Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
National Historical Park of the US in Georgia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, located in Plains, Georgia, preserves sites associated with Jimmy Carter (1924–2024), 39th president of the United States. These include his residence, boyhood farm, school, and the town railroad depot, which served as his campaign headquarters during the 1976 election. The building which used to be Plains High School (opened in 1921 and closed in 1979) serves as the park's museum and visitor center. When Carter lived in Plains, the area surrounding the residence was under the protection of the United States Secret Service. The residence is also the burial site of Carter and his wife, First Lady Rosalynn Carter (1927–2023). While the residence itself is undergoing renovation and is not open to the public, the adjoining Carter gravesite and memorial garden is publicly accessible.
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park | |
Former U.S. National Historic Site | |
Georgia Register of Historic Places | |
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Visitor Center | |
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 Interactive map showing the location of Jimmy Carter National Historical Park | |
| Location | 300 N. Bond St., Plains, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32.0304393°N 84.4182473°W[1] |
| Area | 71 acres (29 ha) |
| Visitation | 39,101 (2025)[2] |
| Website | Jimmy Carter National Historical Park |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000272[3] |
| Significant dates | |
| Designated NHS | December 23, 1987 |
| Designated NHP | 2021 |
The Carters returned to Plains in 1981 after Carter’s landslide defeat in the 1980 Presidential Election to Republican Party nominee Ronald Reagan. The former President and First Lady pursued many of the goals of his administration through the Carter Center in Atlanta, which has programs to alleviate human suffering and to promote human rights and world peace. Carter taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church, which is open to the public.
It was established in 1987 by Pub. L. 100–206 as Jimmy Carter National Historic Site and renamed as a national historical park in 2021.
Visitor center and museum
The former Plains High School, which both Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter attended and operated from 1921 until 1979 when it permanently closed down due to declining enrolment and consolidation of local school districts, now serves as the park's visitor center and museum.[4] It features a classroom, principal's office, and auditorium which have been meticulously restored in 1996 to look as they would have when Jimmy Carter attended.[4] An exact replica of the Resolute desk, which Jimmy Carter brought back to the Oval Office to use as his presidential desk, is exhibited, as well as his 2002 Nobel Peace Prize. Other rooms feature exhibits that explain the lives of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, and a short video focuses on the life of Jimmy Carter according to his friends, neighbors, and family.[4]
Boyhood home and farm
The farm in the nearby unincorporated community of Archery where Jimmy lived from age four in 1928 until he left for college[4] in 1941 has been restored to its appearance before electricity was installed in 1938.[4]
Campaign headquarters
The former Plains Train Depot, where Carter headquartered his presidential campaign, now serves as a museum focusing on the 1976 Presidential Campaign and Election.[4] It features exhibits which highlight Jimmy Carter's campaign for President. The train depot operated from 1888 until 1951,[4] when all public transportation to and from the area was ceased due to years of declining demand and profitability that was exaggerated during the Great Depression which greatly decimated the city’s local economy.[5]
Carter home, burial site and memorial garden
The long-time home of the Carters at 209 Woodland Drive, while not yet open to the public, is a part of the park.[6] The Carters lived in the home from 1961.[7] During his presidency, it was used as his Summer White House.[7] The intent is for the National Park Service (NPS) to turn the house into a museum and open it to the public in the future.[8][9]
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter are buried across Woodland Drive from the house. The gravesite and a memorial garden are located near a pond and by a willow tree.[8][10] After renovations which were begun after Jimmy Carter's death to make the area publicly accessible, the Carters gravesite, memorial garden and Woodland Drive were open to the public in July 2025.[11]
Photos
Plains train depot
Plains former train depot, which served as the 1976 Carter campaign headquarters
Interior of the campaign headquarters
Visitor center and museum
Carter's high school, now a museum and visitor center
Detail of classroom
Auditorium
Historical marker
Carter boyhood farm
Map of farm
A water pump powered by a windmill
Barn and old farm equipment
Blacksmith shop
Earl and Lillian Carter home
Detail of front porch
Detail of dining room
Detail of bedroom
Detail of bedroom
Carter family country store
Detail of country store
Rachel and Jack Clark's tenant house
Tenant house, main room
Tenant house, kitchen
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's home, gardens and burial site
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's gravesite
