Eisenhower Bank Barn

The oldest standing structure on the Eisenhower property, the bank barn is an example of a classic staple of farms in Adams County, Pennsylvania. Built into the bank of the hillside, this 1887 barn offered a place for livestock, hay, and farm equipment for decades, long before the Eisenhowers purchased the property.

• This description is 1200 words long. It has a brief description of the bank barn followed by a more detailed one. The Eisenhower bank barn is a 96 by 50-feet two-story barn with extensions on both the north (the Secret Service Office) and south (garages) ends. This description focuses on the barn. The barn sits on a brown stone foundation layer with the second story made of wooden planks. The wood sections of the barn are painted pale green. The roof is constructed of grey sheet metal and on top of the roof are three cupolas evenly spaced from the north end to the south end. To the south of the bank barn lays a row of pine trees directly beside the Eisenhower home. To the west is the guest house as well as cultivated farm fields. To the north is the front allee and to the east is the reception center and putting green. A more detailed description of the four sides of the bank barn. The west side of the barn has an earthen ramp which leads to the center of the second story. At the top of the ramp, four large sliding doors span the width of the ramp. The doors are 14-feet tall and 9-feet wide; they extend from the ramp to the roof of the building. The large doors are the same height as the wooden walls to their sides. The two center doors are solid, while the doors on each end have smaller doors inset to allow access to the interior without having to open the large doors. To the north of the large doors the barn extends approximately 22 feet. To the south of the doors, the barn extends 36 feet. ends of the wall two windows lay one above the other. There are ten windows on the west wall: four to the north of the doors and six to the south. The windows are two over two with the bottom windows having glass panes while the top row contains green wooden slots. The north end of the barn has a stone first floor and a wood sided upper level. The barn is 44-feet at the peak and 25 feet at the eaves. Almost in the center of the north end of the lower level is a rectangular concrete block structure attached to the barn. This is the Secret Service office and it is described under the Secret Service Office place. To the west of the Secret Service office is a glass-paned window. To the east side of the Secret Service Office is an 8-foot wide, wooden sliding door, a section of stone and then a green double Dutch door. The north wall of the barn rises 44 feet at the center of the gable. Three rows of vented windows dominate the wall: two rows of four windows with slots, then a row that contains two widows in the middle that are the same size as the rows below with two smaller windows on the ends of the row. A glass pained window with a curved decorative wooden frame around it rest at the point just below the roof line. The east side of the bank barn is 96 feet long. The first floor has three sections: a cinderblock section, a horizontal wood-plank with stone foundation, and horizontal wood-plank with concrete foundation section. Starting at the northern end, the cinderblock wall is 38-feet long and 4-feet tall. Above the cinderblock there are seven square windows centered in the wall. The wall to the north and south of the windows is covered in horizontal, green, wood plank siding. Four feet from the north end of the wall there is a Dutch-door with long, iron hinges on the right side. The boards in the door run vertically. The door opens on the left. The section of horizontal wood-plank with a stone foundation is about 45-feet long and it is recessed so that the second level overhangs it by about 6 feet. There are three Dutch-doors similar to the one in the cinderblock-section of the wall. The northern door is about two feet from the edge of the wall. Four feet south of the door is a two-foot-wide window. Four feet south of the window is the second Dutch-door. Five feet to the south of the middle door are two, two-foot wide windows separated by two feet of siding. The third door is two feet south of the window and is bordered on to the south by a three-foot wide strip of wood-plank siding. The remaining 13-foot long section of the east side has a two-foot-thick concrete foundation. This section of the first floor is two feet taller than the rest of the first floor, but like the section with the stone foundation, the upper level overhangs by six feet. Almost centered in the wall is 6-foot-wide door, with a two-foot wide smaller door in the center. There is a wood-plank ramp up to the door that is covered in flattened, metal soda bottle caps. On each side of the large door is a two-foot wide window. The upper level of the east elevation starts at 10 feet above the ground. The same wood-plank siding is on the upper level, but it runs vertically. There are 18 windows covered in horizontal wood slats to allow ventilation. They are arranged in two rows of 9 windows evenly spaced with the upper level immediately above the lower level. A set of double doors made out of the same wood siding as the rest of the exterior of the upper level sits between the third and fourth column of windows. Another set of similar doors is located two windows over between the fifth and sixth windows. The gray, standing-seam metal roof starts 24 feet above the ground and extends 20 feet to the ridge which is 44-feet above the ground. There are three cupolas on the ridge of the roof. Two identical cupolas are located at the north and south ends of the ridge. A slightly larger cupola is in the center of the roof. The south elevation of the barn includes a one-story addition with four garage doors. A more detailed description of the addition can be found under the garage place description. The addition is covered with the same green, horizontal, wood siding as the rest of the lower level of the barn. The gray, standing seam metal roof matches the roof on the main portion of the barn. The roof attaches to the south wall of the barn almost 14 feet above the ground. Above the roof of the addition, the wood siding runs vertically, like the rest of the upper level of the barn. There are four columns of windows covered with slats to provide ventilation. The columns are eight feet apart. All of the windows in the bottom two rows and the center windows in the top row are the same size. The outer windows on the top row are slightly smaller than the rest of the windows and are slightly offset to accommodate the slope of the roof. Immediately below the peak of the roof is a glass pained window with a curved decorative wooden frame. It is identical to the decorative window on the north side of the barn.

