"Eisenhower Farm 1 Barn" by NPS , public domain
![]() | EisenhowerNational Historic Site - Pennsylvania |
Eisenhower National Historic Site preserves the home and farm of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, and its surrounding property of 690.5 acres (279.4 ha). It is located in Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, just outside Gettysburg. Purchased by then-General Eisenhower and his wife Mamie in 1950, the farm served as a weekend retreat for the President and a meeting place for world leaders, and became the Eisenhowers' home after they left the White House in 1961.
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Official Visitor Map of Gettysburg National Military Park (NMP) in Pennsylvania. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).

Official Visitor Map of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (NHP) in Washington D.C., Maryland and West Virginia. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).

Map of the U.S. National Park System. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).

Map of the U.S. National Park System with Unified Regions. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).

Map of the U.S. National Heritage Areas. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
https://www.nps.gov/eise/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenhower_National_Historic_Site
Eisenhower National Historic Site preserves the home and farm of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, and its surrounding property of 690.5 acres (279.4 ha). It is located in Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, just outside Gettysburg. Purchased by then-General Eisenhower and his wife Mamie in 1950, the farm served as a weekend retreat for the President and a meeting place for world leaders, and became the Eisenhowers' home after they left the White House in 1961.
Eisenhower National Historic Site preserves the farm of General and 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Adjacent to the Gettysburg battlefield, the farm served the president and first lady as a weekend retreat and as a meeting place for world leaders. With its peaceful setting and view of South Mountain, it was a respite from Washington, DC, and a backdrop for efforts to reduce Cold War tensions.
The grounds of Eisenhower NHS are open daily, sunrise to sunset. December 2022: the Eisenhower Home is open for tours on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. All tours start at the Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center.
Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center
Here you will find an information desk, ticket sales, Eisenhower National Historic Site shuttle bus information, museum bookstore, refreshments, and restrooms. Tickets for all activities may be purchased at the ticket sales counter in the Visitor Center. The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center hours change seasonally. For up to date hours please visit the Gettysburg website at nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm.
Eisenhower home
The Eisenhower home with Ike's putting green in the foreground
President Eisenhower was an avid golfer and had a putting green added to the backyard.
The Eisenhower home in autumn
The Eisenhower home in autumn
The Eisenhower home in autumn.
The Eisenhower living room
The Eisenhower living room
The Eisenhower living room.
The Eisenhower dining room decorated for the holidays
The Eisenhower dining room decorated for the holidays
The Eisenhower dining room decorated for the holidays.
Designing the Parks: Learning in Action
The Designing the Parks program is not your typical internship. Each year since 2013, this program at the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation has introduced a cohort of college students and recent graduates to NPS design and planning professions through projects related to cultural landscape stewardship. In the internships, made possible by partner organizations, participants focus on an in-depth project that directly engages with a national park unit.
A group of young people stand on forest trail and listen to two maintenance employees
Eisenhower National Historic Site Commemorates 75th Anniversary of D-Day
Eisenhower National Historic Site commemorated the 75th anniversary of the 1944 “D-Day” Normandy landings commanded by General Dwight D. Eisenhower with a week-long series of special events held throughout Gettysburg.
11 Ways National Parks Influenced World War I (and vice versa)
Uncover the hidden history of World War I in the national parks!
A Renault tank and infantry move through a field
General Dwight D. Eisenhower
General Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), born in Texas to pacifist parents and a graduate of the West Point Class of 1915, was one of the most important American generals of World War II. He was best known by the nickname acquired while growing up in Abilene, Kansas - Ike.
Allied Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower
Curriculum Connections: Making the Most of National Park Experiences
Developing curriculum-based programs is the cornerstone for a solid foundation for park education programs. Providing relevant resource-based experiences for people of all ages will ensure a continuum of opportunities for citizens to support their own learning objectives through the national parks and to find meaning in their national treasures. Offering curriculum-based programs, especially for school age children will help foster stewardship.
