Presidential libraries are historic archives and museums rolled into one. They house everything from pivotal documents to photographs to personal artifacts and interactive exhibits. Each one is dedicated to a different president, giving you a glimpse into the nitty-gritty of the administration.
The tradition started with Franklin D Roosevelt in 1941, and today, there are fifteen presidential libraries managed by the National Archives and Records Administration. The best part is that they’re open to the public, so anyone interested can stroll in and soak up some White House history.
These presidential libraries offer an insight into the political lives of our historic presidencies and how their policies were executed:
10. William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum (Little Rock, Arkansas)
Little Rock is famous for its role in the Civil Rights Movement, so it checks out that this city has an incredible presidential library to its name. Dedicated to President Clinton, the library is a modern architectural marvel with a sustainable edge. Think glass and steel with a dash of Southern charm.
Inside, you’ll find a full-scale replica of the White House rooms during Clinton’s tenure, an armored Cadilac limo, and those famous saxophones he used to play. It has the largest archive of any presidential library on this list, with over 80 million pages of documents and almost 80 thousand artifacts.
9. Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home (Abilene, Kansas)
The presidential library for Dwight D. Eisenhower isn’t just a library or a museum; it’s a tribute to the past president’s childhood home. Preserved like a time capsule from the early 20th century, his home is the centerpiece of the museum complex. Eisenhower was extremely proud of his Abilene upbringing and was no doubt influenced by his youth in the small Kansas town.
Aside from taking a tour of his real boyhood home, the museum features digital displays, photos, military accolades and uniforms, and posters. These artifacts tell the interesting story of Eisenhower’s life as a five-star general during WW2, as well as his presidency. It’s a particularly interesting presidential library for World War Two historians!
8. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, Illinois)
Springfield isn’t just the capital of Illinois; it’s also the land of President Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was arguably one of the most influential presidents in U.S. history. He served the country for five years in the mid-19th century before he was assassinated. He was a pivotal figure in the American Civil War, leading the Union to victory, ending slavery, and creating new opportunities for African Americans.
This library combines traditional archives and documents with high-tech immersive exhibits – think holograms and life-sized dioramas. Some of the most interesting exhibits include a recreation of his childhood home and a showcase of the bill that created the Secret Service.
7. Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum (Atlanta, Georgia)
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is tucked away in a lush garden – fitting for the past president’s commitment to peace and human rights. Carter encountered unprecedented challenges during his one term in office, including a hostage crisis in Iran and a national gas shortage.
This library is dedicated to the president’s impact on conflict resolution, supervising democratic elections across the world, and combating disease. Part of the museum includes an incredible visual feature that plays across massive screens called ‘A Day in the Life of a President’. As the name suggests, the documentary follows a full day in the office, from waking up to going to sleep. And let me tell you, it’s an incredible insight into the daily duties of the POTUS.
6. George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum (College Station, Texas)
President Bush dedicated his life to public service. From his time as a Navy pilot to director of the CIA and eventually, U.S. President, his museum in College Station is a comprehensive curation of his life.
Bush had a front-row seat to some of the most defining moments in modern U.S. history, including responding to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the Iraq invasion of Kuwait.
The museum includes a replica of the Oval Office and a collection of artifacts from the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence.
5. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum (Independence, Missouri)
Historians speak of Harry S. Truman as an ordinary man thrown into an extraordinary journey. And the library dedicated to this president is as unpretentious as the man himself.
He started his service in the U.S. as a soldier in WW1, lived through the 1920 recession, and became president at the end of WW2. His presidency saw him make countless decisions that would shape the world as we know it today.
The museum in Independence, Missouri, was established to keep the papers, documents, and historical artifacts of his presidency and life safe.
4. Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum (West Branch, Iowa)
Set in Hoover’s birthplace in Iowa, this presidential library tells us about a president who was often overshadowed by the Great Depression. The 31st president of the US, Hoover began serving the country when America joined WWI in 1917. He played a pivotal part in providing food and relief to the millions of starving Europeans. Some would call him a hero!
The exhibits highlight his humanitarian efforts and post-presidential work. The simple two-room cottage where he was born is just around the corner, showing a dramatic contrast to his later achievements as a mining engineer and then the president. In fact, the entire museum experience is underscored by Hoover’s humble beginnings.
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum (New York, New York)
Roosevelt’s presidential library was the first of its kind and the reason all others exist. It was designed by the past president himself to store documents and artifacts from his four terms of presidency. (Yes, he is the longest serving president in U.S. history).
He was all about transparency and felt it was his responsibility for the American people to know about what was going on in the government. We can thank him for starting the presidential library tradition, where POTUS is expected to donate public and private items to give insight into each presidency.
Permanent exhibitions include an interactive display of the New Deal initiative and the controversial Japanese prisoners of war during WW2.
2. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum (Boston, Massachusetts)
Overlooking the Boston Harbor in Massachusetts, the JFK Presidential Library is as charismatic and glamorized as the president himself. It’s a sleek structure housing exhibits on the Space Race, Cuban Missile Crisis, Peace Corps, and Civil Rights Movement.
Although he served a brief term before his assassination, he was pivotal in a number of groundbreaking events and policies. One major field being the principle of equality.
A popular part of the museum is the collection of Jacqueline Kennedy – mainly her outfits and style.
1. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum (Simi Valley, California)
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is the most visited and impressive of them all. Not only did Reagan serve as the 40th POTUS for eight years, but also as the governor of California for eight years before that. But did you know that before his interest in politics, he was a Hollywood actor?
This museum is most famous for housing an Air Force One plane and a full-sized replica of the Oval Office during his term. But it’s the collection of photos, recordings, and documents that really make this a haven for historians. And don’t forget to check out the first-of-its-kind hologram of the president himself!
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