Interactive Map Shows the History of Presidential Travel

President Trump’s first foreign trip follows a long line of international visits by heads of state

Brigit Katz

Correspondent

Tehran_Conference,_1943.jpg

President Trump recently concluded his first foreign tour , during which he traveled to five different countries, met with a bevy of international leaders, and had a meme-worthy encounter with a glowing orb . Counting Trump’s trip, U.S. presidents have made 921 visits to foreign locations since the early 20th century. A new interactive map explores the history of presidential jet-setting, tracking the many diplomatic excursions that have been made across the globe, as Greg Miller reports for National Geographic .

Titled “ The Executive Abroad ,” the map was created by the University of Richmond’s Digital Scholarship Lab. Using travel records from the Office of the Historian at the U.S. State Department, a group of students compiled data on trips made by U.S. presidents and their secretaries of state. When you toggle through officials’ names, dots pop up across the map, each signifying a foreign visit. The dots are color-coded based on geographic region, and clicking on them reveals the date and reason for the trip.

The chronology of the map beings in 1906 with Theodore Roosevelt, who became the first sitting American president to travel outside the country when he took a trip to view the construction of the Panama Canal . The graph-like outer ring of the map, which shows the frequency of international visits, indicates that foreign trips were rare occasions until after the Second World War. Robert Nelson, director of the Digital Scholarship Lab, tells Miller that the shift can be attributed to two factors: the rise of jet aircraft, which made traveling easier, and America’s growing soft power influence in the wake of WWII.

Rates of presidential travel really took off in the late 1950s, as indicated by peaks on the map’s outer ring. “[T]he map conveys how significantly travel by the executive branch has grown over the past eleven decades,” Nelson says in a press release . “In the first decade of the 20th century, presidents Roosevelt and Taft together made three trips to two places. A century later, George W. Bush and Barack Obama together made more than 300 trips all over the globe.”

The map reveals other trends. Presidents have taken more trips to Asia and Africa in recent years, for instance, while secretaries of state travel to the Middle East more frequently than presidents—possibly, Miller writes, “because presidential visits are more ceremonial, whereas secretaries of state are the ones dispatched to regions where there’s hard diplomatic work to be done.”

With its plethora of multi-colored dots, the map also highlights crucial moments in American political history: Woodrow Wilson’s trip to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, FDR’s 1943 meeting with Stalin and Churchill in Tehran, and other high-stakes visits undertaken by heads of state.

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Brigit Katz | | READ MORE

Brigit Katz is a freelance writer based in Toronto. Her work has appeared in a number of publications, including NYmag.com, Flavorwire and Tina Brown Media's Women in the World.

Office of the Historian

Travels Abroad of the President

By president.

  • Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909)
  • William Howard Taft (1909–1913)
  • Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921)
  • Warren G. Harding (1921–1923)
  • Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929)
  • Herbert C. Hoover (1929–1933)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945)
  • Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)
  • John F. Kennedy (1961–1963)
  • Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969)
  • Richard M. Nixon (1969–1974)
  • Gerald R. Ford (1974–1977)
  • Jimmy Carter (1977–1981)
  • Ronald Reagan (1981–1989)
  • George H.W. Bush (1989–1993)
  • William J. Clinton (1993–2001)
  • George W. Bush (2001–2009)
  • Barack Obama (2009–2017)
  • Donald J. Trump (2017–2021)

By Destination

  • Afghanistan
  • Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • China, People’s Republic of
  • Czech Republic
  • Czechoslovakia
  • El Salvador
  • Germany, Federal Republic of
  • Korea, Republic of
  • Korea, South
  • Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Palestinian Authority
  • Philippines
  • Republic of China
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Serbia-Montenegro (Kosovo)
  • South Africa
  • Switzerland
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
  • United Kingdom (Wales)
  • Vatican City
  • Yugoslavia (Kosovo)

a map

U.S. presidents have made 16 previous trips to Brussels (peach-colored lines), where President Trump is today.

  • ALL OVER THE MAP

New Map Explores the History of Presidential Trips Abroad

From Teddy Roosevelt’s visit to Panama in 1906 to Trump’s trip this week, U.S. presidents have made more than 900 visits to foreign places.

In taking his first trip abroad as president this week, Donald Trump joins a long tradition. Since Teddy Roosevelt went to Panama in 1906 to inspect construction work on the Panama Canal, U.S. presidents have made 921 visits to foreign places, including the nine on Trump’s itinerary. A new interactive map allows you to explore where the presidents—and their secretaries of state—have gone.

One thing that stands out is the dramatic increase in presidential travel after World War II. The obvious explanation is the advent of jet aircraft, which shortened trips and put the entire globe within reach, says Robert Nelson, director of the Digital Scholarship Lab at the University of Richmond, which created the map. But the shift also reflects America’s growing global influence and use of soft power—diplomacy rather than military might—in the latter half of the 20th century, Nelson says.

Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, who succeeded him, made a combined total of three trips to two places: Panama and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, just across the border from El Paso, Texas. In contrast, George W. Bush and Barack Obama visited 309 places on six continents (Bush traveled slightly more—168 places to Obama’s 141).

“The first really big presidential trip is Woodrow Wilson’s trip abroad to attend the Paris Peace Conference at the end of the First World War,” Nelson says. Wilson was gone more than six months. “He was traveling by boat, so it was a huge time commitment.”

A few other presidential milestones:

  • First trip to Africa: Franklin Delano Roosevelt attended a conference in Casablanca, Morocco, in January 1943
  • First trip to Asia: Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited Tehran, Iran, in November 1943 to meet with Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
  • Most traveled president: Bill Clinton visited 195 foreign places
  • Least traveled president: Calvin Coolidge took zero trips abroad

Data for the map—drawn from travel records kept by the Office of the Historian at the U.S. State Department—were compiled by University of Richmond students in a class taught by Nelson’s colleague Tim Barney.

Nelson decided to put Washington, D.C., at the center of the map to highlight the distances to different destinations. Colors correspond to geographic regions on the map and on the ring around it, which indicates the total number of trips within a given time period. The colors around the ring show, for example, that while Latin America and Europe dominated presidential itineraries early in the 20th century, travel to Asia and Africa has increased in recent decades.

Picture of a map

U.S. secretaries of state (right) appear to make more trips than presidents to the Middle East (represented by purple in the rings around both maps).

The colored rings also suggest that secretaries of state have spent more time in the Middle East than presidents have (see above). Perhaps, Nelson suggests, that’s because presidential visits are more ceremonial, whereas secretaries of state are the ones dispatched to regions where there’s hard diplomatic work to be done.

A hill rising up from the ring means a lot of trips—and many of these appear to coincide with international crises, such as a flurry of trips to the Middle East by Secretary of State George Shultz in the mid-1980s, during an escalation of the conflict in Lebanon.

Trump’s trip follows a tumultuous couple of weeks for his administration at home, and there is a tradition for that as well. Ronald Reagan took a nine-day break from the Iran-Contra scandal with a trip to Europe in 1987. And President Clinton visited Russia and Northern Ireland in 1998, after testifying to the grand jury investigating his dalliance with Monica Lewinsky.

Each trip, whether it advances the interests of the nation or merely provides a respite for a beleaguered leader, adds another dot to the map.

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The President Abroad: International Travels Of U.S. Presidents

In honor of Presidents’ Day, we mapped the many international travels of past U.S. presidents. While presidential travels abroad weren’t common until the 20th century, there is now an abundance of data from the 19 presidents who did travel internationally. One president took 140 trips abroad while in office. Care to take a guess about which of the U.S. presidents caught the travel bug and traveled internationally the most? How about the president who preferred to keep their feet on U.S. soil and traveled abroad only once? The number of presidential trips abroad varied greatly from president to president, as did the number of times U.S. presidents visited certain countries. Some countries have been visited over 30 times by past presidents while other countries have only ever been visited by a U.S. president once.

View International Trips by Presidents in a full screen map

The map shows the international travels of past U.S. presidents, and if you keep on reading, you’ll learn about the trends of presidential trips abroad, pulled from the State Department’s list.

The Beginning Of Presidential Travels Abroad

There are only 19 U.S. presidents on the map as presidents didn’t begin traveling abroad until the 1900s. Public opinion and a lack of transportation limited presidential trips abroad before the 1900s and even throughout the first few decades of the 20th century. Before the 20th century, Americans favored domestic presidential travel. However, they frowned at the thought of their president rubbing elbows with other world leaders. But, as the U.S.’s role in international affairs changed, so did public opinion. In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt made the first presidential trip abroad to Panama City. This visit sparked the international travel bug in future U.S. presidents. Each president since Theodore Roosevelt has made at least one trip abroad while in office.

Transportation also played a significant part in the increase of presidential travels abroad throughout the 20th century. Early presidents traveled abroad by steamship, which took forever. This limited the number of trips abroad U.S. presidents were willing and able to make while in office. When Woodrow Wilson made the first presidential trip to Europe via ship in 1918, it took nine days. Yet, forty years later, after many transportation innovations, Dwight Eisenhower made the same journey by jet in just nine hours.

Presidents Who Traveled The Most

Any ideas about which U.S. presidents traveled abroad the most? Here’s a hint: the top three presidential jet-setters are also the three most recent past presidents:

  • George W. Bush (2001–2009) — 140 international trips
  • Bill Clinton (1993–2001) — 133 international trips
  • Barack Obama (2009–2017) — 120 international trips

George W. Bush traveled abroad more than any other president to date. During his presidency, Bush visited Russia seven times. He also visited both Mexico and Italy six times each. George W. Bush took seven more trips abroad than Bill Clinton, but both Bush and Clinton visited 74 international locations around the world. Bill Clinton frequently traveled to Italy and Germany. He also dropped by the U.K. on seven different occasions. Obama visited 61 international locations in total, most frequently visiting Germany, which he traveled to 13 times. Obama also paid many visits to both France and Japan.

Presidents Who Traveled The Least

The U.S. presidents whose total international travels were in the single-digits include:

  • Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) — 1 international trip
  • Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) — 1 international trip
  • William Howard Taft (1909–1913) — 2 international trips
  • Warren G. Harding (1921–1923) — 3 international trips
  • Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) — 7 international trips

Where do these homebodies have in common? Roosevelt, Taft, and Harding all traveled once to Panama. Calvin Coolidge only traveled abroad to Cuba. Harding and Truman both traveled at least once to the U.K. and Canada. Taft and Truman have a trip to Mexico in common. In addition to the U.K., Canada, and Mexico, Truman also ventured to Belgium, Germany, and Brazil during his presidency.

The Ebbs And Flows Of Presidential Trips Abroad

presidential visits wiki

It’s to be expected that the very first U.S. presidents to travel abroad didn’t make 100 different trips. However, after Theodore Roosevelt’s pioneering trip, other presidents followed suit, resulting in a steady increase in presidential travel abroad. William Taft traveled abroad twice. Woodrow Wilson made more international trips (10) than any other president at the time. Unfortunately, this is where the trend ended. After Wilson, Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge traveled abroad less than the U.S. presidents who came before them.

Harding’s decrease in international travel may be explained by his death 881 days into his term. However, Harding’s V.P. Calvin Coolidge served in office for six years and only traveled abroad once. After Coolidge, Herbert Hoover made 10 international trips followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt who made 52 voyages abroad. While FDR had a 12-year presidency in which to travel, Harry Truman, his successor, still had eight years to go abroad. Truman only made it abroad to seven places, though. Dwight Eisenhower then picked up the pace with 37 trips. John F. Kennedy made 16 out-of-the-country trips before his assassination. Lyndon B. Johnson traveled abroad 27 times, and Richard Nixon made 42 trips. Gerald Ford traveled less than others throughout his presidency. However, Ford was also the start of a new trend that continued until recently.