Carriage roads at Acadia National Park. NPS Photo
Gettysburg: the Power of Partnership
For 28 years the Gettysburg Foundation has stood with the National Park Service (NPS) as the steward of preservation, restoration, and education at Gettysburg National Military Park, assisting with ongoing preservation needs of the battlefield, the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, and the Eisenhower National Historic Site.
Veteran Story: Tim Dolen
The Mission Continues empowers veterans who are adjusting to life at home to find purpose through community impact. The non-profit deploys veterans on new missions in their communities, so that their actions will inspire future generations to serve. Tim Dolen started his six-month assignment on October 18, 2017 as Veteran Outreach Coordinator at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site.
The Mission Continues: Tim Dolen visits the park museum. He is standing next to the cannon exhibit.
World War II Weekend at Eisenhower National Historic Site
Eisenhower National Historic Site (EISE) hosted the 23rd annual World War II Weekend on September 21-22, 2019. Over 500+ living history volunteers were on site to interpret 50+ WWII military unit displays across the former cattle pastures once owned by the 34th President and Supreme Allied Commander of Allied Forces Europe, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Military units portrayed United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force.
The Army's First Tank School: Camp Colt at Gettysburg
While America ramped up to fight in World War I, Captain Dwight D. Eisenhower trained troops here in a new form of warfare that changed the battlefield forever.
Infantry march behind a tank in a field of tall weeds
NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Eisenhower National Historic Site, Pennsylvania
Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.
parkland and statue
2020 Weather In Review: Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site
Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site experienced a very warm and slightly dry 2020. In all, the year ended as the 10th warmest and 41st driest since 1895.
A cannon overlooking a field and sunset at Gettysburg
Battle of the Bulge Burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery
One out of every ten American casualties fell during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-1945, amounting to over 100,000 Americans killed, wounded, or missing. While the dead were initially interred overseas, many were brought home after the war at the request of their family members. Some of them were interred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.
snow covers a line of headstones, each marked with a wreath.
World War II Burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery
In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Gettysburg National Cemetery, the site of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and final resting place of over 3,500 Federal Civil War dead, expanded by over 500 burials as soldiers were brought back from overseas and buried closer to home.
rows of military headstones with a backdrop of trees
D-Day Burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery
Gettysburg National Cemetery is the final resting place of over 500 WWII casualties, twelve of whom, all Pennsylvanians, lost their lives during the Normandy Landings--D-Day, June 6th, 1944.
a row of US government-issue gravestones with American flags in front of them.
The 1956 Presidential Election
The 1956 presidential campaign, Eisenhower's bid for reelection involved a second term president facing a rematch of his earlier opponent, several foreign policy crises, and questions about the president's health.
President Eisenhower cheers with his arms over his head.
Secret Service Protection at the Eisenhower Farm
Throughout Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency, the Secret Service was a regular fixture at his personal residence and farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Once he retired, the Secret Service left, as former presidents at the time were not given lifetime protection. President Kennedy's assassination in 1963 changed Secret Service protection for presidents and former presidents forever.
a farm lane with its gates open and a staffed guard booth on the left side.
President Eisenhower "Wages Peace"
Shortly after the lifting of the Berlin Blockade, in August 1949, the Soviet Union broke the American nuclear monopoly by developing its own atomic bomb. This development forced the United States to reevaluate its defense posture and accelerated the creation of even more powerful weapons, such as the hydrogen bomb, to regain its nuclear superiority. As president, Eisenhower struggled to balance defense and spending.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower standing with Lyndon B. Johnson and others
“Project Solarium”
As Commander-in-Chief and as a former Army General, Eisenhower at least exerted greater control over the military. He called for a reconsideration of the country’s Cold War policies upon taking office and initiated “Project Solarium”—named for the room of the White House where the project was discussed—which requested three blue-ribbon, top secret panels to separately consider and propose a strategy for America’s Cold War policy.
