Poll regarding presidential libraries
 

Taken from CNN, I'm curious as to fellow Fodorite responses -
Have you ever, or do you wish, to visit a presidential library?

I have not, nor do I really have the desire to.

I think I might have, on a class trip or something, but I don't know where or which one. Obviously, it doesn't hold much interest for me.

When they showed the Clinton Library on the news last night, I thought it was a new airport or something. It didn't look very "presidential".

No. Why feed already over-inflated egos or give credence to fabricated legacies?

Having lived near Columbus, IN for 13 years and worked in Columbus for over 2, I'd be tempted to visit a couple. Not for the libraries' contents but for the buildings themselves. Interestingly enough Columbus is quite the modern architecture Mecca. I've actually developed a bit of a taste for it.

I wouldn't mind seeing I.M. Pei's Kennedy Library to compare it to the one he designed here. I wouldn't make it a destination though. I'd have to be in the area for another reason.

BTW the Polshek designed Clinton Library looks beautiful. When I make it to Little Rock, Arkansas to see the state capitol I'll fit the library in too.

Have been to the Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kansas. The museum, burial site, etc. were inspiring. (The library just seemed like a boring building.)

I'm pretty sure I've been to the Kennedy Library (is it in Boston?). Obviously it didn't make a huge impression since I'm not even sure that I'm remembering correctly!!

I have not, and I really have no desire to, but I would go if I was with a group and others wanted to.

LBJ in Austin, TX.

I believe the Kennedy one in Boston requires admission. That's why we didn't go in, even though we were already there.

I have a good friend who lives in Little Rock. Here's her comments on the Clinton Library:

<i>It's much more attractive from inside than outside. It looks like a white metal panelled building in daylight, but those are clear windows from inside (special thermal panes sort of one-way windows). At night the place just glows, really something to see. It will be open for free to the public after Thanksgiving for the whole weekend. </i>

So, for free, the price sounds right.

As for me, I will probably visit the Clinton Library the next time I'm in Little Rock. (To set the record straight, I am not a Clinton fan; my friend is... she's an excellent guide and it would be seeing a bit of history.)

-Sharon

I'd love to see them all. I've been to Truman's library twice and will see Clinton's in the next few days. I think any history and/or political buff would enjoy them.

suzanne, You are sore of right about your idea of how the library looks. It was designed to look like a bridge trying to span the river. Clinton's campaign slogan was &quot;A Bridge To The Future&quot;. Personally I would stop to see the building because I am into architecture.

I meant &quot;sort&quot; or right!

I have lived near Boston for thirty years but have never been to the Kennedy Library. Maybe it's time to give it a look.

Visit a presidential library? Only if it was convenient, and we were doing something else that brought us there.

Ask also, when was the last time you visited the library in your own home town?

I would definitely go if one opens in San Francisco. But I wouldn't go out of my way just to visit it in another city, while travelling it would be on my &quot;backup&quot; list, not on the main list of places to see.

Triple: I am a regular at the local library.

Triple - I'm also a regular at the local library. Last trip was yesterday. And, libraries often are terrific sources for free internet during your travels.
-Sharon

I've visited two - JFK's in Boston and Nixon's in Yorba Linda, CA. Actually, I live in Yorba Linda and the Nixon library has events and exhibits throughout the year, so I do go there about once a year or so.

While I was in Boston a couple of years ago, we (mom and me) wanted to see Kennedy's library because we already knew what a presidential library is comprised of. My mother remembered Kennedy, but I never him as president, and we both discovered and learned a good deal. (Plus the building is gorgeous)

Actually, there is more information and artifacts than people realize or expect. I don't think I would ever do a &quot;Presidential Library Odessy&quot;, but if a library is in/near the city where I happen to be, I would make time to visit. I love American history, though, so I always look forward to learning more - especially from presidents I was not alive during, or was very young, during their tenure in office.

When dubyah gets his library, and if I find myself in Crawford TX(where else would it be) I will go.
Gotta have a picture misbehaving in some manner. Sort of like going to DC and having your picture taken at the Department of Justice.
I will not pay to get in.

I have been to the JFK, Nixon and Carter libraries/museums. They are pretty interesting. I see that the Clinton Library/museum has just opened. If I go to Little Rock, I will check it out.

In every city I have been to, IF I pass the library, I go in. ALWAYS. My heaven will be a library.

Presidential libraries are sourced by donations and grants and as such can be controversial to some. I would go into any that I was near. I've been to Kennedy, Nixon, Carter. You need to take almost everything you see with a grain of salt in a Presidential Library as there is always a slant from the view of the donors. Not so with most public libraries; that is a very different thing.

Next time you are in Chicago, check out the Harold Washington downtown. Insides are terrific. Every level has slightly different colored pure marble. My favorite place to read is the top floor. It's also good if you are into geneology- which I am not.