Obama Ends A Trend While Still Traveling More Than Most Presidents

Every president since Gerald Ford traveled more than their predecessor… until Barack Obama. Ford traveled abroad 19 times, Jimmy Carter 31 times, and Ronald Reagan made it to 49 places abroad. George H.W. Bush visited 60 locations and Bill Clinton set the bar high when he visited 133 different places around the world. However, George W. Bush blew them all out of the park with his 140 visits abroad. To be fair, 140 trips is hard to beat, even for Barack Obama, the U.S.’s first African American president. It’s an interesting pattern of increasing presidential trips abroad that ended with Obama’s 120 trips. But, we can still acknowledge that Obama visited more international locations than 84% of U.S. presidents who traveled abroad.

Countries With The Most U.S. Presidential Visits (And The Least)

Altogether, U.S. presidents have visited the U.K., France, Canada, Mexico, and Germany more than 30 times so far. On the other hand, there are 30 countries which have only been visited by a U.S. president once, like Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ecuador, and Kenya. Then, there are 17 countries where a U.S. president visited no more than twice. These include Bulgaria, Croatia, Cuba, Haiti, Iceland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Syria, and Uganda.

If you’re on a presidential kick, be sure to check out our other useful president-related maps like presidential assassination attempts mapped and the births and burials of U.S. presidents. Alternatively, head over to our map of the places named after George Washington to see just how many places named after America’s very first president are near you.

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5 facts about presidential travel abroad

American presidents and other world leaders frequently travel internationally, most commonly for conferences and bilateral meetings. This face-to-face diplomacy can offer insights into political priorities, partnerships and tensions, as well as key international issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international travel in 2020 and 2021, but diplomatic travel picked up significantly in 2022. Here are five facts about presidential travel abroad:

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to examine the international travel history of recent U.S. presidents and other heads of government through Jan. 20, 2023.

Dates and destinations of U.S. presidential travel prior to 2021 are from the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Historian, which has recorded international presidential travel since 1901. Travel data for 2021 and 2022 was compiled from White House press briefings. Information on visits to Ukraine by other world leaders were independently verified through official government websites.

Only trips where the head of government met face-to-face with another head of government are included. For example, Biden’s trip to the UK for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral is excluded as Biden did not hold any diplomatic meetings with the British prime minister or other world leaders. Visiting leaders were only counted if they were the head of government at the time of their visit. Depending on the country’s political system, “head of government” could mean president or prime minister, but not both. Heads of state, monarchs and interim leaders are excluded from the visiting leaders count.

U.S. President Joe Biden has traveled internationally less frequently than his last two predecessors did. Biden traveled to 17 places outside the United States in his first two years in office, visiting some more than once. He made six international trips in 2021, all of them to Europe. In 2022, he made 12 trips, including to Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East. And in early 2023, Biden traveled to Mexico for the North American Leaders’ Summit.

A table showing the destination and reason for Biden's international travel, two years into his presidency.

All told, Biden’s international visit count trails those of former Presidents Donald Trump, who made 23 international trips to 20 places during his first two years in office, and Barack Obama, who made 32 trips to 24 places in the first two years of his presidency.

Biden’s first presidential trip abroad was to the United Kingdom, while Trump’s was to Saudi Arabia and Obama’s was to Canada. A president’s first trip is often used to signal the importance of a strategic alliance. On his trip to the UK in June 2021, Biden reaffirmed the U.S.-UK partnership and committed to close cooperation throughout his presidency. Typically, U.S. presidents visit a close ally on their inaugural trip: Canada was the first international destination for both Obama and Bill Clinton, while Mexico was the first destination for George W. Bush.

U.S. presidents have visited the UK the most in the past decade – a total of eight times. American presidents have worked closely with their British counterparts over the past decade, cooperating on issues from defense and counterterrorism to climate policy . Travel to the UK has largely centered around conferences and summits, but in 2019, Trump made a ceremonial state visit to the UK .  

A world map showing that U.S. presidents have visited the UK the most in the past decade - eight times in all.

In the past decade of presidential travel, Belgium (home to NATO headquarters ), France, Germany and Japan are the second-most visited destinations, at six times each.

So far, Biden has made the most trips to the UK and Belgium – two each. (Biden’s additional visit to the UK to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II is not included in this count, since he did not hold any diplomatic appointments.) Just as these two European allies stand out in Biden’s presidential travel thus far, France stands out in Trump’s administration and Germany stands out in Obama’s – they visited those respective countries four times while in office.

Biden is among 38 heads of government who have visited Ukraine since the beginning of the war there. Biden traveled to Kyiv as part of a surprise trip in February, days before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion .

While many heads of government visiting Ukraine have come from neighboring countries or countries in Europe (such as Poland’s prime minister, who has visited five times since the beginning of the war) that is not always the case. For example, Guatemala’s President Alejandro Giammattei and Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló traveled to Ukraine in July 2022 and October 2022, respectively.

Biden hosted 28 heads of government at the White House as of the end of 2022. Foreign leaders come to the U.S. for events including conferences, summits and bilateral meetings. Among those to visit the White House in 2021 and 2022 were then-Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of Sweden, who met with Biden to submit her country’s application for NATO membership ; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who traveled to the White House on his first known wartime trip abroad ; and French President Emmanuel Macron, whose trip marked the first state visit of Biden’s presidency . In fact, the president of France has been the first leader to make a state visit to the U.S. for the past three presidential terms, with Macron visiting Trump in April 2018 and his predecessor, François Hollande, visiting Obama in February 2014. In April 2023, Biden hosted the second state visit of his administration , meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

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presidential visits wiki

Travel Guide to the 22 Presidential Libraries and Museums You Can Visit

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By Jason Barnette | Travel writer and photographer with 15+ years of road tripping experience

  • Last Updated on June 3, 2024
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Road Trip to the 8 Presidential Sites Throughout Northern Ohio

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U.S. presidential libraries preserve, interpret, and put historical presidential materials within reach of researchers. But beyond the wordsmith researching another bestselling historical biography, these libraries are also intriguing museums with jaw-dropping exhibits – like Reagan’s Air Force One and Wilson’s 1919 Pierce-Arrow limousine.

Parks with lakes and hiking trails often surround the presidential libraries. The Clinton Presidential Park Bridge is an 1899 bridge converted into a pedestrian-only trail across the Arkansas River. And several of the presidents are buried near their presidential library.

For me, part of the fun of visiting presidential libraries is the road trip involves getting there. Some of the presidential are in remote parts of the country far from the nearest airport or train station. That’s why I started compiling this list years ago after visiting my first presidential library in Canton during a 6-week road trip across Ohio.

This travel guide has everything you need to plan a trip by plane, train, or automobile to the presidential libraries and museums from California to Massachusetts.

presidential visits wiki

How to use this map | Click the icon in the top-left corner to open the Map Legend, then click on any of the legend items to display more information. If you have a Google account, click the (very faint) star at the end of the map’s name to save this map to your account, then access the map from your smartphone during your trip.

In 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt set a precedent when he donated his personal and presidential correspondence to a newly created government agency: the National Archives and Records Administration. This led to the establishment of the first presidential library in 1941.

President Harry S. Truman followed Roosevelt’s example in 1950 when he also donated his papers. This set in motion a series of events that changed the future of these documents.

In 1955, Congress passed the Presidential Libraries Act. This codified the precedent Roosevelt set by creating an official Presidential Library system with the following primary components:

  • Presidents are encouraged, but not required, to donate their materials to the federal government.
  • Establishes a presidential library for all future Presidents of the United States.
  • Requires private funding to build the library and provide an endowment for future maintenance.
  • The National Archives and Records Administration operates the presidential library.
  • All historical materials are made available for research to the general public.

Roosevelt’s presidential library was the only one operated by NARA before the Presidential Libraries Act.

Everything changed after the infamous Watergate scandal. After resigning from office in 1974, Richard Nixon planned to destroy most of his presidential materials. Congress quickly responded, passing the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act. The Act took federal custody of Nixon’s materials, preserving them for future generations.

In 1978, the Presidential Records Act solidified federal ownership of any presidential materials directly related to the president’s constitutional and statutory duties. The Archivist of the United States collects the documents, cataloged by the National Archives and Records Administration, and distributed them to the presidential libraries.

The Presidential Libraries Act created the framework for establishing presidential libraries built with private funding and operated by the National Archives and Records Administration. But, not all presidential libraries are operated by NARA.

A presidential library has been established for every president since Hoover. But only thirteen of the libraries have been built. The Barack Obama Presidential Library is under construction in Chicago, and there are no current plans for a physical location for the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library .

All but one of these presidential is operated by NARA. In 2023, NARA transferred the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum operations to the George W. Bush Foundation. It’s the first time since Theodore Roosevelt that a presidential library is not operated by NARA.

And there are many other presidential libraries not operated by NARA.

The George Washington Presidential Library was completed in 2013 and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, founded in 1853 to preserve Washington’s home, Mount Vernon. And the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museum was built by the non-profit Hayes Presidential Center, Inc.

These non-federal presidential libraries have collections from private owners – not the National Archives – because these were before the 1978 Presidential Records Act. That’s why only 7 non-federal presidential libraries have ever been built.

There are few differences between NARA and non-federal presidential libraries besides the operations. Both types of presidential libraries make historical records available for research, have public museums to explore artifacts, and work to preserve as many presidential materials as possible.

The National Archives and Records Administration operates 14 presidential libraries:

  • Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum
  • Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
  • Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
  • Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum
  • Donald J. Trump Presidential Library and Museum

The non-federal presidential libraries include:

  • George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
  • Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library
  • Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museum
  • McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
  • Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
  • George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Two presidential libraries are currently under construction:

  • Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (non-federal)
  • Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum (NARA)

I love passport books. I keep the National Parks Passport in a three-ring binder, the Lighthouse Passport, and the U.S. Capitals Passport in the center console of my Honda Pilot. It’s the same place I also keep my leatherbound Craft Beer Log, which I found at Paper Skyscraper in Charlotte .

But no one told me about the Passport to Presidential Libraries when I visited my first presidential library.

The $10 passport is for sale at the fourteen presidential libraries maintained by NARA. Each two-page spread in the passport features information about the president’s accomplishments and a place to collect the cancellation stamp.

After collecting all fourteen cancellation stamps, you can present the completed passport to one of the presidential libraries and receive a special gift – a Presidential Crystal Paperweight. It’s one of the best rewards for completing a passport.

But maybe not as good as collecting a Wilbear Wright at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park after completing the Aviation Trail Passport!

The presidential libraries are spread across the country, from California to Massachusetts . Most of them are near international airports or Amtrak stations. And, of course, my favorite way to visit the libraries is by road trip.

Whether you travel by plane, train, or automobile, one thing is almost certain about visiting a presidential library: you’ll need a car to get there. Driving your car is the easiest. But it’s also easy to rent a car or hire a ride share like Uber or Lyft. And, just in case everything fails, many cities still have old-fashioned taxis.

I have included airports and train stations near the presidential libraries in the map above. With each library listed below, I have included more detailed information and links to the airports and train stations.

If you’re driving, I suggest visiting the Road Trips page for inspiration, road trip gear, and how-to guides.

presidential visits wiki

Although the first recorded mention of a Washington presidential library was in 1885, it would be almost one hundred years before work began in earnest. In 1983, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association began expanding the Mount Vernon campus with a new administration building. Construction on a library and research center started in 2010.

Read More | Everything You Need to Know to Visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia

The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington is colloquially called the George Washington Presidential Library. The $100 million building opened its doors on September 27, 2013.

The library contains thousands of rare books, manuscripts, documents, and artifacts. One of the most interesting parts of the collection is the Revolutionary War era maps used by Washington during his campaigns.

The library is open for research by appointment. The library is across the road from the Mount Vernon estate in northern Virginia. Although the library is not open for public tours, visitors can take guided tours of Washington’s house, explore the vast campus, and visit the museum.

Address | 3600 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mt Vernon, VA 22121 Phone | 703-780-3600 Website | www.mountvernon.org/library

How to Get There

George Washington Presidential Library is in Mount Vernon, Virginia , about thirty minutes south of Alexandria and Washington, D.C.

Reagan National Airport (DCA) is the closest airport. The airport is serviced by most domestic airlines and has daily connections to other nearby airports. Dulles International Airport (IAD) is further away but offers many more flights. Airlines include United, American, Delta, British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, and Qatar Airways.