A 1960s view of the White House Solarium
The Problem of Massive Retaliation
Massive retaliation limited the Eisenhower administration’s policy options. The decision not to use nuclear weapons in Vietnam called into question the administration’s policy of massive retaliation and deterrence. Massive retaliation might have been a successful policy for keeping the Cold War in balance and an option for stopping a major Soviet advance into Western Europe–although it was never put to this test–but it did not answer everything.
Series: World War II and the Gettysburg National Cemetery
Originally conceived as a national cemetery for the Federal dead after the battle of Gettysburg, Gettysburg National Cemetery is the final resting place of over 500 American service personnel who gave the last full measure during World War II.
A row of US government-issue headstones with American flags marking them.
Series: National Park Service Geodiversity Atlas
The servicewide Geodiversity Atlas provides information on <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/geoheritage-conservation.htm">geoheritage</a> and <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/geodiversity.htm">geodiversity</a> resources and values all across the National Park System to support science-based management and education. The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1088/index.htm">NPS Geologic Resources Division</a> and many parks work with National and International <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/park-geology.htm">geoconservation</a> communities to ensure that NPS abiotic resources are managed using the highest standards and best practices available.
park scene mountains
Series: Eisenhower and the Nuclear Arms Race in the 1950s
"We will not be aggressors," said President Eisenhower, "but we ... have and will maintain a massive capability to strike back." Eisenhower's comments reflected the doctrinal basis behind much of America's strategic planning during the Cold War era. Learn more about how the Eisenhower administration moved beyond containment and addressed new Soviet threats.
President Eisenhower with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev
Series: Creative Teaching with Historic Places: Selections from CRM Vol 23 no 8 (2000)
These articles are a selection from a special issue of CRM Journal, "Creative Teaching with Historic Places" published in 2000. They provide examples of teaching using historic places both in and out of the classroom, helping students connect with history using the power of place, as well as how to prepare lessons making those connections. Teaching with Historic Places is a program of the National Park Service.
Cover of CRM Journal "Creative Teaching with Historic Places"
Series: African American History at Gettysburg
Abraham Brian, Basil Biggs, James Warfield, and Mag Palm are just a few of the many individuals that were affected by the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg, and each has their own story to tell. We have collected their stories in one place so that you can learn more about their various trials during this tumultuous time in American history.
A black and white photograph of a black family posing with a white man and his horse in a dirt road.
Eisenhower's Military Career Outside of WWI and WWII
While best known for his service during World War II, Dwight Eisenhower had a lengthy military career outside of the First and Second World Wars. His many postings and positions enabled his development as a leader, ultimately helping him become a five-star general and future president.
Black and white image of Major Dwight Eisenhower in uniform
Christmas with the Eisenhowers
Christmas was a very special time of year for Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower. Explore stories of the Eisenhower family's holiday traditions, including a special virtual tour of the Eisenhower home decorated for the Christmas holiday.
A black and white image of the Eisenhower family around a Christmas tree
Reading the Man: Dwight Eisenhower's Love of Books
Dwight Eisenhower was a man of many interests, passions, and hobbies. He had a well-publicized love of golf, a deep affinity for painting, and was quite the card player as well. While these passions emerged in Eisenhower’s adulthood, there is one interest he maintained as a hobby from his early boyhood until his final days: reading. This article explores Eisenhower's love of books and his personal library in his Gettysburg home.
Color image of General Eisenhower's desk with a bookcase in the background
2021 Weather In Review: Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site
Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site experienced an extremely warm 2021 with total precipitation that was near normal.
A white barn in a yellow field with a split-rail fence.
President Eisenhower and Civil Rights
A brief overview of President Eisenhower and his administration's role in the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s.
a black and white image of President Eisenhower surrounded by reporters.