Interesting notes about the new Clinton-he had quite a bit of input himself. Also Hilary got her own 12 foot alcove to display. There is one 6 foot alcove that tells the story of the &quot;oops&quot; investigation etc. No dress or cigar, but makes the entire thing out to be a &quot;question of power&quot; struggle.

I've been to George H.W. Bush's library in College Station, Texas and it was fascinating. (Although I have to admit that my favorite thing was the outdoor, life size statue of horses jumping over pieces of the Berlin Wall!)

My husband was a big fan of Ronald Reagan, an we would love to go to his library sometime.

I've been to the JFK library in Boston. I was visiting family, and this was one of the things we did while in the area. It was interesting regardless of your political views.
I love libraries. Was at my local branch today. Just being around books makes me happy. When they have the Bush library in Crawford...I won't make any comments.

We visited the LBJ in Austin and it was interesting. Would not go way out my way to visit one.. We were in Austin on a business seminar for a week.

Agree with Annie-JFK library was very impressive, and I too will have &quot;no comment&quot;(or jokes) about dubya's future library.

I have been to Nixon, Reagan, FDR. Of course they all have their spin to them, LOL. FDR's Hyde Park very historical and interesting. Nixon in Yorba Linda is a very impressive facility. The Reagan Library was OK; I liked the other two better.

We have been to many of the Presidential Libraries and they all are interesting but we like the Nixon Library the best. It truly is a lovely place. We didn't care for the Reagan Library look (even tho we are big Reagan fans and did attend both his inaugurations) - we did enjoy the exhibits however and look forward to going back when Air Force One and Marine One are open.

I'm not sure if everyone realizes that the presidents have both **MUSEUMS** and NOT just libraries. The libraries are in a separate building and not always accessible without permission. The museums however, are wonderful and definitely worth a visit! Some also include their birthplaces (nixon, LBJ) and graves. We try to see all the museums on our travels, but have NEVER been in any of the actual 'libraries'.

We've visited

Reagan - Simi Valley (our fave)
Nixon - Yorba Linda
Carter - Atlanta
Bush Sr.- College park, TX
LBJ - Austin
Hayes - Fremont, OH
Truman - Independence, MO
Hoover - West Branch, Iowa
Eisenhower - Abilene, Kansas

On our list to see: JFK, FDR, Clinton.

Ellen G has made an excellent point about museums, libraries and permission. I think that was the deal at Abilene -- you could enter the building's lobby, but the actual Eisenhower &quot;library&quot; was a permission/appointment situation.

An older friend of mine is a die-hard Democrat who despised Reagan. Yet, while on a trip to California, he went to the Reagan Library -- and really enjoyed it. (I think my friend's love of history won out over his own political views.)

I have had permission to be in the &quot;library&quot; area of two presidential libraries. The Museum/Library designation is correct, but in many cases the entire building is still named in listings and in government language as &quot;Library&quot; as that is its primary function.

In any special collections library you would probably not have access to original/ archival collections, or possibly where major Reference or Reserve portions are held, but that would not change the name of the building. Regardless of their titles, people still refer to them, even at state level, as libraries.

And I visit my community library every week, if I'm in Illinois. We just had a new one open Sept. 7 -and it is 93,000 square feet. Took me 10 years to help make this happen. The old one was ok but CRAMPED. I used to work for this library and also 3 other community libraries in an earlier work life/incarnation. I read or listen to at least 3 to 4 books a week, sometimes more. I'm happy to say my &quot;Friends of the Library&quot; group all have big smiles. And the place is packed.

Chicgal: If you read this, you might know what I speak of. My first memory here in the USA is the big, white, marble library on Garfield Blvd. near Racine Ave in Chicago (park of Garfield Park). It's right near the lagoon. I would walk there every day, and I was not yet kindergarten age. I would take buses by the time I was 5-1/2,very short to my grandmother's store. It was a totally different era. Just leaning on the white marble walls with a book I could &quot;piece&quot; out, made me SO HAPPY. I went back to see it not long ago and it was so much &quot;smaller&quot; than I remembered. Nothing like the aroma of books and marble dust in the morning!

The best view of downtown Atlanta is from the Carter Center. In fact, the very hill that the Carter Center now sits on is the same hill that Sherman stood on to watch Atlanta burn.

I live in Austin where we have the LBJ library. I have visited that twice in the last 23 years. I see it as one of those tourist things that I only do when I have an out-of-town guest that wants to see it. I must admit it is more interesting than you might expect, however like Judyrem, I would not go out of my way for a presidential library.

If you're interested in World War II history, you will enjoy the Eisenhower Museum in Abilene, Kansas. Abilene is right on I-70, so it's an easy stop if you're driving across Kansas. Also, President Eisenhower, Mamie, &amp; one of their children who died shortly after birth are buried in a small chapel there.