The Alexandria Amtrak station is an enclosed building with staff, restrooms, and a waiting room. Getting a rideshare from the train station to the presidential library is easy. The station is on the Cardinal route connecting New York, Washington, Charlottesville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Chicago.

Northern Virginia is a congested mess of trudging traffic. Fortunately, Mount Vernon is at the southern edge of the area, just far enough away to make it easy to drive to. Interstates 66 and 95 intersect nearby. The George Washington Memorial Parkway is a scenic drive between Mount Vernon and I-495 west of Washington.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library opened in 2004, and the museum opened six months later in 2005. The library and museum were funded by the State of Illinois, one of the only presidential libraries owned by a state. The campus includes two modern buildings and the historic Union Station near the Old State Capital State Historic Site.

The library’s collections include many documents and artifacts from Lincoln’s tenure as president. The collection also consists of the Illinois State Historical Library, a state agency founded in 1889 to preserve Illinois’s history.

The most impressive things about the museum are the full-size dioramas. Scenes from Lincoln’s White House, the presidential box at Ford’s Theatre, and a recreation of his boyhood home allow visitors to feel like they’re walking through time. Other permanent exhibits interpret Lincoln’s presidency and critical moments of the Civil War.

There is no admission charge for research at the library. However, there is a moderate admission charge for the museum. The admission is good all day, so you can leave for a nearby lunch and return any time before the museum closes.

Address | 212 North 6th Street, Springfield, IL 62701 Phone | 217-558-8844 Website | https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is ideally located in Springfield, the capital city of Illinois .

Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) is a small regional airport minutes from downtown Springfield. The airport features rental cars but very few flights. The General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport in Peoria is the most convenient airport. This airport has direct flights from a dozen cities, including Chicago, Charlotte, Denver, and Dallas.

Passenger trains have serviced Springfield since Union Station opened in 1898. In 1971, Amtrak built a new Springfield station a couple of blocks from the original. The Springfield Station is on two routes. The Lincoln Service runs between Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City. The Texas Eagle runs between Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, and San Antonio, with an extension to Los Angeles.

Interstates 55 and 72 intersect in Springfield. These highways offer quick travel from almost anywhere in the country.

In 2009, Mississippi State University received the collection of papers and artifacts once belonging to Ulysses S. Grant. The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library was founded in 2012 on the 50th anniversary of the Ulysses S. Grant Association’s founding. The library is a joint venture between the association and the university, with the library and museum occupying the fourth floor of the Mitchell Memorial Library.

Read More | The Definitive List of Every Presidential Home You Can Visit in the U.S.

The library’s collection includes 15,000 linear feet of documents, photographs, and artifacts from Grant’s life. The artifacts come from his childhood, military career, and presidency.

Visitors can explore the museum to learn about four critical eras of Grant’s life: cadet at West Point, commanding general of the Union Army during the Civil War, the 18th President of the United States, and his later life as a statesman. The museum features interactive exhibits, full-size dioramas, and learn about his funeral parade through New York City.

The library and museum do not charge an admission fee.

Address | 395 Hardy Road, Starkville, MS 39759 Phone | 662-325-4552 Website | www.usgrantlibrary.org

Where to Park

The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and Museum are located on the fourth floor of the Mitchell Memorial Library. Getting to the library is slightly different than most presidential libraries because it’s on the Mississippi State University campus.

Visitors can obtain a parking pass and park for free in any space not marked for service, handicapped, or metered. The best free parking lot is the Commuter East, about a ten-minute walk from the library.

Visitors can also pay for parking in metered spaces and garages without parking permits. The university uses the ParkMobile ( iOS | Android ) app to manage smartphone payments. Use the app to find available spaces, pay for initial parking, and adjust as needed during your visit.

Did You Know | A quirky requirement for faculty, staff, and students at Mississippi State University is they must park with the license plate facing the driving lane. This allows campus police to find vehicles quickly. But it’s also a great way to see where everyone is from while visiting campus!

Mississippi State University is in Starkville, a remote small town in Mississippi . Getting there requires a road trip on U.S. Highways – my favorite way of traveling.

Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) is the closest place to fly to Starkville, Mississippi. It’s about a two-hour drive from the airport with a rental car.

It takes about 1.5 hours to drive from Winona along Interstate 55 to Starkville. Driving from Tupelo along Interstate 22 is faster, taking only about an hour.

Make it a Road Trip | The most scenic way to Starkville is a drive along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Leave Jackson on the parkway northbound toward Kosciusko, the only town in America named after the Revolutionary War hero. It’s a 140-mile drive that takes about 3 hours to complete.

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum was the first presidential library operated by the National Archive and Records Administration. The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum was the first built after the 1955 Presidential Libraries Act was passed.

The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum is the oldest presidential library in the U.S. It was built 25 years before Roosevelt’s presidential library.

In 1873, Hayes and his family moved into a two-story brick mansion at Spiegel Grove near Fremont, Ohio. After he died in 1893, the house was left to his second son, Colonel Webb C. Hayes. Plans were immediately implemented to preserve the presidential documents and build a library.

Read More | How to Visit the 39 Presidential Gravesites in the U.S.

Webb deeded the estate to the State of Ohio and the president’s possessions to the Ohio Historical Society. A condition of the donation was that the state build a fireproof building to house the collection safely.

In 1916, the Hayes Memorial opened. After the last generation of the Hayes family left the house in 1965, the State of Ohio opened the home for public tours. The original fireproof building has expanded several times but remained on the family’s former estate.

Pro Travel Tip | The best time to visit is spring, summer, or autumn. Plan to spend 3-4 hours visiting the library, exploring the museum, taking a guided tour of the Hayes Home, and walking the beautiful grounds.

Admission to Spiegel Grove, the museum, and the library is free. The library is open to the public, with several temporary exhibits.

Address | Spiegel Grove, Fremont, OH 43420 Phone | 419-332-2081 Website | www.rbhayes.org

The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum is in Fremont, Ohio , a small town near Toledo .

Toledo Express Airport (TOL) is the nearest airport, about 40 miles away. The small regional airport is only serviced by Allegiant Air and American Airlines.

Interstate 90 passes nearby to the north, and Interstate 75 about 25 miles west. These interstates provide easy driving from most places in the country.

presidential visits wiki

The McKinley Presidential Library and Museum was the first presidential library I ever visited. It gave me a new direction for road trips and angled me toward writing more about presidential history.

In 1963, the Stark County Historical Society opened a presidential library adjacent to the McKinley National Memorial, the final resting place of the nation’s 25th president. But it’s unlike any other presidential library.

The library and museum are an intriguing amalgamation of research library, history museum, science center, and planetarium. It’s everything McKinley enjoyed, so the vast exhibits are a tribute to his legacy.

Read More | 7 Fun and Educational Things to Do at the William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum in Canton, OH

The Ramsayer Research Library preserves over 40,000 documents and artifacts related to McKinley. The library is open to researchers by appointment.

Pro Travel Tip | Plan to spend about 2-3 hours exploring the vast museum. Then, walk next door to visit the final resting place of McKinley.

Discover World explores scientific topics like dinosaurs and how tornadoes work. Interactive, hands-on exhibits inspire children to explore physics, mechanics, and engineering.

The McKinley Gallery is the heart of the presidential library. It’s a fascinating full-size diorama chronicling McKinley’s life. The diorama features furniture from their Canton home, his desk, and two quirky animatronic versions of William and Ida McKinley.

Visitors must pay an admission fee to explore the museum and an additional fee to see a planetarium show. There is no admission to the McKinley National Memorial.

Address | 800 McKinley Monument Drive NW, Canton, OH 44708 Phone | 330-455-7043 Website | https://mckinleymuseum.org/

The McKinley Presidential Library and Museum is in Canton, Ohio , about an hour south of Cleveland.

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is the closest airport, about 50 miles north in Cleveland. The airport is serviced by a dozen airlines, including American, Delta, United, Southwest, and Spirit.

Interstate 77 is the only major highway through Canton.

The Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation was founded in 1938. The first act of the non-profit was to buy the Manse, the historic house where Wilson was born in 1846, from Mary Baldwin College. The house was meticulously restored to its 1850s appearance over the next 80 years. The house opened for public tours in 1941.

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library expanded the campus by purchasing a home near the Manse. The research library expanded in 1990 with the Woodrow Wilson Museum at the corner of North Coalter and East Beverly Streets.

Although the research library has an impressive collection of Wilson documents and artifacts, it’s not the largest collection. The Library of Congress possesses most of his official correspondence, and Princeton University has a large collection of papers from his tenure as a professor.

Read More | 7 Intriguing Places to Discover the History of President Woodrow Wilson

The 8,000-square-foot museum features eight exhibit galleries. But my favorite exhibit is the 1919 Pierce-Arrow limousine – a car frequently driven by Wilson.

The moderate admission fee includes a self-guided tour of the museum and a guided tour of the Manse.

Did You Know | Woodrow Wilson was the first president to be a member of the American Automotive Association, today known as AAA. Wilson’s love of “motoring” and the influence of his AAA membership led to the 1916 Federal Aid Highway Act, the first federal funding for a highway system, and the 1921 Federal Aid Highway Act that established the U.S. Highway System. This is why Wilson is one of my favorite presidents – he made the Great American Road Trip possible.

Address | 20 North Coalter Street, Staunton, VA 24401 Phone | 540-885-0897 Website | www.woodrowwilson.org

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum is in the scenic Shenandoah Valley in Staunton, Virginia.

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport is the nearest airport. The small regional airport is only serviced by a few airlines, including Delta, American, and United.

The Staunton Amtrak station is an enclosed building with restrooms and a waiting room. The station is just a few blocks from the presidential library. It’s on the Cardinal route connecting New York, Washington, Charlottesville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Chicago.

Interstates 64 and 81 intersect in Staunton. I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley is one of the country’s most scenic drives on an interstate. And it’s one of the primary interstates on the East Coast.

In 1891, Florence Kling married Warren Harding, the owner of a local newspaper in Marion, Ohio. They moved into a charming Queen Anne-style house built during their engagement. The couple remained in the house until 1921 when they left for the White House.

After Warren died in 1923 and Florence’s death in 1924, the Harding Home opened to the public in 1926.

Read More | Road Trip to the 8 Presidential Sites Throughout Northern Ohio

In 2016, the ambitious “Harding 2020” announcement changed the small historic site. The Harding Home was restored to its 1920s appearance, and the campus was enlarged with the addition of the new Warren G. Harding Presidential Library & Museum. The library opened in 2021 with plans for future a future expansion.

The library’s collection includes more than 5,000 historical objects. The museum’s galleries feature rotating exhibits with many artifacts displayed at various times. The research center is currently under construction.

Visitors can explore the museum and take a guided tour of the Harding Home. The moderate admission fee includes all-day access to the house, museum, and grounds.

Address | 380 Mt Vernon Avenue, Marion, OH 43302 Phone | 800-600-6894 Website | https://hardingpresidentialsites.org

The Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites is one of the most remote presidential libraries. It’s in Marion , Ohio , a small town between Columbus and Toledo .

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is the closest airport, about 50 miles south. It’s one of the largest airports in Ohio and is serviced by American, Delta, Southwest, United, and Spirit Airlines. You’ll need to rent a car to finish this trip, though.

There are no interstate highways near Marion. However, because of Ohio’s limited interstates and long distances, some U.S. Highways have higher speed limits, making travel quick and easy. U.S. Highway 23 is a great route between Columbus and Toledo – the route I drove on a road trip from Asheville to Toledo years ago.

After graduating from law school, Calvin Coolidge moved to Northampton, a small town in western Massachusetts . In 1907, Coolidge began his political career when he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 1st Hampshire District.

The first iteration of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum was established in 1920 Coolidge, the state’s governor and Vice President-Elect, donated documents and artifacts to Forbes Library, the local library in Northampton. In 1956, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts allotted funds to establish the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Room as a separate non-profit entity in Forbes Library.

Today, it’s known as the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum.

The library’s archives include the largest collection of documents and artifacts of Coolidge. It’s also the only public library in the country to hold a presidential collection.

