One great way to learn about our US Presidents is to visit the Presidential Libraries. We have had 45 presidents but as of 2018, there are 14 presidential libraries. We have been able to visit 7 of them so far, but of course, we are already planning our next road trip to visit another one of the Presidential libraries. If you love learning about US History and our presidents, this list of Presidential Libraries around the US will help you in your planning!
This post includes affiliate links.
Presidential Libraries around the US
Truman Presidential Library
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum
500 W US Hwy 24
Independence, MO 64050
Website
Eisenhower Presidential Library
200 SE 4th Street
Abilene, KS 67410
Website
The Nixon Library
Richard Nixon Presidential Library
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
Read more
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Ronald Reagan Presidential Site
40 Presidential Drive
Simi Valley, CA 93065
Read more
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
Our first visit to a presidential library was by accident. We were in Atlanta for a quick day trip and saw a sign for the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Of course, we weren’t going to pass up the opportunity to learn about President Carter with the family.
441 John Lewis Freedom Pkwy NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
Read more
JFK Presidential Library and Museum
John F Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Columbia Point
Boston, MA 02125
Read more
Herbert hoover presidential library
On a recent Midwest Road trip we took time to visit the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum. This stop also gave us the chance to walk through his birthplace home and visit his gravesite. We began our tour knowing very little about this president, but now when the kids hear their teachers talk about President Hoover, they have personal connections to this president.
210 Parkside Drive
West Branch, IA 52358
Read more
The Presidential Library system is composed of fourteen Presidential Libraries. These facilities are overseen by the Office of Presidential Libraries, in the National Archives and Records Administration.
Print the Presidential Libraries Checklist
- Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
210 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA 52358 - Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538-1999 - Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum
500 W. U.S. Hwy 24, Independence, MO 64050-1798 - Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
200 SE. Fourth Street, Abilene, KS 67410-2900 - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125-3398 - Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum
2313 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78705-5702 - Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard, Yorba Linda, CA 92886-3903 - Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
303 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504-5353 - Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30307-1498 - Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, CA 93065-0699 - George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
1000 George Bush Drive West, College Station, TX 77845 - William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum
1200 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201 - George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
2943 SMU Blvd., Dallas, TX 75205 - Barack Obama Presidential Library
2500 W. Golf Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 (NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC)
Have you visited any Presidential Libraries? Which one is your favorite? I’d love to hear about your trips to these historic sites!
We have visited the Truman library in Independence and found it very quiet and relaxed. The staff was very helpful in locating documents.
The LBJ Library at Austin was nice but the LBJ ranch at Johnson City was awesome.
The George H. Walker Bush Library at College Station was informative and reflected the personality of this kind, unassuming man.
The Nixon Library was nice but reflected a sense of starkness and the mood of President Nixon.
The grandeur of the Reagan Library with Air Force One and the beautiful setting was by far the best.
The Kennedy Library setting was relaxing and emphasized his accomplishments during his tenure as president. The assassination remember an Ed were covered on the day we were there out of respect for family members that were on site that day.
The ground had just been broken on the George W. Bush Library when we were there.
Hyde Park was beautiful and moving. The preservation of FDR’s home bought chills when thinking about his time there.
We had to choose between the Carter Library and attending his Sunday School class. We drove all night to get there in time. It was worth it.
We need a mid-west trip to see Ford, Clinton and Eisenhower Libraries.
We must do more to get high school and college students to these libraries and museums. They would be more beneficial than the overseas trips the colleges encourage. Imagine weeklong studies not-abroad so they could learn about our history.
Greg
You’ve been to quite a few! Yes, these are really great educational stops!
My family visited the FDR home and library in Hyde Park, NY. We loved it. My kids had just completed and going to ha AP US history on high school. With the Vanderbilt mansion nearby great way to learn of 80 years of history. The guilted age, women’s suffer age, WW I, the depression, WW II, and United Nations. Plus we stayed at a cute 1950 style motel nearby.
We just visited the Rutherford B Hayes Presidential museum/library in Fremont Ohio. I don’t see it on your list.
I have visited five (5) Presidential Libraries:
John Kennedy; Bill Clinton; Jimmy Carter; George W Bush & Lyndon Johnson. I also visited the Truman Library, but did not get a chance to tour it because it was closed for renovations. I did tour the Truman House and other historical sites.
I enjoyed all of the libraries, but the ones that I enjoyed the most were 1. Clinton and 2. Johnson. They had more artifacts and history than the others. Kennedy’s library had less than any of the other libraries and I supposed it was because his time served as President was shorter. My time spent in both Clinton & Johnson libraries were much more extensive than the others because there was so much history and the libraries were also much larger than the others toured.
My goal is to visit more Presidential Libraries. I am a retired librarian and I enjoy visiting libraries. They are great learning experiences.
i have visited 2 libraries. the Ford library in Grand Rapids and the LIncoln library in springfield. the ford library was really interesting. im born and raised in the area and my grandmother-in-law personally knew him so it was cool to hear her personal stories from before he was president living in grand rapids and see his work while in office. the lincoln library, not an official library by NARA, but most definitely a must see. ive been there twice. he lived such an interesting life.
This post reminded me of our trip to the Truman Library in Independence MO. We were there in the early 70s and remember it to be a wonderful experience. I have especially enjoyed reading your readers comments and am thinking in retirement we have time to see more of these historical sites. I’m so glad you shared.