Three First Ladies, A Lifetime of Change
Explore the changing role of the First Ladies through an examination of the lives of Frances Cleveland, Mamie Eisenhower and Rosalynn Carter.
image of a painting of Mamie Eisenhower in pink ballgown
President-Elect Eisenhower's Trip to Korea
In December 1952, President-Elect Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Korea to seek answers to a years long conflict. Eisenhower's trip fueled his desire to bring an end to fighting on the Korean Peninsula. Explore this story of how a president-elect, who happened to be a former 5 star general, sought peace in a time of conflict.
A black and white image of President-Elect Eisenhower walking outdoors in a snowy scene in Korea
General Dwight David Eisenhower’s Military Career Outside WWI and WWII
General Eisenhower was well known for his extraordinary military career during World War II. During the war, he rose to the lofty position of Supreme Allied Commander despite never enduring the horrors of fighting in World War I. Outside of General Eisenhower’s service during the world wars, most people know very little of his military career. This time of his army life with painfully slow advancement in rank developed Eisenhower into the great leader of armies.
Dwight Eisenhower seated in a military tent in a uniform reading a newspaper.
"Time Will Not Dim the Glory of Their Deeds": President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Today—100 years after the burial of America’s World War I Unknown—the Tomb of the Unknown reminds us of all those who have sacrificed so much, known and unknown. The staff of the Eisenhower National Historic Site is honored to join in the remembrance of this solemn occasion, and the small role which President Eisenhower played in it.
Dwight Eisenhower laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with a crowd behind him.
A Day When Everything Changed- Dwight Eisenhower and the Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Dwight Eisenhower was a fifty-one-year-old Bvt. Brigadier General at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. The events of that day would forever change both Eisenhower’s life and the course of world history.
Black and white photo of a house with a two story wrap around porch.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The White House Years of E. Frederic Morrow
E. Frederic Morrow, the first ever African American to hold an executive position in the White House, worked for Dwight Eisenhower as an Administrative Officer for Special Projects against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Era. In this position, he confronted racism both personally and professionally and often found himself frustrated and even angered at what he called Eisenhower's "lukewarm stand on civil rights."
E. Frederic Morrow seated left of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Oval Office.
"My Dear Mr. President": Jackie Robinson and Dwight Eisenhower
Dwight Eisenhower received many letters from citizens on important issues. In 1957 and 1958, baseball star and Civil Rights activist Jackie Robinson wrote to President Eisenhower about his stance on Civil Rights, voicing his desires for stronger Federal action to protect the rights of African Americans in the United States. His letter of May 1958 expresses the frustration Robinson felt at what he considered to be Eisenhower's slow pace on issues pertaining to Civil Rights.
Jackie Robinson and Dwight Eisenhower in the Oval Office.
Ike's Hobbies
Unlike many people with demanding and difficult jobs, Ike had many hobbies such as golf, bridge, painting, raising black angus show cows, hunting, fishing, shooting, and enjoying all things Western. His hobbies allowed him to manage the stress and strain of the most challenging and mentally strenuous job in the world.
Ike, John, and David Eisenhower putting at Camp David.
January 20: The Beginning and the End: Ike's First and Last Inaugurations
January 20, 1953, was the date Ike's presidency officially began - the date of his first inauguration. January 20, 1961 was also the date of President Kennedy's inauguration – and Ike's very last day as president.
Dwight Eisenhower taking the Oath of Office in front of the White House.
A Family of Service
Robert and Dorothy McCormick both served in the United States Navy during WWII. Their family’s story reminds us of the many ways we can serve others and of the many ways in which history connects us all.
Headstone of Robert McCormick with an American flag in front of it.
"A Cold and Frosty Affair:" Ike and Truman's Strained Relationship on Inauguration Day, 1953
It is a routine yet special occurrence in American history—one political leader handing over the most powerful office in the land—the Presidency of the United States—to another. In some cases, this transfer is done amongst friends and political allies. In others, it is amongst political rivals. On January 20, 1953, such a transfer of power occurred, when President Harry Truman passed the torch of leadership to incoming President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman seated in the back of a car waving at crowds.