Research is available by appointment. But, walk-ins can explore temporary exhibits on display during regular business hours for the library. There is no admission fee. It takes about an hour to peruse the small exhibit.

Address | 20 West Street, Northampton, MA 01060 Phone | 413-587-1014 Website | https://forbeslibrary.org/coolidge/

The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum is in Northampton, Massachusetts . It’s a small town in the western part of the state.

Bradley International Airport (BDL) is the nearest airport, about 30 miles south in Connecticut. The mid-sized airport is serviced by American, Delta, Southwest, United, and Spirit Airlines. You’ll need to rent a car to finish the trip.

The Northampton Amtrak station is an unstaffed platform beside the historic Union Station that now operates as a restaurant, bar, and rental facility. Fortunately, the station is less than half a mile from the presidential library. The station is on the Valley Flyer and Vermonter routes, connecting New York and Washington with many New England cities and towns.

Interstate 91 is the only major highway through the small town.

presidential visits wiki

Following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s example, Herbert Hoover was the second President of the United States to establish a presidential library. In 1954, the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation was established to preserve Hoover’s birthplace in West Branch, Iowa. Work began on a small museum, but halfway through construction, Hoover decided to double the size and make it his presidential library.

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum opened in 1962.

In 1965, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site was established to preserve Hoover’s birthplace and childhood home. Although the presidential library is within the boundaries of the national historic site operated by the National Park Service , the library and museum are operated by the National Archives and Records Administration.

The library’s archives include the largest collection of documents and memorabilia for Hoover. The museum’s galleries tell the chronological story of Hoover, from his early years of youthful adventure, through his tenure as president during the Great Depression, and eventual statesman in later life.

There is no admission to the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. However, there is a modest fee for exploring the museum. Visitors can explore Hoover’s Birthplace Cottage, a recreation of his father’s Blacksmith Shop, and visit the final resting place of the 31st president.

Address | 210 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA 52358 Phone | 319-643-5301 Website | https://hoover.archives.gov/

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is remotely located in West Branch, Iowa .

Quad City International Airport (MLI) is the closest airport, about 55 miles from the presidential library. The small airport is serviced by American Airlines, Allegiant Air, and United Airlines. Rental cars are available for the final drive.

Interstate 80 passes through West Branch. It’s one of the few interstates in Iowa, making it a lengthy road trip to visit this presidential library.

presidential visits wiki

National Park Week 2024

Learn about the annual celebration of the National Park System and read my travel guides to national park units across the country.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt had a growing problem. At the peak of his popularity during his lengthy presidency, he received as many as 4,000 letters daily. Roosevelt believed in a transparent government and wanted the public to access these letters and all official correspondence.

In 1934, Roosevelt signed legislation establishing the National Archives for preserving official documents. In 1939, he set a precedent when he donated his personal and presidential correspondence to the federal government and announced plans to build a library on his property in Hyde Park, New York .

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Library was dedicated in 1941. But, legal battles after Roosevelt’s death in 1945 prevented the library from opening to the public. It took three years for the courts to clear the hurdles for the president’s personal collection to become federal property. At the same time, it took five years for archivists to search the collection for sensitive information.

In 1950, the library was finally opened to the public.

The library’s archives now include the collections of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt. In 2013, the library and museum were rededicated after a multimillion renovation and expansion.

The archives are open for research by appointment. An admission fee is required for the museum. The museum features an impressive exhibition gallery with interactive displays and mini theaters playing historical footage of Roosevelt’s presidency.

The library and museum are in the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site . The park site is operated by the National Park Service , while the library and museum are operated by the National Archives and Records Administration.

There is a $10 admission fee to enter the national park site and an additional fee required to explore the presidential museum.

Address | 4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538 Phone | 845-486-7770 Website | www.fdrlibrary.org

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is in Hyde Park in Upstate New York .

Stewart International Airport (SWF) is the nearest airport in New Windsor, about 25 miles from the presidential library. Although it’s a small airport, several airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, and Norwegian Air, service it. Rental cars are available to drive to the presidential library.

The Poughkeepsie Amtrak station is closer to the presidential library than the airport, but it’s still five miles away. The enclosed building features a waiting room and restrooms. The station is on the Adirondack , Berkshire Flyer , Empire Service , Ethan Allen Express , Lake Shore Limited , and Maple Leaf routes. This gives the station an incredible connection to cities along the East Coast, New England, and Great Lakes region.

Interstates 84 and 87 are the only major highways, but neither passes through Poughkeepsie or Hyde Park. U.S. Highway 9 is a scenic drive along the Hudson River to the presidential library.

Established in 1957, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum was the first library created following the 1955 Presidential Libraries Act. Expansions in subsequent years increased the library’s footprint to 100,000 square feet. President and Mrs. Truman are buried in the inner courtyard, one of the few presidents buried at their library.

The library’s collection includes over 15 million documents, thousands of hours of video recordings, and 10,000 books. It’s one of the largest collections of presidential materials.

The museum features permanent and temporary exhibits featuring the 32,000 artifacts in the collection. The Truman Presidential Years exhibit is a fascinating look into Truman’s history. Visitors can explore a full-size reproduction of Truman’s Oval Office.

The library and museum are maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration. Researchers can make an appointment to study the vast collections. A modest admission fee is required for a self-guided tour of the museum.

A modest admission fee is required to explore the museum.

Address | 500 West US Highway 24, Independence, MO 64050 Phone | 816-268-8200 Website | www.trumanlibrary.gov

The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum is in Independence, Missouri , a small town at the edge of Kansas City. It’s a relatively easy presidential site to visit by plane, train, or automobile.

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is the closest airport. Some airlines servicing the airport include Southwest, Delta, America, and United. You will most likely want to rent a car at the airport since there is no easy public transportation option, and a rideshare would be expensive.

The Independence Amtrak station is an enclosed building with a waiting room but no restrooms or staff. The station is on the Missouri River Runner route connecting St. Louis, Jefferson City, and Kansas City.

Interstates 29, 35, 49, and 70 intersect in Kansas City, making driving to this presidential library from almost anywhere in the country easy.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home is one of the country’s largest and most impressive presidential libraries. And it is the only presidential library to begin construction while the president was still in office.

In 1945, the non-profit Eisenhower Foundation was established to honor the legacy of the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during WWII. The foundation’s first action was to buy Eisenhower’s childhood home in Abilene, Kansas . The first two attempts failed, but ultimately, the house was donated to the foundation.

The museum was completed in 1954, just one year after Eisenhower took office as President of the United States. The cornerstone of the library was laid while he was still in office and completed in 1962 – just one year after his presidency ended.

The sprawling campus has seven places open to the public: the library, museum, visitor’s center, Boyhood Home, The Place of Meditation, the Five Pylons, and Eisenhower’s gravesite. The Eisenhower Boyhood Home is an original house, standing in the same place it’s always been, furnished with items from the family, making it one of the most authentic presidential homes.

The library’s collection includes 26 million documents, over 768,000 feet of motion picture film, and 70,000 artifacts. A temporary exhibit gallery on the library’s second floor is open to the public. A moderate admission fee is required for the museum, and a guided tour of the boyhood home, but the grounds are open daily without a fee.

A moderate admission fee is required to explore the museum.

Address | 200 South East 4th Street, Abilene, KS 67410 Phone | 785-263-6700 Website | www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home is remotely located in Abilene, Kansas , about 140 miles west of Kansas City, Missouri . The best way to visit this presidential site is a road trip – a very long road trip.

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is the closest airport. Some airlines servicing the airport include Southwest, Delta, America, and United. Rental cars are available so you can begin the road trip at the airport.

Interstates 70 and 135 intersect just west of Abilene. These interstate highways provide quick access to most points across the country.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy met with the United States Archivist to discuss plans for a presidential library. It was Kennedy’s first year in office, but he was eager to follow the precedent established by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Truman, Hoover, and Eisenhower.

Kennedy selected a site for the library next to his alma mater, Harvard University, a month before his assassination. However, in 1975, the original site was abandoned in favor of an easier site for construction at Columbia Point. The 9.5-acre site is the only oceanfront presidential library.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, designed by noted architect I.M. Pei, opened in 1979. The 164,000-square-foot library and museum features an astonishing number of permanent exhibits, a testament to Kennedy’s accomplishments in such a short term. The exhibits include a full-size recreation of his Oval Office and an interactive exhibit about the early U.S. Space Program.

A moderate admission fee is required for the museum.

Address | Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125 Phone | 617-514-1600 Website | www.jfklibrary.org

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is in Boston, Massachusetts . It’s one of the country’s easiest presidential libraries to travel to.

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is within sight of the presidential library. Delta, America, Southwest, United, British Airways, and Lufthansa are some airlines that service the airport. The airport is connected to public transportation, rideshares, and car rentals.

The South Station Amtrak facility is a few miles from the presidential library. This station is the terminus of the Acela , Lake Shore Limited , and Northeast Regional routes. These routes connect Boston to New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Richmond, and Virginia Beach.

The North Station Amtrak facility is several blocks away on the other side of downtown. This station is the terminus of the Downeaster route connecting Boston, Portland, and Brunswick.

Driving from almost anywhere on the East Coast to Boston along Interstate 95 is easy. I-90 ends in Boston, and I-84 ends at I-90 just west of Boston.

Lyndon B. Johnson unexpectedly became the 36th president of the United States when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated during a parade in Dallas. Discussions about a presidential library did not start until his successful election to a second term in 1964.

In 1966, Johnson announced his presidential library would be built on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Unlike previous libraries that were privately funded, the publicly funded university contributed most of the building funds.

The Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum opened in 1971. Designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft, the 10-story building is a minimalist design model.

The library’s collection includes 45 million documents, over 600,000 photos, and over 600 hours of recorded phone calls. The building’s interior features the Great Hall – a four-story cavernous room with views of the vast archives through interior windows.

Like many other presidential libraries, there is a full-size replica of Johnson’s Oval Office, an intriguing animatronic LBJ, and dozens of interactive exhibits developed after the library’s renovation in 2012.

It was one of the few presidential sites without an admission fee until 2013 when the museum began charging a modest fee for exploring the exhibits.

Address | 2313 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78705 Phone | 512-721-0200

The Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum is on The University of Texas at Austin campus in Texas . Fortunately, flying, riding a train, or driving to this presidential library is easy.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is a great airport for travel. Most major airlines, including Southwest, American, Delta, United, JetBlue, and Allegiant Air, serve the airport. The airport is connected to public transportation, rideshares, and car rentals.

The Austin Amtrak station is on the south side of downtown Austin near the Colorado River. The station is enclosed with staff, restrooms, and a waiting room. The station is on the Texas Eagle route connecting Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, and San Antonio, with an extension to Los Angeles.

Interstate 35 is the only major highway through Austin. But Interstate 10 is nearby with a cross-country connection.

In 1912, Frank Nixon bought a property in Yorba Linda, California , a suburban city near Los Angeles. The following year, Richard Nixon was born. He spent his early childhood in the small home until the family ranch failed in 1922, forcing the family to move.

When initial plans to build the Nixon Library at his alma mater, Duke University, failed because of protests, plans were moved to the family property in California. Nixon’s childhood home was on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1990, the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace was dedicated before a crowd of 50,000 guests and Presidents H.W. Bush, Ford, and Reagan.

But for the first time since Roosevelt, the National Archives and Records Administration did not initially operate the library.

After the infamous Watergate Scandal, Nixon resigned in 1974, shortly after he was inaugurated to his second term. The 1955 Presidential Libraries Act mandated that all presidential materials belonged to the federal government through the National Archives. But Nixon agreed that the tape recordings of his Oval Office meetings surrounding Watergate would be destroyed at a future date.

Congress rushed to pass the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act. The Act was specifically written to preserve Nixon’s presidential materials – the tapes he desperately wanted destroyed. But it inspired the 1978 Presidential Records Act that now applies to all presidents.

In 2004, Congress passed legislation amending the original act targeting Nixon’s presidential materials. 30,000 presidential gifts, millions of documents, and the infamous tapes were transferred from the National Archives to the Nixon Library. The next year, the Nixon Foundation invited the National Archives and Records Administration to operate the site jointly.

