Ike and Mamie Eisenhower owned only one home, a 700-acre Gettysburg Farm that runs adjacent to the battlefield.

They purchased the property in 1950 after a 30-year military career that took them around the world. As Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II, Eisenhower led the Allies to victory against Hitler’s Germany.

In 1952 Eisenhower won the election as the 34^thpresident of the United States with a campaign slogan of “I Like Ike.” During his two terms as president, Eisenhower used the farm as a weekend retreat and temporary White House. World-renowned leaders such as English prime minister Winston Churchill, French prime minister Charles de Gaulle and Premier of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev visited him at his Gettysburg retreat. Eisenhower loved to take his visitors on tours of the battlefield!

As John F. Kennedy’s inauguration drew to a close on January 20, 1961, the departing president and first lady quietly left Capitol Hill. After a farewell luncheon they headed north from Washington on snow-covered roads to their farm home where they would spend the rest of their lives.

The Eisenhowers made a gift of their farm to the US government in 1967, with the agreement that Dwight and Mamie would live there for life. Dwight Eisenhower died in March 1969 and Mamie some ten years later.

A photo of Ike and Mamie which sits in their porch at the back of the home, their favourite room. Here Ike and Mamie watched TV, played cards with friends and the General pursued his hobby of oil painting.