News Release
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Plains, Ga. – Jimmy Carter National Historical Park mourns the passing of James Earl Carter, Jr., 39th President of the United States and devoted supporter of the park that bears his name. His death follows the passing of his beloved wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, in November 2023.President Carter will be buried in his family plot, located at the Carter home, now part of Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. Congress authorized the national park in 1987 to interpret President Carter’s life and presidency in relation to Plains, Georgia, and to preserve the resources associated with that story. The park includes Carter's boyhood farm and home, high school, the residence of President and Mrs. Carter (closed to the public), and the railroad depot that served as the headquarters for his presidential campaign.
“President Carter was a great friend of national parks, not only as president, but as a citizen of Plains. While president, he more than doubled the size of the National Park System through the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, setting aside more than 43 million acres of national park land in the Last Frontier. And here in Plains, he was an enthusiastic supporter of the park that tells his and Mrs. Carter’s story, actively participating in park programs and even welcoming visitors when his schedule allowed. I and my staff mourn his passing, but we will always find joy in sharing how President Carter made the world a better place through his activism, empathy and kindness,” said Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Superintendent Jill Stuckey, a longtime friend of President and Mrs. Carter.
President Carter’s participation in countless events at the park throughout the years — from public programs and forums, to welcoming The Carter Center Ambassadors Circle and Legacy Circle, greeting SAM Shortline excursion riders and many other events — were examples of his desire to maintain the treasured traditions that he and Mrs. Carter established for local residents and the visiting public. He played an active role in park events such as the Presidents’ Day observance, in which he spoke of his administration’s accomplishments, and the town’s fall peanut festival, where he handed out certificates to local school children. Over the years, countless visitors were greeted by President and Mrs. Carter at the Plains High School Visitor Center or elsewhere at Jimmy Carter National Historical Park.
Some areas of Jimmy Carter National Historical Park will be closed in the days leading up to the burial. Updates and a full schedule of events celebrating the life of President Carter will be posted on the National Park Service website at www.nps.gov/jica and on the park’s social media platforms (@JimmyCarterNPS).
NPS
Last updated: December 30, 2024