It was renamed the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.

The 52,000-square-foot facility preserves the presidential records. Exhibit galleries in the museum display documents and artifacts. The campus also includes an exact replica of the East Room of Nixon’s White House as an event space, an intriguing place to spend an evening. But my favorite feature of the 6-acre campus is the VH-3A “Sea King” helicopter used by Nixon while president.

A modest admission fee is required to explore the library, museum, and childhood home.

Address | 18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard, Yorba Linda, CA 92886 Phone | 714-993-5075 Website | www.nixonfoundation.org

The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum is in Yorba Linda, a suburb southeast of Los Angeles, California .

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the best way to fly into the area. The airport is serviced by dozens of airlines from around the world. Although the airport is connected to public transportation and ride-sharing, renting a car is more affordable.

The Fullerton Amtrak station is 6 miles from the presidential library. The enclosed building is staffed and features restrooms and a waiting room. The station is on two routes. The Pacific Surfliner route connects San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The Southwest Chief connects Chicago, Kansas City, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, and Los Angeles.

Driving to the presidential library is moderately easy because it’s almost 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Interstates 5, 10, and 15 pass closely to the presidential library.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library is the only presidential library separated from the companion presidential museum. The reason behind this distinction is simple but interesting.

In 1965, Representative Gerald R. Ford began donating his congressional papers to the Bentley Historical Society at the University of Michigan, his alma mater, in Ann Arbor, Michigan . Because he had already selected the university to house his congressional papers, he donated his presidential papers to a library built on the university’s campus.

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library opened in 1981.

The 50,000-square-foot library’s collection includes 25 million documents, over 3,000 hours of motion picture film, and 450,000 photos. The collection also contains papers from Betty Ford.

There is no admission fee at the library. Although the museum is in Grand Rapids, the library has a small exhibit space with public events.

Address | 1000 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Phone | 734-205-0555 Website | www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/visit-library.aspx

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library is in Ann Arbor, Michigan , a popular tourism destination near Detroit and Toledo .

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is a mid-sized airport about 20 miles from Ann Arbor. The airport is serviced by over a dozen, including Delta, American, United, Southwest, and Air Canada. The airport is too far from Ann Arbor for public transportation, requiring you to get a rental car.

Ann Arbor is along Interstate 94 between Detroit and Grand Rapids. About 15 miles from Ann Arbor, I-94 intersects I-75, one of the primary interstates in the eastern United States.

To understand why the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is separate from the presidential library, you must understand Ford’s tragic childhood.

In 1913, Ford was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. in Omaha, Nebraska. Ford’s parents, Leslie Lynch King and Dorothy Gardner, separated just 16 days after his birth after King threatened to kill her and Ford. She fled to Illinois and eventually settled at her parents’ house in Grand Rapids, Michigan .

In 1917, Gardner married Gerald R. Ford, a local salesman. Her young son was renamed Gerald R. Ford, Jr., though his stepfather never formally adopted him. Ford grew up in Grand Rapids and left for the University of Michigan.

In 1981, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum opened in his hometown. The architecturally gorgeous building features a unique triangular design with the 300-foot-long east side, comprised entirely of glass, and overlooks the Grand River. The museum is part of a 20-acre park along the river that includes the Grand Rapids Public Museum and a Riverwalk.

The museum’s exhibits tell Ford’s story of a one-term presidency after he was sworn in following Nixon’s resignation. There is a modest admission fee for exploring the museum, which takes about 1-2 hours.

Address | 303 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 Phone | 616-254-0400 Website | www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/visit-museum.aspx

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is in Grand Rapids, Michigan , near Lake Michigan. It’s a beautiful place for a road trip from spring through autumn, but winter travel can be difficult.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) is about 10 miles outside the city. Some airlines that service the airport include Delta, American, United, Southwest, and Allegiant Air. The airport is connected to public transportation, rideshares, and car rentals.

Interstate 96 is the only major highway through Grand Rapids. The interstate connects Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Detroit. Driving to Grand Rapids is more time-consuming because of the fewer highways, but not more difficult.

Near the end of President Jimmy Carter’s one term, he raised the issue of building a presidential library for his vast collection of presidential materials. Although Carter was born in Plains, Georgia – where the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park is located – the library committee chose a site in Atlanta.

The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum opened in 1986. The library’s collection includes 40 million documents, 1 million photos, and over 2 million feet of motion picture film. The archivists are still cataloging the collection and making records available to the public.

While the library has almost 20,000 feet of storage space for the vast collection, the museum covers about 15,000 square feet. Permanent and temporary exhibit galleries go beyond the story of Carter’s presidency – the exhibits also include his lifelong work as a humanitarian and volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.

The museum also features a full-size replica of Carter’s Oval Office, a recreation of a Camp David cabin’s interior, and the “Day in the Life of the President” presentation.

A modest admission fee is required for the museum. Visitors can explore the stunning grounds of the library and museum campus without a fee.

Address | 441 John Lewis Freedom Parkway NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 Phone | 404-865-7100 Website | www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov

The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is just east of downtown Atlanta, Georgia . It’s an easy destination to fly, ride a train, or drive into. But this is the city where a piece of debris fell off a dump truck and broke my windshield.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is simultaneously a thrilling and overwhelming airport to travel. It’s one of the primary hubs for air travel, making it the busiest airport in the country. Travelers can rent a car, hire a rideshare, or use the Atlanta SkyTrain to travel anywhere in the city.

The Peachtree Amtrak station is north of downtown Atlanta. The enclosed building has restrooms, staff, and a waiting room. The station is on the Crescent route connecting New York, Atlanta, and New Orleans.

Atlanta is also a hub for highway travel in the southeastern United States. Interstates 20, 75, and 85 intersect in the city. These interstates spread across the country, making it easy to drive to Atlanta. The presidential library is conveniently located along the John Lewis Freedom Parkway.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan hosted a representative of the Hoover Institution at the White House, where he formally accepted their offer to host a presidential library on the Stanford University campus. But, like Nixon’s plans at Duke University, Reagan’s plans for Stanford were derailed.

In 1987, the planned site at Stanford University was replaced by a neutral location in Simi Valley, California , about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Ironically, Reagan’s presidential library is 60 miles from Nixon’s.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library opened in 1991. The library’s collections include 50 million documents, almost 2 million photos, and 500,000 feet of motion picture film. Reagan’s papers from his tenure as California’s governor were transferred from Stanford University to the presidential library.

After he died in 2004, Reagan’s body was interred at the presidential library. Nancy was interred with him when she died in 2016.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is the only presidential museum housing Air Force One. The Boeing 707, also designated the Boeing VC-137C, dominates the enclosed Air Force One Pavilion. It’s a rare and fascinating opportunity to board Air Force One.

Other permanent exhibits include an F-117 Nighthawk, an M-1 Abrams Tank, Marine One, a full-size replica of Reagan’s Oval Office, and a section of the Berlin Wall. It’s one of the largest museum displays of any presidential site – plan to spend at least half a day exploring everything.

The modest admission fee includes the vast campus and self-guided tour through the museum.

Address | 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, CA 93065 Phone | 805-522-2977 Website | www.reaganfoundation.org/library-museum

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is in Simi Valley, north of the Santa Monica Mountains near Los Angeles, California . Getting to Los Angeles is easy – but getting to the presidential library requires big-city driving skills.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the best way to fly into the area. The airport is serviced by dozens of airlines from around the world. Although the airport is connected to public transportation and ride shares, renting a car is more affordable.

The nearest Amtrak station is Moorpark a few miles away. The station is only a shelter with no facilities. Getting a ride share from the train station to the presidential library is easy. The station is on the Pacific Surfliner route connecting San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

Interstate 5 is about 30 miles west of the presidential library. The 118 Freeway effortlessly connects the interstate and the library – depending on the time of day.

Shortly after President George H.W. Bush took office, he was approached by Texas A&M University alum and friend Michel T. Halbouty about the location of his presidential library. Bush agreed, and 90 acres were set aside for the future presidential site in College Station, Texas .

The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum opened in 1997.

President Bush died in 2018. After a state funeral at Washington National Cathedral, Bush’s body was transported by a funeral train to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. He was interred alongside Barbara – she died earlier that same year – and their daughter, Pauline Robinson Bush.

The library’s collection includes 44 million documents and thousands of artifacts from his lengthy political career. The 17,000-square-foot museum features permanent and temporary exhibit galleries.

After a 2007 renovation, the museum features a replica of Bush’s Oval Office. But unlike replicas in other presidential museums, visitors to the Bush Presidential Museum can walk into the replica and sit behind the desk in “The Seat of Power.”

The impressive museum features exhibits about Bush’s career, state gifts, a recreation of his Camp David office, and thousands of artifacts. It takes about 3-4 hours to explore the museum casually – so prepare to spend at least half a day.

A modest admission fee is required to tour the museum. There is no charge for exploring the grounds and visiting the Bush Family gravesite.

Address | 1000 George Bush Drive West, College Station, TX 77845 Phone | 979-691-4010 Website | www.bush41.org

Despite the large university in College Station, Texas , the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is one of the most remote in the country.

The nearest airport is George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), about 70 miles southeast in Houston. The airport is serviced by United, American, Delta, Southwest, Spirit, and Air Canada. Rental cars are available.

There are no nearby Amtrak stations.

The nearest interstate is I-45, which is about 45 miles away. You can also use I-35 in Waco, about 75 miles from College Station.

Planning for President Bill Clinton’s presidential library began shortly after his election to a second term in office. The site was an obvious choice – 17 acres along the Arkansas River in Little Rock. Arkansas is Clinton’s home state, where he served as governor before he was elected President of the United States.

The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum opened on a rainy day in 2004 before a crowd of 30,000, Bono’s performance, and Clinton’s speech.

An interesting way of measuring the sheer enormity of the library’s collections is by tonnage. Eight Lockheed C-5 Galaxy planes – the largest in the United States military – transported over 600 tons of presidential materials.

The Clinton library is one of my favorites because the president wanted it filled with natural light. The five-story main building is narrow and long, modeled after the Long Room at the Old Library of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. The most interesting thing about the building is the private rooftop golf course.

The museum features permanent and temporary exhibition galleries. The permanent exhibits include interactive displays interpreting Clinton’s history from his time as governor and president. Like many other presidential museums, there is a full-size replica of Clinton’s Oval Office. But unlike the others, there is also a full-size replica of Clinton’s Cabinet Room.

The Clinton Presidential Park Bridge is my favorite part of this library and museum. Built in 1899, it was restored as a pedestrian-only bridge in 2011. The 15-mile Arkansas River Trail crosses the bridge, although there is nothing to see or do on the other side of the river.

A modest admission fee is required for the museum. But, visitors can explore the 17-acre riverfront park and walk across the pedestrian bridge without a charge.

Address | 1200 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201 Phone | 501-370-8000 Website | www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-presidential-center/#

The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum is conveniently located in Little Rock, the capital city of Arkansas .

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) is a mid-sized airport serviced by American Airlines, Delta, Southwest Airlines, United, and Allegiant Air. The airport connects to public transportation, ride shares, and rental cars.

Union Station opened in 1921, the third passenger train station in Little Rock. The Amtrak station is on the Texas Eagle route, a lengthy route connecting Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, and San Antonio, extending to Los Angeles.

Interstates 30 and 40 intersect in Little Rock. This is the north terminus of I-30 that connects Dallas and Little Rock. I-40 crosses the country from Wilmington , North Carolina to Barstow, California , making it easy to drive to Little Rock.

Where to Stay

Before George W. Bush was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States, officials at Baylor University courted him to build his presidential library on their campus. Unlike previous presidential libraries built in places with personal connections to the president, Bush solicited bids from universities and cities to host his presidential site.

In 2008, plans were announced to build the presidential library on the Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas, Texas . The George W. Bush Presidential Center opened in 2013.

