Eisenhower National Historic Site: Hanging Out at a President’s House!
Our quest to visit all of the National Park Sites brought us to the Eisenhower National Historic Site located about a mile from the Gettysburg National Military Park. Over the years, we’ve visited a handful of homes of former Presidents: Lincoln’s Birthplace, the home and high school of Jimmy Carter, and even the White House! It’s a pretty cool way to get a sense of who our nation’s leaders are, as real people.
Although there are tours offered sporadically at the farm, they were not offered during our stay. However, the grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset so we were still able to experience the farm.
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The Eisenhower's in Gettysburg
Despite being born in Kansas, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, considered Gettysburg his home. In fact, the farm in Gettysburg is the only farm he and his wife Mamie owned.
Eisenhower first visited the town when he was a cadet at West Point. Three years later, he returned with his young wife to command Camp Colt, a training camp.
When World War II broke out, Eisenhower led the opening phases of the Italian campaign and the Allied invasion of Western Europe. When the war was over, he and Mamie purchased their Gettysburg farm.
The “run-down ” farm comprised of 189 acres and included 600 chickens, 25 cows, and several buildings. It offered the couple a private retreat when Eisenhower served as President he preferred it over Camp David.
Fun Fact: Eisenhower was the first US President to travel by helicopter. While it would take him 2 hours to drive from DC to Gettysburg, he could fly there in under an hour!
Did you know that the farm served as a temporary White House? IN 1955, Eisenhower suffered from a heart attack. Rather than recovering in Washington DC, he headed home to Pennsylvania.
Our Experience
When we pulled onto the property, it was a ghost town. We had the place all to ourselves! Without a map available, we were left to just wander around aimlessly. We visited the main home, the helicopter landing pad, and saw the guesthouse. I found the map (below) online after we returned from our trip. I had no idea there was a second farm that we could have explored!
Without a tour available, or even a ranger on site, we ended up missing out on a lot. We only saw about 1/4 of what the site had to offer. Everything was pretty much left up for us to interpret.
All that being said…it’s still pretty cool to have been able to visit the home of another president. The kids liked being able to peek in the windows of the garage and see the antique cars. They also enjoyed running around the fields, I think it was their way of decompressing after the heaviness of Gettysburg.
Things to Know Before Visiting Eisenhower National Historic Site
The Best Time to Visit Eisenhower National Historic Site
If you want to tour the home, visit the official website for dates and times that they are offered. The dates are pretty hit or miss.
Entrance Fees
Hey oh! Entrance to the Eisenhower farm is free! But, if you plan on visiting more National Parks over the course of a year, you may want to look into the America the Beautiful Pass (which can be purchased at most National Parks). The pass gets you into all National Parks, Forests, Monuments, and more.
Cell Service
We had full bars during our visit.
Have Your Pooch Tag Along
Ike and Mamie lived on a farm, so of course four-legged friends are allowed to visit! Pets must remain on a leash at all times and humans are responsible for cleaning up after their furry pals. Pets are not permitted in the home.
Where is Eisenhower National Historic Site located?
The physical address is:
250 Eisenhower Farm Rd, Gettysburg, PA
You may encounter an old Secret Service Hut and a “Private Road” sign. You can disregard these, as they are for historical purposes only.
Other Cool Information
Distance From Major Cities
- Baltimore, MD- 57 mi
- Washington, DC- 75 mi
- Philadelphia, PA- 142 mi
- Pittsburgh, PA- 185 mi
- New York City, NY- 211 mi
- Akron, OH- 288 mi
- Cleveland, OH- 311 mi
- Buffalo, NY- 337 mi
- Charlotte, NC- 441 mi
Distance from Nearby National Parks
- Shenandoah National Park- 105 mi
- New River Gorge National Park- 319 mi
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park- 322 mi
- Congaree National Park– 549 mi
National Parks Sites in Pennsylvania
- ◽ Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
- ◽ Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site
- ◽ Eisenhower National Historic Site
- ◽ Flight 93 National Memorial
- ◽ Fort Necessity National Battlefield
- ◽ Friendship Hill National Historic Site
- ◽ Gettysburg National Military Park
- ◽ Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
- ◽ Independence National Historical Park
- ◽ Johnstown Flood National Memorial
- ◽ Lower Delaware National Scenic River
- ◽ Steamtown National Historic Site
- ◽ Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
- ◽ Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
- ◽ Valley Forge National Historical Park
FAQ About Eisenhower National Historic Site
Is Eisenhower National Historic Siteworth visiting?
If you’re visiting Gettysburg, you may as well make a pit stop at the Eisenhower National Historic Site. The grounds offer beautiful views of the surrounding area…plus, it’s pretty cool to visit the home of a president.
Taking part in a tour would definitely enhance your visit.
How much time do you need at Eisenhower National Historic Site?
We were at the site for just under an hour. Plan on spending about 2 hours there, if you get a tour.
What is the best time of year to visit?
The best time to visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site is during the spring, summer, and fall seasons as this is when tours of the Eisenhower home are available; winter months see the house tours closed, although you can still explore the grounds on a self-guided basis.
How much does it cost to get in to Eisenhower National Historic Site?
The site is free to visit.
Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure
For future reference, save our post: “Eisenhower National Historic Site: Hanging Out at a President’s House!”. While you’re at it, browse the Ulitmate National Park Bucket List. Plan your trip around Free National Park Days and learn about The National Park’s Awesome Junior Ranger Program.
While on our Mason-Dixon Road Trip, we also visited the nearby Gettysburg National Military Park and Hersheypark.
Pin one of the images below to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow 5Suitcases on Pinterest while you’re at it!
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