Eisenhower Flagpole

The Eisenhower flagpole is a central feature of the property. The Suffolk County Republican Committee of New York donated this flagpole in May 1955. An American flag flew here when a member of the Eisenhower family was present. During Eisenhower's presidency, the presidential flag also flew here. Once Eisenhower left office, the five-star general flag flew from this flagpole.

• This description is 266 words long. The flagpole stands 60-feet tall with a 4-foot, 6-sided cement base. On the top of the pole stands an American Eagle weathervane that has its wings spread to depict flight and clutches the top of the pole with its talons. Beneath the eagle are the first letters for North, South, East, and West that rotates based on the direction of the wind. The pole is equipped with 2 rope-pulley systems that begin with 2 metal cleats attached to the concrete base 4 feet from the ground that are used to secure the rope. The rope rises from this point to a pulley located at the top of the pole just beneath the weathervane. One rope-pulley system is on the north and the second on the south. On the north pulley system is hoisted the red, white, and blue American Flag. This flag is raised to the very top of the pole, but beneath the weathervane. The south pulley hoists General Eisenhower’s 5-star General flag slightly lower than the American flag. The General’s flag consists of a smaller red flag with 5 white stars arranged in a pentagonal formation to match how General Eisenhower’s rank was displayed. The flagpole is in the foreground of an open green field. To the west is the backside of the Eisenhower home which sits above the rose garden and terrace. To the north is the putting green, Reception Center and bank barn. To the east are open fields with a tree line in the distance. To the south is the Tea house (a small brick building), patio and grill.

Eisenhower Home

The Eisenhower home served as a place of rest, relaxation, and recovery during their years in the White House. This home was the only home the Eisenhowers owned together, and they would stay here for the rest of their lives.

Farm 2 Garage and Corn Crib

The garage and corn crib is one of many farm outbuildings that Dwight Eisenhower and his partners used in the cattle operation.