In 2023, the Bush Presidential Center became the first presidential library and museum since Hoover not to be operated by the National Archives and Records Administration. Although the presidential center is operated by the George W. Bush Foundation, NARA has input on exhibits and retains ownership of all presidential materials.

The 207,000-square-foot presidential library is the second-largest after the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. Permanent exhibits include a full-size replica of Bush’s Oval Office, emotional exhibits about Hurricane Katrina and 9/11, and interactive exhibits exploring Bush’s presidency.

The moderate admission fee includes all exhibits in the museum. Parking in the visitor parking lot near the museum is an additional $10 for the first four hours.

Address | 2943 SMU Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75205 Phone | 214-200-4300 Website | www.bushcenter.org

The Bush Center Visitor Parking is across SMU Boulevard near the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Parking costs $10 for the first 4 hours and $1 for each additional half hour.

The good and bad news about the George W. Bush Presidential Center is that it’s in Dallas, Texas . This is good because flying, riding a train, or driving to the presidential center is easy. But it’s bad because of how busy Dallas is year-round.

Dallas Love Field (DAL) is the closest airport. It’s a regional airport served by Southwest Airlines, Delta, and Alaska Airlines. The best airport in the area is Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), about 15 miles away. Some airlines that service DFW include American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest Airlines, Spirit, and British Airways.

Both airports have connections to public transportation, ride shares, and rental cars.

The Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station is at the southern edge of downtown Dallas. The Amtrak station is on the Texas Eagle route, a lengthy route connecting Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, and San Antonio, extending to Los Angeles.

The presidential center is adjacent to U.S. Highway 74, north of downtown Dallas. Interstates 20, 30, 35E, and 45 intersect in Dallas, making it easy to travel from almost anywhere in the country to the big city.

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presidential visits wiki

Presidential Visits to Oakland

presidential visits wiki

There have been a number of Presidential Visits to Oakland over the years.

According to the 1883, “History Of Alameda County”, the first sitting president to visit Oakland was Rutherford B. Hayes on September 6, 1880.

presidential visits wiki

  • On September 25, 1879, former president and general Ulysses S. Grant visited Oakland. As part of the visit, General Grant and various dignitaries rode in a parade from the Oakland wharf (where Jack London Square is now) up Broadway to City Hall, where reportedly 5,000 schoolchildren from local cities were arrayed along Fourteenth St. between Washington and Clay Streets, with 8,000 high school singers at the intersection of Washington and Fourteenth Streets (these figures, though provided by the Associated Press and printed in the New York Times and Chicago Tribune , seem suspect, as in 1880 Oakland’s entire population was less than 36,000). The party then had a meal (”a collation was spread”) at Tubbs Hotel , and he finally spoke to Civil War veterans at Badger’s Park . He spent the night at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. 4 5
  • On September 6, 1880 President Rutherford B. Hayes became the first sitting president to visit Oakland. A reception for First Lady Lucy Hayes was hosted by the David Hewes Family and the Oakland chapter of the Ebell Society, at the home of David Hewes (now known as the Camron-Stanford House ). 6 President and Mrs. Hayes left Oakland on the San Francisco ferry on September 9, 1880.
  • On April 25, 1891 President Benjamin Harrison arrived at the Southern Pacific Railroad Station, and gave a short address before leaving Oakland on the ferry to San Francisco.
  • On May 24, 1901 President William McKinley visited Oakland and addressed an audience from his carriage on Oak Street near Lake Merritt . Seated next to him was Oakland banker Edson Adams , head of the welcoming committee. McKinley had come to the Bay Area for the launching of the battleship, USS OHIO at the Union Iron Works in San Francisco. Four months later, President McKinley was assassinated.
  • On May 14, 1903, Theodore Roosevelt came to town. His speech is here . During his visit, Roosevelt asked Governor George Pardee to consider running with him as Vice President; Pardee declined.
  • In 1907, US Secretary of War William Howard Taft first visited Oakland, staying at the Key Route Inn. On October 5, 1909, Taft (now president) returned to Oakland to address UC Berkeley’s student body, then 175,000 people at Lake Merritt. This time he stayed in the Key Route Inn’s “Presidential Suite”. President Taft visited Oakland a third time on August 21, 1911, to lay the cornerstone of the new (current) Oakland City Hall . Again, he stayed at the Key Route Inn. On October 14, 1911, President Taft spoke at the groundbreaking of San Francisco’s Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Invited to Oakland by Congressman Joseph R. Knowland and Mayor Frank K. Mott, when the sun went down, guess where he headed? Truly, it may be said that this Chief Executive loved him some K.R.I.
  • [ Ride Note : McKinley, T. Roosevelt and Taft paraded in F.M. Smith’s silver-monogrammed, custom Studebaker horse-drawn carriage (now in the OMCA’s collection, though no longer on display). Wilson, however, rode in a Cadillac. - M.]
  • On September 17, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson stopped at Oakland’s Red Cross Canteen . Crowds of Oakland citizens happily greeted President and Mrs. Edith Wilson upon their arrival. President and Mrs. Wilson stayed in the “Presidential Suite” of the new Hotel Oakland. The next day, young women in Oakland greeted President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson with flowers and flags. The speech on the League of Nations [given at the Oakland Auditorium - M.] would be one of President Wilson’s last; the following week he had a stroke in Pueblo, Colorado.
  • On August 3, 1923, the body of President Warren G. Harding , (who had died in San Francisco) was taken from the ferry at the Oakland Mole, transferred to the train for the long trip back to Washington, D.C.
  • On November 8, 1932, President Herbert Hoover , along with Secretary of the Treasury Ogden L. Mills, and presidential secretary Lawrence Rickey, met with Oakland businessman Marshal Hale, and Oakland Chief of Police Jas Drew, at the Sixteenth Street Southern Pacific Depot .
  • On July 9, 1933 Former President Hoover joined Governor James Rolph Jr. San Francisco Mayor Angelo Rossi and Oakland Mayor Fred Morcom at the groundbreaking ceremonies for the San Francisco Bay Bridge. November 12, 1936 Opening Day of the Bay Bridge, former President Hoover attended with Governor Frank Merriam, San Francisco Mayor Angelo Rossi and Oakland Mayor William J. McCracken. There is a photo where the two men are surrounded by Miss Alameda County, Miss San Francisco County, Miss San Francisco and Miss Oakland , Miss Prosperity and Miss Bay Bridge . … Is there still a Miss Bay Bridge contest that we’re missing?? More importantly, what about Miss Oakland?

presidential visits wiki

  • On January 19, 1935 former President Herbert and Mrs. Lou Hoover joined in greeting Amelia Earhart upon the noted woman flier’s arrival at the Athens Athletic Club to attend the national testimonial banquet.
  • President Franklin D. Roosevelt came to the Bay Area on July 14, 1939 for a tour of the newly finished bridges and to visit the site of 1939 Golden Gate Exposition. President Roosevelt visited Oakland Tribune publisher and former congressman Joseph R. Knowland. FDR and Knowland were friends when the former was Assistant Secretary of the Navy and the latter a member of the House. Knowland was a member of the Finance Committee for Treasure Island. Whether this trip or another during WWII, FDR stayed at the Kaiser House with Henry J. Kaiser . President Roosevelt's "Floating White House," the USS Potomac , is now fully refurbished and has been permanently homeported in Oakland since 1995.
  • First Lady Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt visited Oakland on March 10, 1947. Although Mrs. R. was not a President, it’s still awesome that she stopped by!
  • President Harry S. Truman visited Berkeley to speak at Memorial Stadium to the graduates the University of California on June 12, 1948. Truman went out Telegraph Avenue to Berkeley, the same route travelled by President John F. Kennedy, fourteen years later.

presidential visits wiki

  • On September 22, 1948 President Truman delivered a speech to a crowd of 10,000 from the Lake Merritt Bandstand in Lakeside Park . ( transcript )
  • President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower went to San Francisco for a rally on October 8, 1952, visited the University of California on October 9, 1952, and even went to deliver a speech in Martinez on the same day. President Eisenhower came to Oakland to dine at the Grotto in Jack London Square with former US congressman and Oakland Tribune Publisher, Joseph R. Knowland and his son, United States Senator William F. Knowland , August 19, 1956, on the eve of the Republican National Convention at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. On October 20, 1958 President Eisenhower arrived in Oakland to campaign for California gubernatorial candidate, Senator Bill Knowland.
  • Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy greeted supporters at de Fremery Park in West Oakland on November 2, 1960. On March 23, 1962, President Kennedy’s motorcade travelled from Alameda Naval Air Station into Oakland, JFK went out Telegraph Avenue to the University of California, Berkeley to give the “Charter Day” address. Kennedy left Berkeley, not stopping in Oakland on his way to San Francisco.
  • On October 21, 1962 Former Vice President of the United States Richard Nixon campaigned for governor of California at the Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church in Oakland.
  • President Richard Nixon and Mrs. Patricia Nixon took a ride aboard BART from San Leandro to Oakland on September 27, 1972.

presidential visits wiki

  • President Gerald R. Ford visited Walnut Creek and Oakland on May 25, 1976, before going to San Francisco.
  • On July 3, 1980 President Jimmy Carter toured the Port of Oakland with Mayor Lionel Wilson , and other city and port officials.

File:George H. W. Bush (along with Mayor Wilson, Congressman Pete Stark to  the right) touring the site of the collapsed I-880 Cypress Structure.  Congressman George Miller is to George Bush's left (21632784174).jpg -  Wikimedia Commons

  • Presidential candidate George Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush visited Oakland, September 14, 1990.
  • President Bill Clinton jogged through Lakeside Park in Oakland October 4, 1993.
  • On July 23, 2012 President Barack Obama attended a private fundraiser for 25 people before meeting at the Fox Oakland Theatre in Oakland before 2,000 supporters at a fundraising reception.
  • [Other dates and reasons for visits to Oakland by President Barack Obama??]

Links and References

  • Photos from the Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Room and Maps Division
  • George Pardee on Wikipedia
  • Presidential Visits  The Knave , Oakland Tribune, January 20, 1946.
  • Gen. Grant in California  New York Times , September 26, 1879 94115281.pdf
  • Oakland’s Ovation   Chicago Tribune , September 26, 1879
  • The Hewes  Camron-Stanford House website
  • Visits from the Chief by Annalee Allen Oakland Tribune July 3, 2000 (p2)

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Visiting the Presidents

Exploring President's birthplaces, homes, gravesites, and more!

presidential visits wiki

with Joe Faykosh

“Visiting the Presidents” takes listeners through the birthplaces, homes, gravesites, libraries, and other historical sites associated with the Presidents of the United States. Also exploring the childhoods, lives, loves, careers, and deaths of these presidents through the sites that were touched by them.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , Spotify , iHeart Radio , Google Podcasts , or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Thank you to “Visiting the Presidents” donors : Sami & Tom Faykosh; Nancy & Terry Wehrkamp; Debbie & Dennis Faykosh; Harvey & Caci Hyman; Connie & Adam Luck; Jim & Katherine Hyman; Stephanie Gaskill; Andrew Alexander; Gail Rittenhouse; Sean & Liz Jones; Stephen Gilroy; Kurt Deion; Alexis Mirra; April McKenzie; Matt & Megan Hochstetler; Caitlin Cahalan; Brittany & Keith Mellin; Jim & Laurel Brehler; Erik Engartner; Patricia Argentina; Cara Steiner; Jamie & Ted Wilson; Candy & Ben Phelps; Lanna Demers and Craig Hunter; Kenneth Robinson; Thomas Kalina; Kristin and Steve Wendell; Ashley and Cory Hornish; and Alex Sycher!

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presidential visits wiki

S3 E10 John Tyler's Tomb – Visiting the Presidents

  • S3 E10 John Tyler's Tomb 45:01
  • BONUS! How I Spent My Christmas Break with Presidential Travels 2024! 21:30
  • S3 E9 William Henry Harrison's Tomb 49:49
  • S3 E8 Martin Van Buren's Tomb 49:07
  • S3 E7 Andrew Jackson's Tomb 53:53

Click for Earlier Episodes!

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Check Out M y DeadHistory Episode on YouTube!

