Our 39th president Jimmy Carter was born in this hospital in 1924. He was the first president born in a hospital.President Carter grew up in this farmhouse on his family’s farm.Carter’s parents bedroom.Ruth, Carter’s sister’s bedroom.Jimmy Carter’s bedroom.Kitchen.Dining Room.Back porch.Indoor bathroom.Outhouse…A 2-holer!The farm.Jimmy Carter’s father’s store.Jimmy Carter attended Plains High School.The stacks of books demonstrate the discrepancy between “white” and “black” schools. In 1941 When Carter graduated, Plains High School library had 2,928 books, while the “black” school Wards Chapel Church School had 30 books.Carter grew up in Plains Baptist Church.Jimmy and Rosslyn were married in Plains United Methodist Church.As adults the Carters attended Maranatha Baptist Church. Jimmy taught Sunday School here.Former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter ran for president in 1976, the first presidential election I was able to vote in.Carter’s presidential campaign headquarters in 1976 was in the Plains depot because it was the only place in Plains that had a telephone!Inside the depot today are displays related to the 1976 campaign.You can get peanut ice cream here – delicious!Downtown Plains is literally one block long, on one side of the street!Jimmy’s brother Billy became quite the celebrity in 1976 during the campaign. He was outspoken and took full advantage of the fame. He even created a fad – Billy Beer!Monument honoring Plains’ favorite son, President Jimmy Carter.President Carter’s singular significant achievement during his presidency was the Camp David Accords which outlined peace between Egypt and Israel.The last year of Carter’s presidency was overshadowed by the capture of American diplomats in the US Embassy in Tehran Iran by Muslim terrorists.After his presidency Carter established the Carter Center to push for world peace and Habitat for Humanity which built homes for the poor. Here is one of his hammers he used on Habitat for Humanity projects.The Smiling Peanut is one of the top Roadside America attractions! It was donated to Plains in 1976 to focus on Carter’s toothy smile.President Carter’s actual Nobel Peace Price. Pretty cool to see in in person.Another award for Carter.
This museum was opened in 1998 to honor American prisoners of war throughout US history.War in Korea POW plaque.Vietnam POW plaque.USS Pueblo POW plaque. The Pueblo story is uniquely American. There is a display further down this page.Interesting series of displays. Here, rifles pointing toward prisoners.These exhibits depict capture, living conditions, news and communications.Brief description of the capture of the USS Pueblo in 1967.There is also a focus on the families of POWs.Poem written by future president Jimmy Carter.Families of POWs and their stories.Note from a POW to his family.Prison cell.Prison cage.Map of Andersonville prison (Camp Sumter).
This is a somber place, even for a cemetery.Thousands of stones mark the graves of victims of the brutal prison. These victims are buried shoulder to shoulder because they were so decimated, and these burials were done years after the war. A clerk who was at the prison kept meticulous records of the dead prisoners, and was able to bring them here for honorable burial.Nearly 13,000 Union soldiers from Andersonville prison are buried here.Illinois memorial monument.This is still an active national cemetery. Veterans from today are still being buried here.
This was the most notorious Confederate prison of war camp, from February 1864 to April 1865. Officially named Camp Sumter, it was built to handle 10,000 prisoners, but within months it was holding 45,000 Union soldiers. Nearly 13,000 prisoners died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure while in custody here, the most deaths at any single site of the entire Civil War. The prison’s commander Captain Henry Wirz was later convicted and executed for war crimes.This lane between the wood railing and the fort wall, 19 feet wide, was deemed “deadline.” Prison guards were allowed to shoot anyone who crossed into the “deadline.”The posts on the left in this picture mark out more of “deadline.” The border marked out the entire post perimeter.Guard tower, called “pigeon roost”. These were placed 30 feet apart around the prison perimeter.This creek supplied water for the prisoners. The latrines were upstream from the drinking area, so it became a cesspool for filth and disease.Area near Providence Spring.Marker at one corner of the prison, with the “deadline” marked by posts.Star Fort area, site of the commander’s quarters.Site of the prison hospital.Another corner of the prison perimeter.
Milledgeville was the capital of Georgia from 1804 to 1868. This was the capitol building. It is now on the campus of Georgia Military College.This was the Governor’s (Executive) Mansion in Milledgeville from 1839-1868. In November 1864 this building was captured by General William T. Sherman during his March to the Sea. It served as his headquarters at that time. It is now open for tours, and it located on the campus of Georgia College.Stereotypical Antebellum Mansion across the street from the old Executive Mansion.