• This description is 314 words long. The Farm 2 Garage is a 1 1/2 story, cream-colored, wood building with a silver, standing-seam metal roof. It has an asymmetrical roof-line with the west side of the roof extending longer than the east side. The east wall of the garage is 1 1/2 stories tall. There is a small door that is locked in the center of the wall. There are two square openings that have solid boards over them on the second level. An off-white, 1950s gas pump with an orange triangle with "Citgo" underneath is situated at the southeast corner of the building. A small gray wood box is mounted on the building next to the gas pump. The south wall is dominated by two sets of double doors. The eastern set of double doors are slightly taller and wider than the western set. The roofline is asymmetric with the western slope of the roof extending twice as long as the eastern slope. It gives the impression that the west side of the building is an addition to the original structure. Above the eastern doors in the gable end is a small single door that accesses an upper level. The west wall is a single-story solid wall. The north wall mirrors the south wall with two sets of double doors and a small single door above the taller doors. The building is designed with doors on both the north and south ends of the building so that farm equipment or a vehicle can drive through it. Beyond the building to the west are cultivated farm fields and mountains in the distance. To the south is a two-story barn building called the Breeding Shed. To the southwest is the foundation of a bank barn and the single-story Maternity barn. To the east is a pasture that sometimes has cows present. To the north is the stone farmhouse that currently serves at the park headquarters.

Garage and Presidential Vehicles

During the construction of the Eisenhower home, this area was converted from a chicken coup into a garage. Eventually, a chauffeur’s lounge was included as well. Inside the garage are several vehicles used by the Eisenhowers during their time in Gettysburg.

• This description has 570 words. The Eisenhower garage is single-story addition on the south end of a Pennsylvania bank barn. Both are painted a unique green-gray color. Facing North: There are four single-car garage doors. The western door is solid wood, while the other three have clear windows to allow visitors to look into the garages. Inside the second garage from the west is the Crosley. It is a small green vehicle that looks like large golf cart. It has two bench seats, open sides with no doors, a canopy on top, and a small deck on the rear. It is painted dark green. The seats are covered in green vinyl and the canopy is white canvas with fringe along the four edges. The names “Ike” and Mamie” are stenciled in white paint on the front quarter panels. In next garage stall is a 1965 Buick Sport Wagon. It has four doors. It is gray with red vinyl interior. It has a chrome grill and bumper. At the front edge of the hood large letters spell out BUICK. In the eastern most stall are four different vehicles. Three are small golf carts: a Fairway King electric golf cart, a Cushman Golf Buggy Model 732, and a Cushman Golfster gasoline golf cart. The three golf carts are tucked along the eastern wall. The first golf cart is robin egg blue. It has a rounded front. There is no top or doors. There is a single light attached to the front. The cart has one wheel in the front and two wheels in the back. A post with extends from the center of the dash and bends back towards the seats and forms a long loop. A bench seat extends the width of the cart, it is tan colored. The second cart is light blue with a white canvas top with fringe on all four sides. The front of the cart is boxy. There are no lights on the front. It has a small windshield. There are two white seats. The steering wheel is on the left side of the vehicle. The last golf cart is blue and white with a rounded, white canopy on top. Fringe is visible on the sides and back of the canopy. The steering wheel is on left side of the vehicle. The fourth vehicle is a limousine used by Eisenhower while he was president. The limousine was built by Imperial Division of the Chrysler Corporation in 1955. The vehicle is black with a large chrome bumper and grill. A large Chrysler emblem is on the nose of the vehicle. Through the grill red lights are barely visible. Facing East: To the east of the garage is the putting green: a light-colored patch of grass with a red flag on a pole in the center. A tall evergreen tree and crabapple tree are in the fore ground. To the south of the putting green is a tall flagpole with an American flag and a smaller red flag with five white stars below it. Facing South: A white house with green shutters is barely visible behind several tall evergreens. At the base of the evergreens English ivy covers the ground. Facing West: A paved path/driveway leads to the Guest House. The Guest House is a small, white, brick, single-story building. It has two windows with green shutters on the side. On the front of the building (the north side) is a small porch.

Greenhouses and Gardens

The Eisenhowers used the gardens and greenhouses during both the presidential and retirement years as a source of fresh produce and enjoyment.

Guesthouse

Originally a small garage, the Eisenhowers converted this building into a guesthouse in 1955. The home features a bedroom, a small bathroom, and a sitting room, with a porch offering tremendous views of the surrounding area. The guesthouse was used primarily as extra space for visiting friends and family.

