Woodrow Wilson certainly ranks at the top when it comes to the effectiveness of our United States Presidents. As the 28th leader of our country, Wilson came from a devout Presbyterian family and was a noted intellectual and the president of Princeton University. He authored more than fifteen books, one being about President George Washington in one of the very few writings by a President about a President. With William Howard Taft and Teddy Roosevelt dividing the Republican vote, Wilson was elected in 1912 and guided the country through its first major crisis since the Civil War – leading us to victory in the Great War and in the meantime, being elected for a second term.
My exposure to sites related to President Wilson occurred during four different trips over the course of eleven years. And as of this writing, I’m still not finished…
Thursday, August 9, 2007 – Woodrow Wilson Birthplace / Woodrow Wilson Library – Bob and I visited the combined birthsite, childhood home, and the unofficial Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton during our excursion around Virginia. This was all located on a spot of ground in Stuanton, Virginia. Although not an ‘official’ Presidential Library, this one was quite enjoyable and included Wilson’s original 1919 Pierce-Arrow limousine. The museum was dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1941.
At Wilson’s front door
The rear of the Manse
With special privileges, me with the bed where Wilson was born
At the Wilson Museum
I found the history of the restoration of Wilson’s Pierce-Arrow so fascinating, I bought a book about it as a souvenir
Wilson was born here in 1856 and although he only lived here for a short time, as President-elect he returned to this very house – known as the Manse – for a visit for his 56th birthday in 1912. Typically, there are no photos allowed in the house, but since Bob had informed the docent that this was his ‘final’ Presidential Library to visit (both official and non-official), she let us sneak end at the end of the tour to be photographed by the bed on which Woodrow Wilson was born.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006 – Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home, Augusta, Georgia – Bob, Ashleigh, and I visited Wilson’s boyhood home when we discovered that it was located near our hotel in Augusta, where we were staying for the 2006 Sons of the Desert Convention. It was here that young Tommy Woodrow Wilson spent his formative years from 1860-1870. Further details of our visit can be seen here.
Ashleigh and me knocking on Wilson’s boyhood front door
Saturday, August 1, 2009 – Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home in Columbia, South Carolina – After their stay in Augusta, Georgia, Woodrow Wilson’s father, the Reverend Joseph Ruggles Wilson, was employed as a professor at the Columbia Theological Seminary from 1870-74, and as a minister at the Columbia First Presbyterian Church from 1871-73. The family began construction on this home in 1870 and it was completed in 1871.
When my family and I attempted to visit the home for a tour as we traveled through Columbia on our way home from Myrtle Beach, we were disappointed to find that the house was under construction. Nevertheless we stopped and I got my photos outside the house – which was deeply in the midst of renovation.
With the state historical marker outside the house
The boyhood home in Columbia, looking rather dilapidated
Liars!
Outside the home, behind the fence. Ugh.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 – Woodrow Wilson’s Princeton homes – One of the jobs that would eventually catapult Woodrow Wilson to the Presidency was his tenure as President of Princeton University from 1902-1910. Before that he had served as a professor beginning in 1890. During this time, he resided in two houses near the campus. Neither of the privately owned homes display any marker indicating their significance nor are they open to public tours.
The first of Wilson’s Princeton homes
The second was just a few houses down on Library Place
Summer 1998 – Woodrow Wilson Grave – As of this writing, I still do not consider that I have visited the grave of Wilson, the only President to be buried within the borders of Washington D.C. During my 2007 trip through Virginia, Bob and I planned to get to the Washington Cathedral and see his tomb, but for various reasons never made it. However, I did visit the Washington Cathedral in the Spring of 1998 with my wife Lisa and her family and grabbed a snapshot of the Cathedral. At the time, I didn’t even know that this was Wilson’s final resting place. So you might say I half-visited it.
Continue to the next President…
Return to Washington D.C. 1998… (under construction)
Return to Thursday in Virginia 2007…
Return to Wednesday in Georgia 2006…
Return to Wednesday in New Jersey 2009…
Return to Saturday in South Carolina 2009…
Wilson was okay, but my favorite presidents are Eisenhower and Teddy Roosevelt.
Amber
January 17th, 2008