I Like Ike…Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
Abilene, Kansas
Over the summer, I visited the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. The Eisenhower Library and Museum has several parts including a Visitor Center, Eisenhower’s Boyhood Home , a Place of Meditation, a Statue, Pylons, a Library, and a Museum.
When visitors arrive, the first stop will likely be the Visitor Center. In the Visitor Center, people can pick up their ticket for the museum, can watch a video about Eisenhower (this was not available during my summer visit, but may be available in the future), and can visit the gift shop. The second stop might be Eisenhower’s Boyhood Home, if it is open. About three years ago, I visited Eisenhower’s Boyhood Home and a guide walked me through the house sharing different things about Eisenhower’s life. During this past summer visit, the house was being renovated, so I was not able to go inside the house.
After visiting Eisenhower’s Boyhood Home, the next stop will be the museum. I have been told that the museum went through a pretty significant renovation a few years ago. The displays are well done and quite informative. The displays include videos and some hands on virtual displays. After leaving the Museum , there are some opportunities for picture taking at the statue of Eisenhower and the Pylons. Two other places that visitors may chose to stop are the Library and the Place of Meditation (the final resting place of Eisenhower, his wife, and his first child). If visiting with kids, I think the Library and the Place of Meditation are places that are not going to be as interesting for kids as the other places.
I am a quote person. I love quotes. Quotes come from the words people say or the words that they write. As a former English teacher, I understand the importance of words. So, on this last visit I really paid attention to all the quotes displayed throughout the exhibits in the museum. Some of my favorites are below:
Resources
National Geographic- United States Presidents- Click on the president and information about the president will come up. Unfortunately, Eisenhower is not one of the presidents included at this link, but there about 12 presidents that students can learn about.
PBS- The US Presidency- Some of the information included on this website is presidential biographies, speeches, and addresses, as well as information about the powers of the presidency, campaigns and elections, presidential inaugurations, presidents in office, and first ladies.
PBS- Dwight D. Eisenhower- This link is a part of the PBS link above, but this link specifically focuses on Eisenhower.
37 Military Uniforms Worn By Soldiers During World War II- This website provides specific information about the different uniforms people wore during World War II.
Women's Uniforms - This link provides some information about the uniforms that women wore during World War II.
The Weapons Collection- This link provides information about weapons used during World War II.
Activities
I feel like people will visit this museum for three main reasons:
they are looking for something to do while driving through Kansas
they have an interest in World War II or Eisenhower
they are learning about World War II or Eisenhower in school.
So, I feel like a field trip to this museum would lend itself well to researching and presenting research on military uniforms for men and women, weapons used during World War II, and locating and learning about the different places that Eisenhower lived. All of the above topics can be researched at the museum, but there are also websites and books on those topics. Students could present their research by creating paper dolls or drawings of people in the different types of uniforms worn during World War II; creating a Powerpoint of the different weapons used during World War II and explaining their importance to the war; and placing pins on a map of the different places that Eisenhower lived and including a brief description of that place.
I will say that this museum is probably not ideal for most young children like preschoolers. That being said, if a visitor finds themself at the museum with a young child, one way to make the museum more interesting will be to ask the kids scavenger hunt type questions as the kids move through the museum. I have included some questions below that teachers or parents could ask.
What color is Dwight D. Eisenhower’s home?
What city is Eisenhower from? Look in the early years section.
How many weapons are in the American War Industry exhibit?
Describe the dresses in the Mamie exhibit.
How many uniforms are displayed in the Fighting for Uncle Sam exhibit?
How many men are seated at the table in the Operation Overlord exhibit?
How many seats are at the D-Day planning table?
Complete the sentence: I ________Ike.
How many pillars are outside the library?
How many pylons are at the monument?
A tip from someone who has been there.
I would encourage people to check out the website for the library and museum: Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home. It includes information about public programs, virtual tours, education, and research. By visiting the website, visitors should also be able to find out if something at the museum is going to be closed on a certain date.
