Places

The oldest standing structure on the Eisenhower property, the bank barn is an example of a classic staple of farms in Adams County, Pennsylvania. Built into the bank of the hillside, this 1887 barn offered a place for livestock, hay, and farm equipment for decades, long before the Eisenhowers purchased the property.

The front lane is one of the more scenic locations at the Eisenhower farm. In 1954, the driveway was lined with fifty-three Norway Spruces, representing each state and territory in the US.

The Eisenhower flagpole is a central feature of the property. The Suffolk County Republican Committee of New York donated this flagpole in May 1955. An American flag flew here when a member of the Eisenhower family was present. During Eisenhower's presidency, the presidential flag also flew here. Once Eisenhower left office, the five-star general flag flew from this flagpole.

President Eisenhower was the first president to use a helicopter during his time in office. His inaugural presidential helicopter ride occurred in 1957, ushering in a new era of transportation for our nation’s chief executive.

Originally a small garage, the Eisenhowers converted this building into a guesthouse in 1955. The home features a bedroom, a small bathroom, and a sitting room, with a porch offering tremendous views of the surrounding area. The guesthouse was used primarily as extra space for visiting friends and family.

The garage and corn crib is one of many farm outbuildings that Dwight Eisenhower and his partners used in the cattle operation.

The Eisenhower home served as a place of rest, relaxation, and recovery during their years in the White House. This home was the only home the Eisenhowers owned together, and they would stay here for the rest of their lives.

The core of this stone farmhouse dates to the original European owners of the property, the Armstrongs. Isaac Armstrong may have constructed the building sometime in the 1790s, and by the time of his death in 1835, the home was part of a prosperous tannery. In 1954 the farm was purchased by W. Alton Jones, the president’s cattle partner, and become part of the Eisenhower show cattle operation. 

When President Eisenhower decided to purchase a farm to retire to, he had a goal of applying the best available science to agriculture. Artificial insemination was among the many innovative practices employed on the farm. Converted from an old milk parlor, the Semen Shed is a reminder of agricultural change.

General Eisenhower enjoyed few pursuits more than golf. The game gave him an opportunity to relax, enjoy fresh air, and get some low stress exercise. With his deep love for the sport, the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association of America) offered to install a putting green at the president’s home in Gettysburg.