November 16, 2021
JIMMY CARTER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
441 John Lewis Freedom Pkwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
“The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia houses U.S. President Jimmy Carter's papers and other material relating to the Carter administration and the Carter family's life.” Wikipedia
The 1976 election would have been the first presidential election I voted in. I remember voting for the Jimmy Carter, who won and became the 39th president of the United States. Carter’s Library and Museum were high on my list of things to see in Georgia.
The museum is nestled away in the forested park. The setting is serene matching my picture of the former president. The building was stately, but not overdone. Due to COVID, timed tickets were required which limited the number of visitors, though I doubt there would have been too many more people had the restriction not been in place. The self-guided tour follows Carter’s life from his boyhood in Plains to the Naval Academy back to Plains to take over the family peanut business. It then traces his political career from state senate to Georgia Governor to President. All throughout the museum displays emphasize the contributions of Rosalynn to Jimmy’s success. The tour ends with the Carters’ accomplisments since his “forced retirement” from the presidency.
As I made my way through the museum exhibits I was struck with the many parallels between Carter’s first year in the presidency and today. It gives one a lot to ponder.
A display representing Carter's time aboard submarines while he was in the Navy.
Replicas of the clothing the Carters wore to their wedding.
I loved several of the Carter quotes posted on the walls of the museum.
Carter in Iowa for the caucuses.
The Bible used to swear Carter into the office of the presidency.
A model of Carter's Oval Office in the White House.
Some of the parallels I found between 1977 and 2021.
A giant timeline of Carter's time as president.
A tribute to all of the presidential libraries from Hoover to George W. Bush.
A unique portrait of Carter.
A closer look at the detail of the Carter portrait.
This Crown, a gift from Hungary, has quite a back story.
A translucent embroidery given to President and Mrs. Carter from China's Deng Xiaoping. Amazing.
A tribute to the Camp David talks.
The Presidential Medals of Freedom presented to Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter by President Clinton in 1999.
The Nobel Peace Prize given to Jimmy Carter on December 10, 2002.
A Grammy presented to Carter in 2006 for "Best Spoken Word Album."
A statue in the museum gardens.
The Museum Gardens
A beautiful day in the gardens.
"The Alaska Wilderness League presents this sculpture, on behalf of all Americans, in tribute to President Jimmy Carter for his extraordinary vision and leadership in protecting the incomparable wilderness and wildlife of our last Frontier." Presented on December 6, 2000, twenty years after enactment of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.