Eisenhower National Historic Site

Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower stand arm in arm off the rear patio of their Gettysburg home.

 

Ike, Gettysburg, and the Cold War

Eisenhower National Historic Site is the home and farm of General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Located adjacent to the Gettysburg Battlefield, the farm served the President as a weekend retreat and a meeting place for world leaders. With its peaceful setting and view of South Mountain, it was a much needed respite from Washington and a backdrop for efforts to reduce Cold War tensions.

How to Visit

To visit Eisenhower National Historic Site, purchase your tickets at the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center. Entrance to the site is by shuttle bus which departs from the Visitor Center throughout the day, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. Plan 1 1/2 - 2 hours for your visit

Operating Hours and Season

January - February 2020
The Eisenhower home and all facilities in the park are closed for January and February, 2020. However, the grounds remain open from 9 am to 5 pm and visitors may drive directly to the site and park in designated parking areas to explore the grounds. Please note that parking is limited and there are no facilities open during the winter months. Parking map available here.

President's Day Weekend (February 15-17)

• The Eisenhower home and grounds are open for tours for the Presidents' Day holiday weekend with regular shuttle bus service. Visitors will not be allowed to drive to the site for Presidents' Day Weekend.
• On Saturday and Sunday (February 15-16) the shuttle will run from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. There will be house tours corresponding with the shuttle times. Shuttle buses leave from the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center.
• On Monday (February 17) the shuttle will run from 10 am to 3 pm. There will be house tours corresponding with the shuttle times. Shuttle buses leave from the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center.
• Of special note, visitors may be particularly interested in Dan Vermilya's Winter Lecture on Saturday, February 15 at 1:30 pm at the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, titled: These Honored Dead: World War II Burials in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

Purchase Advanced Tickets

You may purchase advanced tickets by visiting the Gettysburg Foundation Ticket Prices and Packages page.

Tours

Orientation Tours
A visit to the site begins with a 15 minute orientation tour of the grounds and farm operation highlighting how the farm was used by Eisenhower during his presidency.

House Tours
The Eisenhower home and its furnishings have changed little since Ike and Mamie's years together in Gettysburg. A tour of the home offers an intimate glimpse of the Eisenhowers' life and times.

Grounds Tour
A self guided tour of the grounds includes the P.G.A. putting green, the rose gardens, the guest house, and a garage which still houses the presidential limousine, Eisenhower golf carts, and station wagon.

Farm Walking Tour
This walk explores Eisenhower's cattle operation, including the show barn housing the Eisenhower farm machinery.

Skeet Range
A short walk from the Reception Center is Eisenhower's skeet range. A wayside exhibit details Ike's shooting prowess and explains the rules of trap and skeet.

Exhibits and Videos

Exhibits in the Reception Center trace Eisenhower's life from his boyhood in Abilene, Kansas through his 38 years in the military, to his presidency and retirement. A ten minute video on Eisenhower's life is shown continuously in the first floor of the barn, and in the Reception Center during winter months.

You can also watch our Behind the Gates - Virtual Tour videos that feature the upstairs rooms as well as the rooms off the back staircase including Ike's den and office.

Visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site Website

Visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site website to learn more about the Eisenhowers and how they used their Gettysburg address to host foreign dignitaries and family and friends in the only home they ever owned.

 

WW II Weekend at Eisenhower NHS