum.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
The replica was designed to look exactly like the Oval Office did during Carter's presidency, complete with the same pink, gold, and green striped couches and oval-shaped rug.
In the audio tour of the room, Carter said that people would often walk into the magnificent office and feel so awestruck that they'd forget what they were going to say. Even though it was just a recreation of the actual room, I could feel the same gravitas.
When I heard a familiar voice narrating the exhibits, I was surprised to discover it belonged to actor Martin Sheen, who played President Bartlet in "The West Wing."The "Day in the Life of the President" exhibit at The Carter Center.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Sheen narrated an introductory video at the museum's entrance and the "Day in the Life of the President" exhibit, which chronicled Carter's schedule of meetings and memos on December 11, 1978.
Sheen told Empire magazine that President Bartlet in "The West Wing" was partially inspired by Carter as well as John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton.
"We wanted to represent the very best that we had in that office in recent history and those three men covered all of the territory that Bartlet would inhabit," he said.
In the gift shop, I was thrilled to discover a passport that you could fill with stamps from presidential libraries nationwide.Stamping my presidential library passport.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider ; Coren Feldman
This was my first visit to a presidential library, but it won't be my last. I'm determined to collect stamps from all 15 across the US.
Частные объявления в Вашем городе, в Вашем регионе и в России
Smi24.net — ежеминутные новости с ежедневным архивом. Только у нас — все главные новости дня без политической цензуры. "123 Новости" — абсолютно все точки зрения, трезвая аналитика, цивилизованные споры и обсуждения без взаимных обвинений и оскорблений. Помните, что не у всех точка зрения совпадает с Вашей. Уважайте мнение других, даже если Вы отстаиваете свой взгляд и свою позицию. Smi24.net — облегчённая версия старейшего обозревателя новостей 123ru.net. Мы не навязываем Вам своё видение, мы даём Вам срез событий дня без цензуры и без купюр. Новости, какие они есть —онлайн с поминутным архивом по всем городам и регионам России, Украины, Белоруссии и Абхазии. Smi24.net — живые новости в живом эфире! Быстрый поиск от Smi24.net — это не только возможность первым узнать, но и преимущество сообщить срочные новости мгновенно на любом языке мира и быть услышанным тут же. В любую минуту Вы можете добавить свою новость - здесь.
