Eisenhower National Historic Site, National Park Service

The Eisenhower National Historic Site museum collection relates to the life and work of Dwight David Eisenhower—a career United States Army officer and the 34th President of the United States—with an emphasis on his accomplishments at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Eisenhowers’ home is fully furnished with approximately 98% of the furnishings being original to the Eisenhower occupancy. The collection also contains most of the personal effects of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower ranging from clothing to motor vehicles and includes the Eisenhower Family Papers. Maintaining the Eisenhower Home and grounds resulted in such objects as appliances, cookware, utensils, carpentry tools, and lawn mowers. A U.S. Secret Service detail protected the Eisenhowers and some of their office furnishings and electronic equipment are still extant in the collection. An aspect of Eisenhower’s life unique to the park is Eisenhower Farms, his award winning Black Angus show cattle operation. The park has the definitive collection of Eisenhower Farms’ cattle grooming equipment, halters, medications, awards, and farm machinery, as well as the herdsman’s records. The collection also covers Eisenhower’s military and political careers with objects and archival materials. An area of special emphasis is Camp Colt—Eisenhower’s first independent command—located on the Gettysburg Battlefield during World War I.

National Park Service management of Eisenhower NHS is documented via resource management records, archeology specimens, and samples of historic fabric removed from structures. The park does not collect or maintain a natural history collection at this time.