• This description is 210 words long. The guest house is a one-story white brick structure in the shape of a rectangle. On the north side of the structure a paved path leads to an open wooden porch with a wooden roof that forms a triangle over the front of the building. On the east and west sides of the porch, curved metal railings with wooden tops decorate the edges. The structure has a green slate roof that is dominated by a white steeple with a school bell inside it. To the east of the structure a paved path leads to the Eisenhower home. The east and west sides are the longer sides of the building and each has two windows with vegetation near the base of the building. The south side of the building is a solid white brick wall with a waist-high, white, wood cabinet that contains a historic firehose. Standing at the front of the guest house looking to the west there are cultivated farm fields. There are mountains in the distance. To the north is the entry allee and a paved accessible parking area. To the east is a large, green bank barn. To the immediate south, there are pine trees. Beyond the trees is the Eisenhower home and a circular entry drive.

Helicopter Landing Pad

President Eisenhower was the first president to use a helicopter during his time in office. His inaugural presidential helicopter ride occurred in 1957, ushering in a new era of transportation for our nation’s chief executive.

• This description is 152 words long. The helipad is a 40 by 30-foot oval patch of grass that is mowed shorter than the surrounding grass. There is a wayside about the helipad immediately to its east on the edge of a paved driveway. Beyond the helipad to the west are cultivated fields that are contoured to the landscape. Beyond the fields are a tree lines and in the distance is South Mountain. To the north is the half mile-long allee. To the east sits the Bank Barn, Guest House, and the Eisenhower Home. To the south are a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees, notably, Holly trees are among the greenery planted by the Eisenhowers. Also, to the south, there is a small concrete bench and a pedestal sundial. These trees now partly incumber the view to the west once enjoyed by the Eisenhowers. Also, to the south, there is a small stone bench and a pedestal sundial. The ground of the helipad is not poured cement or concrete, instead, it is simply ground covered by grass. The helipad is a 40 by 30-foot oval patch of grass that is mowed shorter than the surrounding grass. Grounds keepers kept the grass on the spot where the helicopter would land, and surrounding area, cut low. Beyond this spot are farm fields, tree lines further away, and in the distance, South Mountain. To the north, Norway Spruce planted by the Eisenhowers have grown tremendously. To the east sits the Bank Barn, Guest House, and the Eisenhower Home. To the south are a mix coniferous and deciduous trees, notably, Holly trees are among the greenery planted by the Eisenhowers. Also, to the south, there is a small stone bench and a pedestal sundial. These trees now partly incumber the view to the west once enjoyed by the Eisenhowers. Also, to the south, there is a small stone bench and a pedestal sundial.

Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area

The Journey is a unique historic, natural and scenic region, with farms and orchards; woodlands and forests; rivers and streams; rolling hills and mountain views; and unspoiled landscapes that can be explored by car, bike, canoe, foot or on horseback The region is alive with vibrant historic downtowns, rich agriculture and an abundant bounty of wineries, inns and unique cultural events.

Putting Green

General Eisenhower enjoyed few pursuits more than golf. The game gave him an opportunity to relax, enjoy fresh air, and get some low stress exercise. With his deep love for the sport, the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association of America) offered to install a putting green at the president’s home in Gettysburg. 

• This description is approximately 286 words. The putting green is an irregular circle approximately 60-feet in diameter of very low-cut, light-green grass with a 7-foot tall, thin pole sticking up near the center. A small red flag, with five stars in the shape of a pentagon, flies on the pole. The putting green is surrounded by darker green lawn on all sides. To the north, is the narrow end of a single-story, rectangular building painted light green. It is called the Reception Center. To its left is a large, 4-story Pennsylvania bank barn that is painted the same light green. On the southern end of the barn is a single-story addition with four garage doors. To the southwest of the putting green is the Eisenhower Home. It is a large, white, brick, two-story home. A glassed-in sunporch dominates east side of the home that faces the putting green. South of the putting green is a rose garden with a brick path next to it. Beyond the rose garden is a stone patio with a trellis. A small, square, brick building is at the east end of the stone patio, it is called the Tea House. At the west end of the stone patio is a built-in grill made of brick with a chimney. Southeast of the putting green is a tall flag pole. An American flag and a red flag with five stars in a pentagon shape are regularly flown on the pole. The flag is a larger version of the flag on the pole in the center of the putting green. East of the putting green is a large field with rough mown grass. Hills are visible in the distance beyond a grove of trees.

