A Presidential Tour of Jimmy Carter’s Georgia from Past to Present

To be true to ourselves, we must be true to others.

First Inaugural Address, January 20, 1977

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter

On my way back from Florida, I stopped in Plains, Georgia.  As you may well know, I am a HUGE fan of presidential sites.  I have no idea how or when this started, but here I am.  Luckily, our drive from Orlando to Knoxville was only nine hours so we have the luxury of being able to stop. I was there and didn’t want to miss the opportunity because I was really anxious to see the Jimmy Carter childhood farm, election campaign office, Billy Carter’s gas station, and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. The latter place is in Atlanta, Georgia and we were not far from there either. I must say that I am thrilled that we stopped and so were my companions. If you are in the area and enjoy presidential sites, this one is really a must see.

On Saturday morning, we stopped in Plains, Georgia. The sites are not hard to find since there is one road in and out of the town and it’s very easy and well marked.  Our first stop was Plains High School which is very close to I-75. The high school was built in 1921 and was retired in 1979. Both the Carter’s attended high school with Jimmy graduating in 1941 and Rosalynn graduated in 1944.  It is now part of the National Park Service.  The museum is set up with a restored and furnished classroom, principal’s office, and auditorium. Another part of the school has a museum with exhibits about the Carter family’s lives in Plains and includes, business, politics, family, and post presidency activities.

Adults – $15
Seniors (65 and up) and Active Military – $14
Youth (ages 6-17) – $8
Child (5 and under) – FREE
Students w/ valid ID – $10
Teachers – FREE

*All ticket sales are non-refundable.

We then turned west and further away from my I-75 into the heart of Plains, Georgia.  On the right hand side I noticed a wrought iron fence that was several feet high surrounding a house. I really didn’t think much about the house because it’s not remarkable and actually mixed in with the rest of the neighborhood. I glanced at it and saw a couple of black SUVs. Again, I didn’t think anything of it. Thanks to the park ranger, we found out that is the residence of the Secret Service agents that are charged with protecting the Carter family. Those were government issue Secret Service SUVs. On the way to the homestead I also noticed a small house that is just before the Secret Service residence and just thought it was a school bus stop. We were told that that is the guard house for the Carter compound and that road leads back to the Carter residence.

The Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm is a site that has paused in time. We were lucky enough to be the only people there and had to park rangers all to ourselves so we could ask as many questions as we wanted to.  The house was remodeled to make it look as it did in the 1930s prior to electricity.  The boyhood farm is approximately 17 acres.  It’s a lovely and well cared for park.  Choose you time of year well so that you can walk the area in comfort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earl Carter owned 360 acres from 1928 to 1949.  They grew cotton, corn, peanuts, sugar cane, and a kitchen garden. One of the sources of income of the Carter family or the sublets to other farmers. There is a small house in the park that belonged to one of the tenants. The mainstay is the general store and gas station that the family owned and ran. It was one of the few stops between Columbus, Georgia and Americus, Georgia. The Ranger told us that Jimmy Carter once told the story that it was a rare dinner that he did not have to go out and pump gas for someone. Earl Carter was a shrewd businessman. He would run the business on credit knowing that the tenants and neighbors would pay.  There are still some chickens and goats along with a resident cat that reside there.

Admission is free

On the way back to I–75, we stopped at Billy Carter’s gas station and Jimmy Carter’s campaign headquarters. They are across the street from one another and right on the main road. The election headquarters is an old train depot and is now a museum with a lovely little park next-door.  The Plains Depot was built in 1888 for freight and passenger service and was discontinued in 1951.  It is the oldest building in town.  Now, it serves as a museum for Carter’s political career.  It contains highlights from his campaigns for state senator, governor, and president.

Next door to the Plains Train Depot is the Plains historic district.  The name Plains is a shortened version of the settlement of the Plains of Dura.  There is a store with information about Rosalynn Carter’s butterfly trail.  There is a hotel and an antique store.

We stopped at the  Phillips 66 gas station that belonged to Billy Carter. It is now abandoned and has stood still in time.

We then went to Atlanta, Georgia to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Unfortunately, it was closed due to Covid and we were not able to go inside. Although, I learned something very interesting tidbits about the area and that the library museum sits on the site of an old civil war area. The parking lot is dotted with several markers including one that talks about Sherman’s March through Atlanta.

You may purchase up to 6 tickets and no groups tours are being scheduled.  Tickets are timed.  Last reservation is 3:00PM.  You can purchase tickets  ONLINE*

Adults – $12
Seniors (65 and up) and Active Military – $10
Youth (ages 6-16) – Free
Child (5 and under) – Free
Students w/ valid ID – $10
College Students with valid ID – FREE

*All ticket sales are non-refundable.

Actually, all is not lost since we found a fried chicken place not far from there that is worth the gas to drive to get there. Hattie B’s is a chain restaurant with locations Nashville, Birmingham, Memphis, Atlanta, and Las Vegas.  It was highly recommended across several reviews and off we went.  We were able to sit outside, enjoy the day, and each other’s company with some very good food. The restaurant looks like an old car repair shop. It’s on a busy road and it’s very difficult to get in and out of, however, it’s really worth it.  I had chicken wings, pinto beans, and potato salad.  Not knowing the what their real heat levels meant, I had the medium.  Steve and Bob had the chicken.  Bob had pimento mac and cheese and southern greens.  Steve had the baked beans and coleslaw.  This was a home cooked meal and a half.  The wings were perfectly cooked and crispy.  We tried all the sides and they were good, but that chicken is unforgettable!

This was our Saturday.  Hope yours was just as grand.

 

 

REFERENCES

https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/

https://www.nps.gov/jica/index.htm