Historic Estates Of U.S. Presidents

America has a fascination with its presidents. One of the best ways to delve into the character of each commander-in-chief is to visit their boyhood homes. Enduring Wanderlust has compiled six great estates to visit in Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York State.

1. George Washington’s Mount Vernon (Virginia)
Mount Vernon, Virginia © David Paul Ohmer

Mount Vernon was the home of the first president of the United States. George Washington lived on this forty-five acre estate before and after his presidency. The grounds, including a spectacular view of the Potomac River, are open to the public. Washington’s home also features several gardens, lots of farm animals, and a dozen trees that date back to the former president’s generation.

A new National Treasure Tour has been set up for visitors who want to view behind-the-scenes information about locations where the filming took place a few years ago. Since the tours are popular, it’s essential to book ahead. Tours run from March 1 – October 31, 2009 at 9:30am, 11:30am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00pm.

Regular visits to Mount Vernon are possible 365 days of the year. Admission is $14 for adults, $7 for children (ages 6 to 11), and free for children ages 5 and under.

2. John Adams’ Peacefield or The Old House (Massachusetts)
Peacefield, Massachusetts © Bart

Peacefield or The Old House was the home and farm of John Adams. It was the family residence of the Adams family for four generations. Adams’ son, John Quincy Adams, was also president of the United States. It marks the first of two father-son presidential combinations. The other was George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. The house includes the Stone Library, which contains over 14,000 volumes.

As with Washington’s residence, tours are available for visitors. It’s smart to arrive early, as the house has become a popular tourist attraction since the publication of David McCullough’s John Adams and the HBO Mini-series John Adams. The open season for the home is from April 19 through November 10. During this time it is open seven days a week from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Entrance fees run from $5.00 for adults to free entry for children under 16 years of age.

3. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (Virginia)
Monticello, Virginia © Tony The Misfit

Monticello and its surrounding area constituted the main area of the estate since Thomas Jefferson’s grounds had a number of partitions based on natural barriers. The 5,000 acres are currently filled with a variety of exotic plant life among a number of separate farms in area. A Renaissance man, the former president, was responsible for the design of the majestic property including the thirty-three-room house. Its décor remains consist with Jefferson’s taste though much of the original content has been sold. In a difficult state of affairs, Jefferson’s daughter Martha sold the original contents of the estate in order to pay of her father’s massive debt after his death. The primary author of the Declaration of Independence and founder of the University of Virginia managed to amass approximately $107,000 worth of debt.

Adults can expect to pay from $15 to $20, depending on time of year, for entrance to the estate. The fee is $8 for children except those under 6 who enter free of charge. Hours are based on season: March to October runs from 8am to 5pm
with November to February open from 9am to 4:30 pm. A virtual tour is available on the Monticello website.

4. Theodore Roosevelt’s Sagamore Hill (Oyster Bay, New York)
Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, NY © Bemep

Sagamore Hill is a pleasant estate to visit. The former home of Theodore Roosevelt is filled with the various gifts he received from ambassadors. It also contains the collection of hunting trophies Roosevelt collected over the years. Visitors are required to take a guided tour in order to see the twenty-three rooms of the house. The guides are friendly and well informed.

In addition to the house, visitors have the option to trek along the Sagamore Hill Nature Trail. A brisk walk through a wooded area will drop travelers off at a beachfront area. The rest of the neighborhood has a number of beautiful homes that are worth viewing by foot, bicycle, or car.

Sagamore Hill is open everyday expect major holidays. Tours of the house are offered from 10am to 4pm. Entrance for adults is $5 with children under 15 entering gratis.

5. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Springwood (Hyde Park, New York)
Springwood, Hyde Park, NY © Randy Yohc

Springwood was the lifelong home and passion of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt regularly returned to his house, in the Hudson River Valley, during his unprecedented four terms as president of the United States. The beautiful area has lots of restaurants, historic sites, and hiking trails nearby. Additionally, Roosevelt’s cottage retreat is on the grounds. He was directly involved with designing it to match the local Dutch colonial décor. Be sure to visit the New Dealer’s Presidential Library and Museum too.

Springwood is open seven days a week except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Visitors are welcomed from 9:00am to 5:00pm. While the grounds are free to wander, tours of the home are limited. Call ahead.

6. John F. Kennedy’s Brookline (Massachusetts)
Brookline, Massachusetts © Wally G

Brookline was the birthplace and boyhood home of John F. Kennedy. His family bought it for a second time in the Sixties after several owners occupied it. Mrs. Kennedy restored the home to its earlier décor including the personal furnishing, photographs, and décor of the Kennedy family. His mother also added several of JFK’s childhood items such as his bassinette and the piano on which he took lessons. The neighborhood, including Beals Street, is pleasant to wander around.

The home has two options for visitors: ranger-led tours or self-guided audio tours. Kennedy’s National Historic Site is currently closed for the winter season, but will re-open for in a couple of months. Adults are expected to pay $3 for admission while children 17 years of age and under enter free.