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Books, Podcasts, & Movies You’ll Love If You Like U.S Presidential History

Season 3, Episode 10-John Tyler’s Tomb

Season 3, Episode 10-John Tyler’s Tomb

Back to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, one of two cemeteries with two Presidents, and the gravesite of John Tyler, 10th President of the United States (he’s also the only one who technically died in a different country). Learn about his turbulent post-Presidency, death, and burial, along with commemorations! Be sure to listen to John Tyler’s…

Season 3, Episode 9-William Henry Harrison’s Tomb

Season 3, Episode 9-William Henry Harrison’s Tomb

“I wish you to understand the true principles of government; I wish them carried out, I ask nothing more.” William Henry Harrison, 9th President of the United States, was our first to die while in office, and his death launched a succession controversy. Learn about William Henry Harrison’s sudden death and funeral, his burial, and…

Season 3, Episode 8-Martin Van Buren’s Tomb

Season 3, Episode 8-Martin Van Buren’s Tomb

“There is but one reliance and that is upon Christ, the free mediator of us all.” Martin Van Buren died surrounded by his sons, and the first and only President to see eight successors to his office. Learn about Martin Van Buren’s long post-Presidency, his death, his burial, and commemorations! Make sure to listen to…

presidential visits wiki

About “Visiting the Presidents”

Email Address:

My Favorite Sources

16 thoughts on “ visiting the presidents ”.

Great job on the podcast. Enjoy listening. Keep up the great work.

Awesome, Chad! Thanks for listening and glad you’re enjoying!

No word on why you don’t discuss the presidency of Trump? You deleted my last question and I’m assuming you don’t like Trump. Meanwhile you are visiting presidents that were slave owners and racists. You acknowledge President Woodrow Wilson who has a huge racist.

I haven’t deleted your questions, but I also don’t think you’re communicating in good faith. There is a whole episode dedicated to Donald Trump’s childhood and birthplace, that I did visit and you can find on the website.

This site was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something which helped me. Kudos!

That’s really great to hear, Roosevelt!

I was excited to discover this website. I want to to thank you for your time just for this fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it and I have you book-marked to see new things on your web site.

That’s awesome to hear, Nancy! Hope you enjoy! 🙂

Joe, I just listened to your March 22 episode on Montpelier. I appreciated the fact that you updated the episode with the news about the Montpelier Foundation Board’s reversal of their agreement to share power with the Montpelier Descendant Committee. In case you don’t know, two days ago they went a step further into the old-white-supremacist-guy-abyss and FIRED Dr. Matthew Reeves, Dr. Elizabeth Chew and other staff members as well as suspending Dr Mary Furlong Minkoff and Christopher Pasch. OUTRAGEOUS! Here is link to NPR story today: https://www.npr.org/2022/04/20/1093673939/montpeliers-fight-with-descendants-of-the-enslaved-brings-employee-firings?fbclid=IwAR1MeQvn8Qu80LLOVUPdD-Us_N8U9F8Xx0wbkvmD1te-7vsxB_7Ac9_w1Rc

Thank you so much, Peggy! I appreciate your update! I will keep watching the developments and update the episode as this progresses.

Great work with the podcast!

Beautiful and interesting podcast

Thank you for all you do, and making my favorite topic so digestible, relatable and enjoyable! Love the website, and I absolutely love the podcast! 🙂

Thanks so much! Glad you are enjoying! It’s a lot of work but I’m happy it resonates with people like you!

Great work with the podcast, it has helped me grow my love of Presidents, and learning more about them! Do you know if Former President Carter, has any public appearances at his church now.?

Thanks so much, Caden. President Carter is no longer making public appearances, and the family has shared he is in hospice care.

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Trump says he knows who his vice presidential pick will be

PHILADELPHIA — Former President Donald Trump said Saturday that he knows who his vice presidential pick will be — and gave a clue about his or her likely debate night plans.

Asked by NBC News at a Philadelphia campaign stop whether he has decided on his vice presidential pick, Trump responded, “In my mind, yeah,” adding that the person will “most likely” be at Thursday’s debate against President Joe Biden.

“They’ll be there,” he continued. “I think we have a lot of people coming.”

Trump said “nobody knows” his choice yet. NBC News has previously reported that Trump is zeroing in on Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as possible top contenders.

Sources familiar with the selection process told NBC News that Burgum and Vance are considered the top two finalists. Rubio is still being considered, though a constitutional hiccup would require that either Trump or Rubio establish residency outside of Florida.

Trump senior adviser Brian Hughes said in a statement that the campaign’s top criterion for selecting a running mate “is a strong leader who will make a great President for eight years after his next four year term concludes.”

Trump is holding informal policy sessions with confidants in the lead-up to the debate, including possible vice presidential contenders. Vance spoke with Trump about the economy and inflation, and Rubio met with Trump when the former president was in Washington, D.C., this month.

His Saturday comments came during a stop at a Philadelphia restaurant ahead of a rally. Pennsylvania is expected to be a vital swing state on the road to the White House. Biden flipped Pennsylvania blue in 2020 and continues to campaign across the state as the election approaches.

The former president said he plans to announce his vice presidential pick “right around the convention.”

“Maybe a little before, but could be at the convention,” Trump said. “But we’ll have some great people.”

The Republican National Convention , at which delegates from across the country will officially nominate the party’s candidates for president and vice president, is set to be held July 15-18 in Milwaukee.

Jake Traylor and Dasha Burns reported from Philadelphia. Megan Lebowitz, Alec Hernández and Isabelle Schmeler reported from Washington, D.C.

presidential visits wiki

Jake Traylor is a 2024 NBC News campaign embed.

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Dasha Burns is a correspondent for NBC News.

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Megan Lebowitz is a politics reporter for NBC News.

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Alec Hernández is a 2024 NBC News campaign embed.

Isabelle Schmeler is a researcher on the 2024 politics desk.

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Trump visits Capitol Hill for first time since Jan. 6 to meet with GOP lawmakers

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  • Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trump-visits-capitol-hill-for-first-time-since-jan-6-to-meet-with-gop-lawmakers

In his first trip to Capitol Hill since the Jan. 6 attack, former President Trump met behind closed doors with congressional Republicans. They aimed to use the visit as a display of unity following Trump’s conviction in his New York hush money case. Amna Nawaz discussed the busy day with John Bresnahan of Punchbowl News.

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Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.

Amna Nawaz:

In his first trip to Capitol Hill since the January 6 attack, former President Trump today met behind closed doors with congressional Republicans. Republicans aimed to use the visit as a display of unity following Mr. Trump's conviction in his New York hush money case last month.

Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: We have great unity. We have great common sense, a lot of very smart people in this room and a lot of people that love our country.

Following the meetings and a busy day on Capitol Hill is John Bresnahan, co-founder of Punchbowl News.

So, Bres, this is a former president who helped to incite a violent insurrection. Last time he was on Capitol Hill, many other Republican lawmakers he was meeting with today were there that day running for safety. How did they receive him today back on Capitol Hill?

John Bresnahan, Punchbowl News:

Well, it was interesting because there were two different meetings. He met with House Republicans in the morning. And that was kind of a — more of a raucous meeting.

And then after there were some news stories about what happened, what he said there, he — Trump seemed to take a more sober, serious approach when he met with Senate Republicans later in the day. It was fascinating, because you did have, for instance, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who was one of — who fell out with Trump after the election in 2020, he made the serious sin of saying that Biden — President Joe Biden actually won the election.

Trump went on to attack McConnell for a long time in really derisive terms. He attacked McConnell's wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, in racist terms. But, today, McConnell and Trump shook hands and had a nice conversation. You had on the House side — you had — for instance, you had Dan Newhouse, a member from Washington state. He voted to impeach Trump after the January 6 insurrection.

Today, he attended the Trump event. So this was bowing to reality. Trump is the nominee. He's the head of the party. His stranglehold on the party remains. And they — Republicans — if you want to get along in the Republican Party, you have to bow to Trump.

And that's the reality that they face today.

There was a lot happening among lawmakers today.

I want to ask you, too, about Republican Senator J.D. Vance's move today, pledging to block President Biden's judicial nominees and U.S. attorney nominations in what he called his response to the current administration's persecution of former President Trump. We have seen previous Republican senators, Senator Tuberville, for example, block military nominations for months at a time.

Is this a path Republicans want to and are willing to go down again?

John Bresnahan:

Well, this is — this is a little bit different. What Vance and several other senators were saying today, they were going to expand their blockade against Biden nominations.

They already — all judicial nominations and all U.S. attorney — or almost nearly all U.S. attorney nominations, they already — they already have to go through a — they're already filibustered by Republicans. But those are high-stakes nominations, and the Senate Democrats are willing to go to the floor and plow through those, go through the process.

It takes time, but they can do it. What Vance said today was, we're going after even ceremonial nominations, like Barbara Lee to be on the U.N. — Barbara Lee, a Democrat from California, to be on a U.N. advisory council. I mean, this is ceremonial position. This is a member of Congress. These are usually things they give deference to each other on, and this should sail through unanimously.

But they're saying, if the Democrats want to do this, they're going to have to spend time on it. And the right betting is that Democrats won't because they're going to try and focus on judicial nominations and other more important nominations.

What it is, is just another sign that they — again, this is J.D. Vance, who's of Ohio, the Republican senator from Ohio. He is very interested in being vice president, and he is doing this to help himself with Trump, to help raise his status with Trump.

And so this is an important — this was an important thing where he's trying to raise his own profile. So that's what he was trying to do here. Again, this just shows you how partisan things have gotten on Capitol Hill in an election year, a presidential election year, where the White House is up for grabs, the Senate and the Congress — the House is up for grabs.

So everything is just a slugfest.

Bres, I have less than a minute left, but I have to ask you about this other move. A Democratic bill moved forward to protect IVF nationwide. Republicans blocked it, except for two Republicans, who voted in favor of it, Senators Murkowski and Collins.

Senate Republicans then went on to sign a letter saying that they support IVF, that this bill was just too broad. In short, is this still a politically vulnerable issue for them?

Oh, yes, this is a very serious issue.

I mean, there was a vote on a contraception last week. There's a vote on IVF today. This is an issue that millions of Americans have. And probably every American knows somebody who's — have used IVF to help have a kid or have children. And so there's a lot of support for this.

Republicans have said that they want to enshrine this in the law, but they don't want to do what the Democrats did. So Republicans — Democrats are using this to raise the issue on abortion and contraception and women's rights and that they — that Republicans are — want to march the country backwards. And that's why these show votes, they're symbolic, but they're important.

That's why this is an important issue.

John Bresnahan, co-founder of Punchbowl News, always good to see you. Thank you.

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Courting Latino voters, Kamala Harris to visit Las Vegas after Biden-Trump debate

presidential visits wiki

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to stump in Las Vegas the day after President Joe Biden's first debate with former President Donald Trump next week in a post-debate push targeting Latino voters .

Harris will discuss "the stakes of the election for Latino voters" during next Friday's campaign stop, the Biden campaign said. She will be making her fifth trip this year to Nevada, a crucial battleground state in the 2024 election, and her 13th as vice president.

Biden and Trump are taking part in their first televised debate of the election next Thursday on CNN. Biden is spending the coming days at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland with top White House aides preparing for the debate.

More: Can Biden count on Hispanic voters in a Trump rematch? Weakening support raises alarm for 2024.

Harris will be joined by second gentleman Doug Emhoff at the Nevada event. Ahead of the debate on Monday, Harris is set to visit Arizona, where she will target Hispanic voters on the two-year anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision that overturned the 50-year Roe v. Wade precedent protecting a constitutional right to an abortion.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Polling has shown Biden underperforming among Latino voters, a key Democratic constituency, compared to his 2020 victory against Trump. Exit polls found Biden won Hispanic voters by a 65%-32% margin over Trump in the 2020 election.

But in a Fox News poll released Wednesday that found Biden leading Trump 43%-42% nationally, Biden leads Trump 45%-40% among Hispanic voters, followed by independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 11%. Biden leads Trump 50%-48 in a head-to-head race with no third-party candidates, and Hispanic voters 53%-43%, the poll found.

