During one of my recent trips back east, I decided to check out the Woodrow Wilson Museum. Ever since our family tour of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum a few years back, I’ve kind of made it an unofficial goal of mine to tour as many as I can.
It is fascinating to me to learn about our Presidents’ childhoods and private lives–it makes them seem like regular people.
I honestly didn’t know all that much about Woodrow Wilson when I went, so it was kind of cool to tour the grounds. In case you are in the same boat that I was, here’s the low down: Wilson was our 28th President. He was in office when the 19th amendment was passed {which gave women the right to vote} and also led us through most of WWI.
His picture is on the $100,000 bill–which for some reason I found to be the most interesting fact I learned. The bill is no longer in circulation, but can you imagine pulling a crisp $100,000 bill out of your purse? I guess that must be how the other half live, because I can’t even imagine it.
The admission ticket was a replica of the 1912 Democratic national convention. Pretty cool if you ask me.
The whole place is made up of a museum, a house {where Woodrow Wilson was born}, and library that basically houses information on anything you might want to know about Wilson.
They don’t let you take pictures in the house, but they did let me snap a few of the grounds and museum.
I don’t care how nerdy this makes me seem, museums are cool.
~Mavis
Have you been to any presidential libraries? Do you have a favorite?
Linda says
I love nerdy stuff like this too! I lived in Virginia when I was a child, and we always went on great historical vacations !! I’ve been to the Ronald Reagan presidential library it’s in Simi Valley Ca. It’s wonderful!! Thanks for sharing, I read your blog every day, but hardly ever comment. I follow on Instagram, love the puggles dog! I’m also a fellow gardner, I’ve planted all my squash, onions, and tomatoes! Looking forward to the bounty! Have a great day.
April says
By accident I have started a pattern of visiting Vanderbilt homes. So far, Ive seen 2 homes in Newport, RI, the house in Hyde Park, NY, and the awesome Biltmore in Asheville, NC. History is so cool!!
KC says
I love the Woodrow Wilson Library! So glad you posted this story. I live in southeastern Virginia and went to the library a couple years ago when one of my kids was attending school in Harrisonburg. Although relatively small, they sure know how to pack a ton of info in to the place! And the docents were excellent!
Pam Bennett says
We have been to FDR’s home in Hyde Park several times. It’s well worth the trip to see his home and the museum/library. He is buried there along with Eleanor, his beloved dog Fala and another dog in the rose garden. Beautiful grounds that overlook the Hudson River. His neighbor was one of the “poorer” Vanderbilts and that home is an interesting tour also. Eleanor’s cottage, Val-Kill is also available for tours and it’s the only National Historic Site dedicated to a first lady. Another home tour that shouldn’t be missed, although not presidential is Biltmore House in N.C. Other favorite historic homes – The Manse and Louisa M. Alcott’s home in Concord Mass., and Mark Twain’s home in Hartford CT. We love touring the old homes in New England, New York and Virginia. A fellow museum nerd!
Debbie Bickel says
I went through the Lyndon B Johnson Presidential Library and ranch last summer and hope to see more too. It is nice to see them as real people and the way they lived. It was a great tour.
Jill says
I was in Staunton to visit Shenandoah National Park and missed this! I’ve visited the Truman home and library in Missouri and hope to get to the Kennedy library in Boston this summer. I’m always on the lookout for these when we travel.
Lisa Scott says
Next time you are in Virginia, please stop in Roanoke! We have a great Transportation Museum and a freakishly large art museum that looks like a space ship landed in the middle of Downtown! And we have some great restaurants and spots you may enjoy, like the Roanoke Star high atop Mill Mountain overlooking the entire city!! Let me know you are coming and I will give you the tour!! 😉
Nancy says
I love the Presidential library and museums I have been to 4 of them and have a goal to visit them all You learn so much about the history of the that president some of my favorite vacations are learning history trips just ask my kids
Mavis says
That’s an awesome goal!! You do learn so much.
Karina says
We were lucky to attend a wedding rehearsal dinner there a couple years back. It was very cool! A tough walk up the hill from the hotel though!
Julie says
I’m in Little Rock where the Clinton Museum is…and would love to offer some Southern hospitality if you ever make it to The Natural State. We have a spare room… I would even give you a tour of my neighborhood community garden!