Presidents on the mind? Read about eight presidential inauguration locations to visit.

 
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing a travel article or photograph for publication.

 

 

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8 Presidential Inauguration Locations To Visit

The inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama was held on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at the U.S. Capitol. This has been the location for the majority of American presidential inaugurations. There are, however, several other historic settings for these ceremonies that are worth visiting for travelers.

1. Federal Hall National Memorial, New York City (Map)
George Washington

Federal Hall National Memorial was the location for the first presidential inauguration. It was also the residence of the first federal government instituted under the United States Constitution. The memorial is conveniently situated for travelers looking to explore the Financial District of New York City along with paying respect at Ground Zero.

Federal Hall is open Monday-Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. The memorial is closed on Federal holidays.
Federal Hall, NYC © rdesai

2. Congress Hall, Philadelphia (Map)
George Washington and John Adams

Congress Hall was the location of the presidential inaugurations of George Washington (his second) and John Adams. It was also the quarters for the United States Congress from 1790-1800. Located in the Historic District of Philadelphia, this is a must see neighborhood for travelers. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center, and the National Constitution Center are all within a few steps.

The area is open, in general, from Monday-Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm. Most of the buildings are closed on Federal holidays.
Historic Philadelphia © Gennaro Salamone

3. U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C. (Map)
Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Q. Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William H. Harrison, James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

The U.S. Capitol was the setting for the greatest number of presidential inaugurations including the last seven. Barack Obama was the eighth consecutive president to be sworn in here on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 (read more about the Obama Inauguration).

The U.S. Capitol is also the current residence of the United States Congress. The Congress is the legislative body of the United States. It consists of the U.S. Senate (100 members) and the House of Representative (435 members).

Tour hours for the U.S. Capitol run from Monday-Saturday, 8:45pm to 3:30pm. It’s recommended that visitors obtain tour tickets from their local representatives before arriving to Washington D.C. for their visit. E-mail is the easiest way to request tickets. Do note that security measure apply to touring the buildings. Check their website for updates.

U.S. Capitol © Gennaro Salamone

4. The White House, Washington D. C. (Map)
Rutherford Hayes, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, and
Ronald Reagan

The White House was the location for six presidential inaugurations. It is the official residence of the President of the United States. Every president since John Adams has called the dwelling on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue his home.

Visiting The White House is a memorable experience. There are, however, strict guidelines for larger groups. Public tours for groups of 10 or more require passes from a member of Congress up to six months in advance. Self-guided tours, for individuals, are available from Tuesday-Saturday, 7:30am to 12:30pm. The passes are first come, first served. Apply for passes up to a month in advance.

The White House and U.S. Capitol have similar restrictions for security. Visit their website for updates.

The White House © NCinDC

5. Ansley Wilcox Residence, 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY (Map)
Theodore Roosevelt

The Ansley Wilcox Mansion was the site of Theodore Roosevelt’s first inauguration. It is one of the oldest homes in Buffalo, NY. It has a rich history including its connection to the Patriots’ War of 1837.

The location is currently closed for renovation. The grand re-opening of the National Historic Site is scheduled for Spring 2009. Check their website for details. Their hours, during operation, are from Monday-Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday-Sunday, 12:00pm to 5:00pm

6. His Father’s Residence, Plymouth, Vermont (Map)
Calvin Coolidge

His father, a notary public, swore in Calvin Coolidge at John Coolidge’s house in Plymouth, Vermont. This remains one of the most unique locations for a presidential inauguration. It was the birthplace and childhood residence of Calvin Coolidge. It is a rural setting with a community church, cheese factory, and a one-room schoolhouse, which have all been preserved.

Visiting hours, for the historic site, are daily from 9:30am to 5:00pm. The site was open from May 24 until October 19, 2008. Check their website for this year’s schedule.

7. His Private Residence, 123 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY (Map)
Chester A. Arthur

Chester A. Arthur was one of two presidents who were sworn in at a private residence. The residence is privately owned. Visitors are only permitted to visit the commercial space located on the first floor. The building was designated a National Landmark on January 12, 1965.

8. Three Locations For History Lovers
John Tyler, Andrew Johnson, and Lyndon Johnson

John Tyler, Andrew Johnson, Lyndon Johnson (first inauguration) were sworn in at locations that are no longer preserved or convenient to visit. Johnson was sworn in aboard Air Force One, Love Field, Dallas, Texas (Map).
Air Force One © http2007

John Tyler’s inauguration was held at the Brown’s Hotel. It was formerly located at 6th St. & Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington D.C. (Map) and Andrew Johnson’s inauguration was held at the Kirkwood Hotel. It was formerly located at 12th St. & Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington D.C. (Map)

For additional inauguration history read the U.S. Senate website and about six historic estates of U.S. presidents.

 
___________________________________________________________________________________
Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing a travel article or photograph for publication.

 

 

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