More: Biden ad attacks 'convicted criminal' Trump in $50M paid media blitz

Biden carried Nevada by less than 34,000 votes in the 2020 election, but Trump currently leads Biden in Nevada 5.7 percentage points, according to the Real Clear Politics average of polls.

Biden, amid criticism from Republicans over his handling of immigration, took executive action this month to prevent migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S-Mexico. border when border crossings surge, like presently. On Tuesday, Biden unveiled a program that seeks to protect people who are in the country illegally but are married to U.S. citizens from being deported.

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.

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Statement from Vice President Kamala   Harris on New Actions to Keep Families   Together

Immigrants have always made America stronger. For generations, they have served in our military, taught in our classrooms, and led our small businesses as entrepreneurs. They are our neighbors, classmates, and loved ones. And their experiences, ambition, and aspirations power our communities, economy, and country each day.   That is why from Day One of our administration, President Joe Biden and I have worked to protect immigrants, keep families together, and expand lawful pathways to citizenship. Working with advocates and organizers from across the nation, we have rejected hateful attacks on immigrants, preserved and fortified DACA, increased access to affordable health care, and expanded economic opportunity.   Today, we are building on that work by taking bold action to bring relief to an estimated half a million spouses of American citizens who have been here in the country for a decade or more and their children. They deserve our protection, and should be allowed to remain with their families and contribute to our communities while they apply for a green card.   President Biden and I are also expediting work visas for Dreamers who have graduated from college in the United States and have a job offer from a U.S. employer. We value their contributions and want them to continue to unleash their skills, ideas, and potential right here in the country that has invested in their success, to the benefit of our economy and our communities.   While today’s actions are a significant step forward, there is more work to be done to fix our broken immigration system. That includes the need for a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. President Biden and I continue to call on the United States Congress to join us in acting by passing permanent protections for Dreamers.

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Visiting Vietnam, Putin seeks new 'security architecture' for Asia

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  • Vietnamese president praises Putin for peace contributions
  • United States criticised Hanoi for inviting Russian leader
  • Putin a day earlier signed mutual defence pact in North Korea

Russia's President Putin visits Vietnam

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Smoke rises from building on fire after deadly Dagestan attacks

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Fire at a lithium battery factory, in Hwaseong

Fire breaks out at South Korea battery plant, 20 bodies found, Yonhap reports

A fire broke out at a lithium battery manufacturing plant in South Korea on Monday, fire officials said, and Yonhap news agency reported that some 20 bodies had been found inside the factory.

A Philippine flutters on BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has been aground since 1999, on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea

Leader of NATO member Poland visits China, expecting to talk to Xi about Ukraine

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda is in China on a visit that brings the leader of a NATO member to a country that has backed Russia in its full-on invasion of Ukraine

BEIJING — Poland’s President Andrzej Duda is in China on a visit that brings the leader of a NATO member to a country that has backed Russia in its full-on invasion of Ukraine.

“I am trying to maintain friendly relations with China, Poland has always had decent relations with China and I would like that to be continued,” Duda said in an interview on private Radio Zet on Friday.

He was scheduled to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday and has said peace in Ukraine will be discussed.

Asked if he believes that China is holding a key to peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Duda said: “I think that to a large degree, yes.”

While China says it is neutral in the fighting, it has blamed NATO’s expansion for provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin into launching the invasion and has maintained robust trade and diplomatic relations with Moscow. Poland borders Ukraine and has provided refuge for those fleeing the fighting and maintained a hard line against further expansion of Russian aggression.

Duda said he will also talk to Xi about Belarus exerting migration pressure on the border with Poland, as a form of hybrid war that also includes cyberattacks.

Duda will also seek a visa waiver for Poles traveling to China and will seek possibilities of increasing Poland’s exports there, to balance their trade relations.

State Statistics Poland said 13.9% of the nation’s imports last year were from China, while Polish exports to China were just a fraction of that amount.

Some trade agreements are to be signed during the visit.

On Wednesday Duda will fly to the financial hub of Shanghai to attend a Poland-China economic forum.

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COMMENTS

  1. List of international trips made by presidents of the United States

    All totaled, they went to 91 countries with a combined population of 85% of the world total. President Barack Obama (2009-2017) visited 58 countries. Presidential visits of over 10,000 miles (16,093 km) are common. A round the world trip was first done by Johnson and subsequently has been done by presidents Nixon and Bush.

  2. Lists of United States presidential trips

    United States presidential visits to Australia and New Zealand; United States presidential visits to the Middle East; United States presidential visits to North Africa; United States presidential visits to Sub-Saharan Africa This page was last edited on 27 December 2023, at 11:11 (UTC). ...

  3. List of presidential trips made by Joe Biden (2021)

    This is a list of presidential trips made by Joe Biden during 2021, the first year of his presidency as the 46th president of the United States.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel and many in-person meetings were curtailed and replaced with telephone calls and virtual meetings.. This list excludes trips made within Washington, D.C., the U.S. federal capital in which the White House, the ...

  4. Interactive Map Shows the History of Presidential Travel

    Counting Trump's trip, U.S. presidents have made 921 visits to foreign locations since the early 20th century. A new interactive map explores the history of presidential jet-setting, tracking ...

  5. Travels Abroad of the President

    Office of the Historian, Foreign Service Institute United States Department of State. [email protected]. Phone: 202-955-0200

  6. New Map Explores the History of Presidential Trips Abroad

    New Map Explores the History of Presidential Trips Abroad. From Teddy Roosevelt's visit to Panama in 1906 to Trump's trip this week, U.S. presidents have made more than 900 visits to foreign ...

  7. Travel Firsts

    Rutherford B. Hayes. First president to visit all 50 states. Richard M. Nixon. First president to travel outside of the United States. George Washington. Barbados, 1751. First president to travel outside of the United States while in office. Theodore Roosevelt. Panama, 1906.

  8. The President Abroad: International Travels Of U.S. Presidents

    But, as the U.S.'s role in international affairs changed, so did public opinion. In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt made the first presidential trip abroad to Panama City. This visit sparked the international travel bug in future U.S. presidents. Each president since Theodore Roosevelt has made at least one trip abroad while in office.

  9. 5 facts about presidential travel abroad

    And in early 2023, Biden traveled to Mexico for the North American Leaders' Summit. All told, Biden's international visit count trails those of former Presidents Donald Trump, who made 23 international trips to 20 places during his first two years in office, and Barack Obama, who made 32 trips to 24 places in the first two years of his ...

  10. List of international presidential trips made by Joe Biden

    This is a list of international presidential trips made by Joe Biden, the 46th and current president of the United States. Joe Biden has made 18 international trips to 24 countries (in addition to visiting the West Bank) during his presidency so far, which began on January 20, 2021.. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Biden did not make any international trips between January and June 2021.

  11. Travel Guide to the 22 Presidential Libraries and Museums You Can Visit

    U.S. presidential libraries preserve, interpret, and put historical presidential materials within reach of researchers. But beyond the wordsmith researching another bestselling historical biography, these libraries are also intriguing museums with jaw-dropping exhibits - like Reagan's Air Force One and Wilson's 1919 Pierce-Arrow limousine.

  12. Presidential Visits to Oakland

    President Gerald R. Ford visited Walnut Creek and Oakland on May 25, 1976, before going to San Francisco. On July 3, 1980 President Jimmy Carter toured the Port of Oakland with Mayor Lionel Wilson, and other city and port officials. On Oct. 20, 1989, President George H. W. Bush toured the earthquake-damaged Cypress Structure in West Oakland.

  13. Presidential Libraries and Museums of the National Archives

    Education Resources Presidential Libraries offer programs that provide different perspectives on history and the Presidency. The Libraries offer everyone opportunities to learn about our Presidents' leadership. Discover Education Resources Our Records Every day the President, the Vice President, and their staff generate thousands of textual, electronic, and audiovisual records that can provide ...

  14. Visiting the Presidents

    Visiting the Presidents. "Visiting the Presidents" takes listeners through the birthplaces, homes, gravesites, libraries, and other historical sites associated with the Presidents of the United States. Also exploring the childhoods, lives, loves, careers, and deaths of these presidents through the sites that were touched by them.

  15. Takeaways from new poll: 3rd parties gain, Biden struggles, Trump

    3. Kamala Harris is less popular than Biden. Kamala Harris made history in 2020 when she was the first woman, the first Black person, and the first Asian-American to be elected vice president.

  16. Trump says he knows who his vice presidential pick will be

    The former president also said his running mate is likely to attend his first debate against President Joe Biden on Thursday. IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on ...

  17. US presidential election calendar: Key dates to know in 2024

    U.S. voters will head to the polls on Nov. 5 in just over five months to select their next president. The contest is proving to be highly divisive and closely fought, with Democratic incumbent Joe ...

  18. Trump visits Capitol Hill for first time since Jan. 6 to meet ...

    In his first trip to Capitol Hill since the Jan. 6 attack, former President Trump met behind closed doors with congressional Republicans. They aimed to use the visit as a display of unity ...

  19. List of presidential trips made by Joe Biden (2024)

    This is a list of presidential trips made by Joe Biden during 2024, the fourth year of his presidency as the 46th president of the United States.. This list excludes trips made within Washington, D.C., the U.S. federal capital in which the White House, the official residence and principal workplace of the president, is located.Also excluded are trips to Camp David, the country residence of the ...

  20. Kamala Harris to visit Nevada in attempt to woo Latino voters

    Vice President Kamala Harris is set to stump in Las Vegas the day after President Joe Biden's first debate with former President Donald Trump next week in a post-debate push targeting Latino ...

  21. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves New Mexico Disaster Declaration

    Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of New Mexico and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas ...

  22. A Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance, 2024

    On June 19, 1865, freedom finally came for the 250,000 enslaved people of Texas. That day, which would become known as Juneteenth, the Army arrived to enforce what had already been the law of the ...

  23. Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on New Actions to Keep

    Immigrants have always made America stronger. For generations, they have served in our military, taught in our classrooms, and led our small businesses as entrepreneurs. They are our neighbors ...

  24. List of presidential trips made by Joe Biden (2023)

    This is a list of presidential trips made by Joe Biden during 2023, the third year of his presidency as the 46th president of the United States.. This list excludes trips made within Washington, D.C., the U.S. federal capital in which the White House, the official residence and principal workplace of the president, is located.Also excluded are trips to Camp David, the country residence of the ...

  25. Putin arrives in Vietnam as Russia seeks support in face of Western

    Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Hanoi on Wednesday, fresh from agreeing a new strategic partnership with North Korea, driven by Moscow's need for weapons for its war in Ukraine.

  26. Visiting Vietnam, Putin seeks new 'security architecture' for Asia

    HANOI, June 20 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said he wanted to build a "reliable security architecture" in the Asia-Pacific region during a state visit to Vietnam on Thursday, part ...

  27. Category:Lists of United States presidential visits

    U. United States presidential visits to Australia and New Zealand. United States presidential visits to Canada. United States presidential visits to Central America. United States presidential visits to East Asia. United States presidential visits to Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. United States presidential visits to Mexico.

  28. Leader of NATO member Poland visits China, expecting to talk to Xi

    FILE - Poland's President Andrzej Duda gives a statement to the media in Warsaw, Poland, Jan. 10, 2024. Duda is in China on a visit that brings the leader of a NATO member to a country that has ...

  29. United States presidential visits to the United Kingdom and Ireland

    The first visit by an incumbent president to the island of Ireland was made in June 1963 by John F. Kennedy when he visited the Republic of Ireland. To date, 40 visits have been made to the United Kingdom and 11 to Ireland. The United States is bound together with both the island of Ireland and the island of Great Britain by shared history, an ...

  30. United States presidential visits to Northern Europe

    Map of Europe featuring the countries of Northern Europe (highlighted in dark green). Seven United States presidents have made presidential visits to Northern Europe.Richard Nixon became the first incumbent president to visit a Northern European country when he went to Iceland in 1973. The first trips were an offshoot of the general easing of the geo-political tensions between the U.S. and the ...