Reception Center

In 1960, the Eisenhowers had this structure built for storing various items at their property including memorabilia, gifts, and Mamie Eisenhower’s Plymouth Valiant car. Since 1980, this building has served as the Eisenhower NHS Reception Center, providing information on the Eisenhowers and their story for thousands of visitors who have come to their Gettysburg farm.

Secret Service Office

This cinder block structure on the north end of the Eisenhower bank barn was originally used as a milk house until the U.S. Secret Service adapted it to be an office.  

Semen Shed

When President Eisenhower decided to purchase a farm to retire to, he had a goal of applying the best available science to agriculture. Artificial insemination was among the many innovative practices employed on the farm. Converted from an old milk parlor, the Semen Shed is a reminder of agricultural change.

• This description is approximately 350 words long. The Semen Shed is a cream colored, single-story, cinderblock building with a corrugated metal roof. It is approximately 8 feet by 12 feet with the longer sides of the building facing north and south. On the southern wall there is door and a small window. On the western wall there is a window in the center of the wall. To the right of the window is a 6-inch in diameter metal pipe that serves as a chimney; it extends three feet above the roof. To the east beyond the building is the loafing shed. It appears to be a two-story building with two windows on the ground floor and a window near the peak of the roof. It is the same color as the Semen Shed. A white silo with a silver domed-roof is visible beyond the loafing shed. Rotating to the north, the remains of a bank barn are about 5-feet from the Semen Shed. The ground-floor, concrete walls of the barn are interrupted by panels of ply-wood that block former doors and windows. Where the second-story should be is a roof that slopes to the west. The ends of the roof are covered in more ply-wood. Fencing blocks the space between the barn and the Semen Shed. On the western side of the barn is a tall, white, tubular remains of a silo. A single-lane gravel road lies to the southwest of the remains of the barns. At its intersection with another gravel road are three bicycle racks that block cars from turning onto the road. To the west of the Semen Shed is a two-story, cream-colored building with a corrugated metal roof. The wood siding on the building runs vertically. There are no windows on the building. Approximately 15-feet from the building is round, metal wire structure with a metal roof. It is an empty corn-crib. To the south of the Semen Shed, the gravel lane curves to the right towards a matching cream-colored building in the distance. White, four-board fences enclose pasture on both sides of the lane.

Show Barn

Constructed in 1957, the show barn was designed to not only house cattle but to provide a facility where they could be groomed and prepped for showing.

Skeet Range

One of the more unique features of the Eisenhower farm, the skeet range provided a place for General Eisenhower and his friends to enjoy one of their favorite pastimes.

Teahouse and Barbeque

Throughout their lives Ike and Mamie Eisenhower loved to entertain guests. This outdoor barbeque area was built using bricks, flowers, and shrubs donated from the National Capital Flower Show in 1955. They gave the Eisenhowers an excellent outdoor locale for entertaining guests and grilling, one of Ike’s passions.  

The Entry Drive Allee

The front lane is one of the more scenic locations at the Eisenhower farm. In 1954, the driveway was lined with fifty-three Norway Spruces, representing each state and territory in the US.

• This description is 114 words long. The Entry Drive Allee is a half-mile long paved driveway that connects the Eisenhower home to the Millerstown Road. It is a scenic drive with alternating towering Norway spruce trees and flowering crabapple trees line both sides of the road. Behind the trees are wire fences with green painted posts. To the west, the rolling hills of the South Mountain dominates the landscape over green farm fields. To the north, the paved drive stretches out towards the Millerstown Road. To the east, lays a small orchard and Eisenhower’s cattle fields next to the woods of the Gettysburg National Military Park. To the south, the green bank barn, Guest House and Eisenhower home are visible.

