25,000 square feet of exhibit space at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum introduces visitors to the legacies of Ike and Mamie. (courtesy of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum)
Moments and materials – art, records and artifacts – that define a President and his administration come together for public study and discussion without regard for political affiliation at the National Archives’ Presidential Libraries and Museums.
Some of those Presidential libraries and museums are just a few hours away from Kansas City.
While the libraries are an excellent resource for conducting research, the existence of the libraries and museums amounts to more than simply archives of past presidencies. They are the assets of the American people.
In the same way a family might pass down stories, heirlooms and photographs, the Presidential libraries and museums hold our collective history for celebrating and learning.
This summer is the perfect time to hop in the car and explore the exhibits and special events the Presidential libraries and museums have to offer.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
Approx. Distance From Kansas City: 2 hours
200 SE 4th St., Abilene, Kan. 67410
10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday
$15 (adults), $12 (seniors), $10 (all students)
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum explores the life and legacy of the only 5-star General who became President of the United States. The 22-acre campus contains a variety of exhibits about the President’s life, rich research resources, a gift shop and even Eisenhower’s boyhood home.
Upcoming Exhibit: “19 & ‘52: Women Unite for Ike,” set to open this summer, connects President Eisenhower to the 19th Amendment. This exhibit explores the connection between the women’s suffrage movement and women’s contribution to the 1952 presidential campaign. Learn about the instrumental women who influenced Eisenhower and how women’s roles expanded during his presidency.
Upcoming Events: Visit www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/events to find information about upcoming events, including guest speakers, lunch and learns and more.
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum
Approx. Distance From Kansas City: 4.5 hours
210 Parkside Drive,
West Branch, Iowa, 52358
9 a.m. – 5 p.m., daily
$10 (adults), $5 (seniors), $3 (children 6+)
Located on the 187-acre Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum tells the extraordinary story of an orphaned boy who lived the American dream, becoming a multi-millionaire engineer, a worldwide humanitarian and the 31st President of the United States.
Upcoming Exhibit: “Deliverance: America and the Famine in Soviet Russia, 1921-1923” will run May 28 – December 31, 2022. The exhibit tells the story of Herbert Hoover and the American Relief Administration’s efforts to feed millions of starving Russians during the 1921-23 famine. This special exhibit, featuring historic film, photos and objects, is done in partnership with the Hoover Institution in Palo Alto, California.
Upcoming Events: Visit hoover.archives.gov to find information about upcoming events, including guest speakers, concerts and the annual Herbert Hoover Hometown Days festival in August.
