Walking in the Footsteps of the 39th President

Not many towns in this country have the unique distinction as the hometown of a man who was a United States President as well as a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.  However, that is the case with the tiny town of Plains, Georgia. 

We visited the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site. It told the story of how this small town influenced a young boy and how this boy would become the president of the most powerful nation in the world. The visit included multiple locations, each providing a glimpse into his early life and political journey. 

We visited three locations:

Plains High School

Jimmy Carter attended Plains High School, and the campus is part of the historic site. The school’s auditorium served as the venue for Carter’s presidential campaign announcement in 1975. Here, we viewed a 25-minute film summarizing his life to date. 

Some of the displays within the high school:

Boyhood Farm

This is the home where he spent his formative years. The farm has been preserved to reflect the rural lifestyle of the 1920s and 1930s.

Earl Carter’s Store was next to the house. This, too, looks like the grocery store where I grew up! Yikes…I guess my age is showing!

Plains Train Depot

During his presidential bid, the Plains Train Depot was used as his campaign headquarters.  From here, the “peanut express” took off for Washington DC, loaded with Plains residents ready to celebrate the inauguration!

The site doesn’t feel at all polished or grandiose—it feels real, reflecting Carter himself: approachable, principled, and deeply connected to his roots. It is a reminder of what genuine public service looks like.

The president and his wife, Rosslyn, still live in Plains, although both are failing health-wise.  Whatever his political accomplishments or deficits, I will always honor his character, humbleness, humanitarianism, and dedication to the environment. He is committed to human rights and is the moral compass many of our recent politicians are lacking. This was a journey that blended small-town Southern charm with a powerful narrative of service, humility, and hope.