The Head Herdsman's Home

The core of this stone farmhouse dates to the original European owners of the property, the Armstrongs. Isaac Armstrong may have constructed the building sometime in the 1790s, and by the time of his death in 1835, the home was part of a prosperous tannery. In 1954 the farm was purchased by W. Alton Jones, the president’s cattle partner, and become part of the Eisenhower show cattle operation. 

The Rose Garden

Roses were a favorite flower of both General and Mrs. Eisenhower. Historic documentation shows that roses were always intended to decorate the landscape around the Eisenhower home. The rose gardens were established by early 1955 and contained a wide variety of roses, many of which were gifts to the Eisenhowers.  

Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center

• Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center
• The Eisenhower National Historic Site museum bookstore is located at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. In addition to the bookstore, visitors will find a spotlight exhibit and a case with a rotating exhibit that feature items from the Eisenhower NHS collection. The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center hours change seasonally. For up-to-date hours please visit the Gettysburg website at nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm.

• Tour the Eisenhower Home
• Extensively remodeled in the 1950s to suit the Eisenhowers and reflect their tastes, today the Eisenhower farmhouse is almost frozen in time, just as it when they left it to the American people. During your visit, take a tour inside the home to reflect on the moments and memories that it witnessed, from the historic meeting between President Eisenhower and Secretary Khrushchev in 1959, to the many birthdays and holidays the Eisenhowers enjoyed with their grandchildren.

• Eisenhower Ranger Programs
• Join Eisenhower National Historic Site Park Rangers for free tours of the Eisenhower home and other engaging and free ranger programming in Gettysburg.

• World War II Weekend at Eisenhower National Historic Site
• Join Eisenhower National Historic Site in commemorating the events of 1944 for our 2024 World War II Weekend Event, taking place September 20-22. This annual event features a large living history camp, family activities, guest speakers, ranger programs, tours of the Eisenhower home and Gettysburg National Cemetery, and more.

• World War I Weekend at Eisenhower National Historic Site
• Join Eisenhower National Historic Site and our living history partners as we commemorate the events of World War I and explore how that conflict shaped the United States and its future leaders like Dwight D. Eisenhower. This event will feature several living history displays, exhibits, and free tours of the Eisenhower home.

• B.A.R.K. Ranger at Eisenhower NHS
• Bring your four-legged friends and they can become B.A.R.K. Rangers at Eisenhower National Historic Site

• 3D Virtual Tours
• Want to take a virtual behind the scenes tour of historic buildings at Eisenhower National Historic Site and Gettysburg National Military Park? Access our 3D Virtual Tours here. 

• Eisenhower Junior Ranger Program
• Become a Junior Ranger at Eisenhower National Historic Site!

• Enjoy the View of the Mountains
• Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower loved their Gettysburg farm. The location was perfect to them--on a historic battlefield, in the midst of a rural landscape, with gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside and mountains in the distance. The views you can see as you walk the farm grounds today are virtually unchanged from when the Eisenhowers lived here. To this day, the farm is a restful and relaxing retreat from the commotion of everyday life.

• See the Angus Show Cattle
• A black Angus cattle herd still pasture in the fields once grazed by Eisenhower's own show herd. Visitors to the Eisenhower farm were often treated to a farm tour complete with Eisenhower showing off his pride and joy, the show cattle and show barn.

Eisenhower Farm Walking Tour

In 1950—after 34 years of marriage and dozens of moves—the Eisenhowers finally found a place they could call home. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania had loomed large in the life of Dwight David Eisenhower for decades. We invite you to explore the only property that they ever owned in their long and eventful lives together.  This 20-stop walking tour will guide you through the Eisenhower farm and some of Eisenhower's favorite locations on the property.