Friday Smiles 342: The Eisenhower Museum

It's Friday and time once again to join Annie (at A Stitch in Time) and the ladies at Friday Smiles.  I'm not going to share any funnies today.

Before visiting the museum, but after I left the boyhood home, I found this area where you could sit and enjoy the surroundings, or even eat your lunch. 

How ironic that I had mentioned the Chisholm Trail a few weeks back for T Stands For Tuesday.   Yes, the cow town raised a great president.   In Ike's own words: “The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.”

For those of you who missed my T Tuesday post, Abilene rose to fame as a cow town, the end of the Chisholm Trail that brought cattle from Texas to the Kansas Pacific Railway for shipment to eastern markets.  Cattle that sold for $1.00 to $2.00 in Texas could command 20 times that by the time the cattle reached Abilene.


Following the map, you see I parked in the 3rd Street parking lot, then entered the gift shop where everyone gets their ticket.  Then it was off to the boyhood home, which is just below and to the left of the spot where I was at the moment.

This is the side of the museum.

The museum is constructed of Kansas limestone, quarried from Onaga Stone in Onaga, Kansas, a town I had never heard of, even though I have lived in Kansas much of my life.

At first, I thought my camera was playing tricks with the stone, then I realized it was constructed that way.

Even the grounds were beautiful. 

Note the Pylons in the back.  We will see them later.

It was now time to enter the museum. 

This is the plaque you see just before you enter.

Much of what you see here deals with Ike and his service to his country.

This is the sweet lady who stamped my ticket so I could keep it.  She also explained that the museum was divided into five major galleries consisting of an introductory gallery, which is where we were, a changing exhibits gallery, a First Lady's gallery, a military gallery, and a presidential gallery. 

She further explained this was the ONLY area of the museum that had not been renovated.   In case you can't read the sentiment at the bottom it is "Supreme Command."  It shows Ike during the war years.  Although he never fought in battle, he was in charge of all the men and women in the European theater who were under his command.

This mural shows he was in charge of the "Command Operations."

Since I never got a shot full on, I snagged this from the internet.  It appears the words at the bottom were removed during the renovation.  I confess I never saw the murals on the side where I entered.

Next week we will visit the changing exhibits gallery.  Unlike last week, I didin't want to overwhelm you with tons of photos this week. 

Now let's see what others are smiling about this Friday.  Please don't forget to start your weekend off right by visiting Annie for a few Friday Smiles.  We would love to have you join us, too.