Do you have a bucket list? I have one, specifically for places related to history I want to travel to. One of the items on the list is to visit every Presidential Library in the country. In this post, we are going to discover what the Presidential Libraries are and why their existence is important.
As a side note, the original design for this post was about my visit to the JFK Presidential Library in Boston. However, I found myself researching the Presidential Library system in general and its importance. Therefore, it only made sense to start with a post there.
what are the presidential libraries?
A Presidential Library refers to, among other things, the specific papers, records, videos, pictures, and artifacts pertaining to the president’s life and presidency. The library itself is generally not open to the public unless specific arrangements are made. Digitization efforts have allowed for many of the documents to be viewed online, though. Check out the individual libraries for more information.
Each library also has a museum. The museum is extremely important since it is open to the public. It presents materials to promote understanding of that president’s life and presidency. We can think of the museum as the experience part of the library.
Additionally, this post is specific to the official Presidential Libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). That’s not to say that sites like Mount Vernon that houses artifacts about George Washington are unimportant. Please visit those too!
What is the history of presidential libraries?
We are now on our 47th president, so does that mean we have 47 Presidential Libraries? No so fast! First of all, we’ve only had 45 people serve as president since Grover Cleveland and Donald Trump’s non-consecutive terms count as two presidencies each. Even then, not every president has a Presidential Library. In fact, there are only 16 Presidential Libraries, only 13 of which have physical locations. So how did the Presidential Library come about?
In the late 1930s, then President Franklin D. Roosevelt had a problem on his hands. He realized there was a dramatic increase in Presidential papers and was concerned how these records would be kept. He sought the advice of prominent historians and public figures on how to store not only official White House records, but also records and artifacts regarding his life in general.
The solution? A Presidential Library! In 1938, FDR announced plans to construct a facility with private funds on his Hyde Park, New York estate. Per the NARA website:
“On July 18, 1939, Congress passed a joint resolution accepting the new facility and agreeing to operate it as part of the National Archives. The Roosevelt Library was turned over to the Federal government on July 4, 1940, and dedicated on June 30, 1941.
The Roosevelt Library became the model for subsequent Presidential Libraries. Succeeding Libraries have been constructed with private and other non-Federal funds. A private, non-profit organization is formed to coordinate these efforts and provide support for Library and museum programs.”
So, based on FDR’s vision, we now have the Presidential Libraries! While FDR’s is the oldest, Herbert Hoover is the first president chronologically speaking to have a library. His library was dedicated in 1962.
Which presidential libraries can i visit?
Here is a list of the Presidential Libraries with physical locations. Each has a museum open to the public. Also, each is linked to that library’s official website.
Herbert Hoover – West Branch, Iowa.
Franklin D. Roosevelt – Hyde Park, New York.
Harry S. Truman – Independence, Missouri.
Dwight D. Eisenhower – Abilene, Kansas.
John F. Kennedy – Boston, Massachusetts.
Lyndon B. Johnson – Austin, Texas.
Richard Nixon – Yorba Linda, California.
Gerald R. Ford – Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Jimmy Carter – Atlanta, Georgia.
Ronald Reagan – Simi Valley, California.
George Bush – College Station, Texas.
William J. Clinton – Little Rock, Arkansas.
George W. Bush – Dallas, Texas.
Why are presidential libraries important?
The President of the United States is the most powerful position in the country. The president’s policies not only shape the country, but the world. It is also the most visible. Each and every decision the president makes and word he speaks is heavily scrutinized. The Presidential Libraries are important for three reasons: preservation; context; and perspective.
PRESERVATION
Presidential Libraries are like a time capsule, offering a glimpse into the past of both the president and American history. However, they are not intended to be shrines. Each presidency is unique and preserving its legacy allows for education and research for future generations. Per NARA:
“Presidential Libraries are archives and museums, bringing together the documents and artifacts of a President and his administration and presenting them to the public for study and discussion without regard for political considerations or affiliations. Presidential Libraries and Museums, like their holdings, belong to the American people.”
Context
When looking at a president, it is important to understand the circumstances that formed the events of his term. Think of a presidency as a piece of a jigsaw puzzle that is American history. One must not just know the shape of that piece, but the shapes of the pieces around it while also keeping the picture as a whole. For example, to understand the Cuban Missile Crisis, it is necessary to understand other events such as the Bay of Pigs Invasion as well as the Cold War Era in general. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library aids us to grasp these times and President Kennedy’s role in them.
Perspective
Another benefit of the libraries is the chance to view history through the lens of that president. Presidential Libraries are unique in that way. From the point-of-view of the president, we are invited to understand why he made the decisions he did. In other words, it humanizes the president. For instance, understanding Harry Truman’s experience in World War I is crucial to understanding the decisions he made during his presidency.
These three elements, taken together, foster a more complete understanding of the presidency and American history. You may be asking, can’t this be accomplished by reading a biography of the president? Yes…and no. A biography gives all the information you need. In fact, there is likely way more information provided. It is also easy to pick up a book that specifically addresses the major events during that presidency. Here’s something the museum does much better though; it connects visitors to the president on a human level. It allows you to visually construct that president as a human being.
Visit a presidential library
Now that you’ve read this post, it is time to go visit a library. If you are lucky, there is one within driving distance of your home. If not, the next time you travel, make sure to refer back to this and find out if one is close to your destination. No matter where your political tendencies land or your personal thoughts on any president may be, we should always be open to learning.
So, which Presidential Libraries have I visited so far? As of January 2025, I’ve been able to visit Truman’s and JFK’s. I am 15% through my bucket list! Next up is Eisenhower’s!