by Tom Bastek
Last updated: 1:00 AM ET, Tue January 20, 2015
All photos courtesy of their respective organizations
Every mother said it to their kids, "You can be anything if you put your mind to it, even President of the United States." Whether you actually believed her or not, most have always wondered, "where does a president come from?" For President's Day this year, why not take the kids and show them how the presidents of the past lived? Who knows; maybe they will actually believe they can be the President. Here is a quick list to get you started.
George Washington Birthplace National Monument - Westmoreland County, Virginia
Representative of an 18th-century Virginia tobacco farm, the George Washington Birthplace National Monument is where the first president was born and lived until age three and again as a teenager. The original house, which was built by the president's grandfather, was destroyed by fire and flood in 1779 and never rebuilt.
The Washington Memorial House that stands on the property today is not an exact replica of the house that Washington was born in, but more of a representation of an upper class house from the period. In addition to the Memorial House, there is a farm, kitchen house as well as hiking trails and picnic grounds to explore.
In the kitchen house, visitors can see period-clad re-enactors demonstrate soap and candle making and a colonial herb garden with plants typical of the period are grown there. The Colonial Living Farm "raises livestock, poultry, and crops of the 18th century variety, using farming methods common then." There is also a visitor center onsite containing artifacts from the original burned-down house.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial - Lincoln City, Indiana
Abraham Lincoln resided here from the age of seven to 21. There is a memorial building onsite that features sculpted panels portraying times from Lincoln's life. Also on the property is the site from the original Lincoln cabin, with the foundation clearly visible but kept safely preserved behind a wall. A replica farm house and a living historical farm are located on property, too. Park rangers here are dressed in full period clothing and work the farm with early 1800s implements and methods.
Monticello - Charlottesville, Virginia
Probably the most well-known on the list, Monticello was built in 1772 when Thomas Jefferson was just 26 years of age. He designed it himself and paid for it with money inherited from this father. Jefferson was a slave owner and there are tours given with the history of slavery here along Mulberry Row, the area of the plantation where the slaves resided. This tour, as well as a tour of the gardens and grounds, are offered seasonally from April to October. For an additional cost, a behind the scenes tour with access to the second, third and basement levels is offered as well.
Harry S. Truman Historical Site - Independence, Missouri
Truman was one of the few presidents that never owned a home, however, the house that is located in Independence is where he would spend most of his life on and off from 1919 to 1972. The house was built and owned by Bess Truman's maternal grandfather, George Porterfield Gates. The home is open to the public and tours are just $5. You can see exactly how the president lived before, during and after his presidential terms. Called "beautiful in its uncluttered commonness," the Truman Home is really a common man's home and really allows the guest a peek into the presdent's personal life.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site - Brookline, Massachusetts
The original home of President Kennedy, this house was where John, Rosemary and Kathleen were born; brother Joe Jr. was born while the family was on vacation. The family was there from 1914-1920 when they moved into a larger home. In 1966, the Kennedy Family repurchased the home and Mother Rose spent three years after restoring the residence back to the time of the late 1910s.
The tour takes guests throughout the house with the exception of the third floor which Rose had little memory of being that it was the servant's quarters, and therefore was not restored. The home is open seasonally from May through October and in the winter by appointment only.
There are plenty of other president's birthplaces, homes, and historic sites to check out around the country. Make this President's Day special; get out there and do a historic tour.
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