by Plains, Georgia, is clearly proud to be the hometown of our 39th President, Jimmy Carter, and his wife Rosalyn.
Plains had just 600 residents when Jimmy was born, so I guess producing a President (and the admirable Rosalyn) is something to be pleased about.
The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park has three primary locations to visit: the high school they both attended, which is now the visitors center; the train depot that served as his campaign headquarters; and his boyhood home and farm.
There are also a number of other sites to see, for those inclined, such as a giant Carter peanut, the gas station owned by his brother Billy, the public housing unit Jimmy and Rosalyn lived in for a time, and the church they attended. The Carters still live in Georgia, their home close to a main road in town and easily visible (as are the secret service!).
Both Jimmy and Rosalyn grew up in Plains, and they returned there to live after his failed 1981 Presidential reelection bid.
Though his presidency may not have been the success he hoped it would be, their lives since have been spent in public service with many admirable accomplishments.
Doug and I had both previously read Jimmy Carter’s A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety#AD, which does a nice job of outlining the details of his life, from his service as a nuclear technician on submarines in the U.S. Navy, his election as governor of Georgia, his Presidential term, and his subsequent humanitarian activities.
Of particular note is their Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, which has the lofty goals to “prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health” all around the world.
Jimmy earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for “decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”
They were both also famously actively involved with Habitat for Humanity for many years.
Rosalyn was not a decorative First Lady. She was very active during Jimmy’s presidency, sitting in on cabinet meetings and representing the President in sessions with domestic and foreign leaders.
She was a strong advocate for mental health and human rights for many years. She received our nation’s highest civil honor in 1999, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Plains High School was in use from 1921 through 1979, though it’s been restored to how it would have looked when Jimmy Carter attended. Jimmy graduated in 1941 – there were just 26 members of his class! Rosalyn followed three years later as class valedictorian.
The high school includes a museum on the Carters, information on the school’s history before it was closed.
Most interestingly, one display compares the well-off Plains High School for white students to the nearby Wards Chapel Church, where black students could attend class.
Though Brown v. Board of Education declared segregation in public schools illegal in 1954, Plains High School did not receive its first black students until 1966 (I had to look up how long it took on average, and 12 years is terrible).
Carter was in early opposition to racial segregation, having grown up with African Americans as neighbors, friends, and confidants. This was often put to the test with a political career and social life in Georgia, though it seems the more pressure he received, the stronger his position grew.
In 1960 he helped his friend Willis Wright become the first African American registered to vote in nearby Webster County.
Later in the 1960s the Carters joined four others in trying to prevent the Plains Baptist Church from banning African American congregants. Sadly, they were unsuccessful, but left that congregation as a result.
The farm where Jimmy lived from age four until he went off to college in 1941 has also been restored to how to Jimmy’s childhood – which includes no electricity, which wasn’t installed until 1938.
The Carters grew corn, cotton, peanuts, and sugar cane on the farm.
The train depot had ceased operations in 1951, so it was available for use for Carter’s 1976 Presidential Campaign.
He had also used it for his successful 1971 campaign for governor of Georgia. Carter also served as state senator, starting in 1963. Today it is a small museum focusing on his various elected official campaigns.
Did you know that Walter met Jimmy Carter many years ago when he interviewed Jimmy for his book about retirement? You might want to chat with him about that next time you see him! Great post!
Yes, we both read his book!