A Season of Hardship and Struggle: Eisenhower's World War II Christmases
For soldiers, especially during wartime, Holiday joy and the comfort of hearth and home are often a very far cry away. This was true as well for General Dwight Eisenhower who experienced several Christmases away from his loving wife and son during the great conflict of World War II. However, there were still glimpses of normalcy and holiday cheer that pushed their way through to the fighting men even during the bloody acts of war.
General Dwight Eisenhower seated in his headquarters in Algiers.
Remembering the “Date Which Will Live In Infamy”: The Poems of Lt. Henry Lee
The events of December 7, 1941, impacted millions of Americans. Lt. Henry Lee was an officer in the U.S. Army serving in the Philippines. He recorded his response to Pearl Harbor in a poem on December 8, 1941, part of his collection of poems and writings from WWII.
Remember December 7th Poster
“The present situation is to be regarded as one of opportunity for us and not of disaster…" Dwight Eisenhower and the Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge stands as one of the great contests of the Second World War. Eisenhower and his commanders had been ill prepared for the German counteroffensive, losing significant ground in the battle’s early days. While the Americans had ultimately regained their lost positions, it came at a steep cost. Over 105,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured, or missing, equating to roughly one out of every ten American casualties for the entire war.
Soldiers marching down a snow covered road.
Christmas Eve on a Gettysburg Farm
In December 1955, New Yorker Frank Sohl wrote a Christmas poem for President Dwight Eisenhower. Sohl's poem saw Eisenhower visited by the spirits of three former presidents at his Gettysburg farm one snowy Christmas Eve. Eisenhower loved Sohl's work and sent copies to friends. The poem was picked up by newspaper across the country. Today, it reminds us of the expectations Eisenhower felt as president and the desire for peace we all feel each Christmas season.
Poster of the poem Christmas Eve on a Gettysburg Farm.
When The Eisenhower Home Became The Eisenhower National Historic Site
On November 27, 1967, and after much reflection, Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower transferred the deed to their home and farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. In that moment, the Eisenhower's home became the Eisenhower National Historic Site.
Mamie and Dwight Eisenhower transferring the deed to their Gettysburg property to Stewart Udall
"A Splendid Young Soldier": Cpl. James Murray, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the Korean War
A President-elect and a Corporal sit down together for lunch in the cold wintry mountains of Korea. Five days later, one is killed in action, and the other left wondering what he can do to prevent more deaths in an already far too costly war.
A black and white image showing several men standin together wearing heavy coats
"A Century of Continuing Challenge:" Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1953 Inaugural Address
On January 20, 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower took the oath of office as the 34th President of the United States. In his Inaugural Address that day, Eisenhower laid out the challenges facing the United States, as well as ways he believed the American people could rise to the occasion and meet them.
A black and white image showing Dwight Eisenhower taking the oath of office as president
2022 Weather in Review: Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site
In all, 2022 was a warm year with precipitation that was near normal at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site.
Cannons pointing over a field with a pink sunrise
Eisenhower and NASA
In 1958, amidst a growing space race with the Russians, President Eisenhower called for a civilian space agency. Under Eisenhower's leadership, NASA was born. Explore this story further in this article.
A black and white image of two men standing next to a model rocket
Frederick Clark, Gettysburg, and the Malmedy Massacre
In December 1944, amidst the costliest battle of WWII for American forces, PFC Frederick Clark was gunned down near the village of Malmedy. Clark was one of many killed during the Malmedy Massacre in the Battle of the Bulge. Today, he is buried in Gettysburg National Cemetery.
A color photo of the white headstone of Frederick Clark in Gettysburg National Cemetery
First Lady Friendship Mouse
Pat Nixon and Mamie Eisenhower had a friendship as unique as this gift, a fabric eyeglasses case which is now in the Eisenhower National Historic Site museum collection. Learn more about this fascinating friendship and unique gift, one you can make your own version of at home!
A colorful mouse-shaped fabric eye glasses case