A Haven for Diplomacy: Eisenhower National Historic Site

05/20/20 • 8 min

Junior Ranger Kieran describes the family’s visit to Eisenhower National Historic Site (NHS) in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for World War II Weekend 2019. He reviews President Eisenhower’s biography before becoming President and explains that the farm served as a much-needed retreat during his Presidency. Junior Ranger Kieran describes some details about the site, including the timeline associated with the Eisenhowers donating it to the National Park Service. The family’s tour of the home includes a viewing of several original paintings by President Eishenhower. Eisenhower, inspired by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, began painting at age 58, and was quite talented (https://www.whitehousehistory.org/president-eisenhower-the-painter).

The importance of the farm as a site for personal diplomacy is a focus of the podcast. President Eishenhower was a big believer in face-to-face interactions and he hosted many important world leaders at the farm during his Presidency, including Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, Premier Khrushchev, and many others. (https://www.google.com/books/edition/Eisenhower_s_Gettysburg_Farm/vwspDgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=what+did+eisenhower+say+about+diplomacy+at+his+farm&pg=PA77&printsec=frontcover)

By visiting on World War II Weekend, the family had the chance to observe and interact with 500+ living historians and volunteers. There are brief interviews with a few of these historians, as well as Ranger Lydia from the Eisenhower NHS, included in the podcast.

Follow our journey on our website (ExpeditionNationalParks.com) and social media - @ExpeditionNPS on Twitter, @ExpeditionNationalParks on Instagram and please like our Facebook page. Please check back for new episodes on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.

Previous Episode

Place of Refuge: Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park

Overview: In this launch episode, Junior Ranger Sienna describes the family’s visit to their first of five parks sites on the Big Island: Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park. It is here that the Junior Rangers begin their Hawai`i Island Junior Ranger Adventure Book and mom completes her first Kapuna Ranger booklet. By speaking to a Ranger, volunteers, and a cultural demonstrator, the family begins to understand the historical and cultural importance of the Place of Refuge.

Follow our journey on our website (ExpeditionNationalParks.com) and social media - @ExpeditionNPS on Twitter, @ExpeditionNationalParks on Instagram and please like our Facebook page. Check back for new episodes on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month!

Details: The first site the family visited on the Big Island of Hawaii was Pu`uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. Located on the west coast of the island, literally just steps away from the famous snorkeling site, 2 step

Learning what Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau means in English helps one understand the significance and history of the place. Puʻuhonua means place of refuge. As a place of refuge, those who broke kapu, the ancient Hawaiian sacred laws, would be protected here. And in times of battle, defeated warriors and civilians would also seek protection here as anyone seeking shelter here could not be harmed.

The place of refuge itself was enclosed by the Great Wall, an impressive 965 ft long masonry wall, the remains of which can still be viewed.

One can also visit the Royal Grounds, important residential and ceremonial sites for the Hawaiian royals, the ali’i.

For all three of us, the Junior Ranger program is always one of the highlights. We had the good fortune to speak to Ranger Julia shortly upon arrival who explained more about the program and the features of the site.

We were lucky to be there on a cultural demonstration day and are grateful to the volunteers who give their time to share Hawaiian culture with visitors, and also took the time to speak to us.

Next Episode

Tragedy, Racism, and Injustice: Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is one of the least visited and known sites within the National Park Service. On a visit to Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historic Park, we had the honor to meet and learn from Betty Reid Soskin, a pioneer and leader and the oldest Ranger in the National Park Service. Part of her Q&A covered the great tragedy that occurred at Port Chicago Naval Magazine. The history of Port Chicago is one of tragedy, racism, and injustice. I am embarrassed to say I knew nothing about it until attending the Q&A. There are so many stories like this around the United States, many in our very own communities. I encourage you all to seek out these stories.

The episode delves into how much our family has learned from the National Park Service, and how much we need to learn more. Through a visit to Golden Gate National Recreation Area, we learned about the International Coalition of Sites of Consciencebit.ly/3ICSC. Sites of conscience, whether officially designated or not, are vitally important as they connect past struggles to contemporary movements for human rights and “turn memory into action” according to the Coalition.

By listening to Betty Reid Soskin tell the story of this terrible strategy, we hope she will serve as much as an inspiration to you to learn and act more as she did to us.

Follow our journey on our website (ExpeditionNationalParks.comhttps://bit.ly/3ExpNP) and social media - @ExpeditionNPS on Twitter, @ExpeditionNationalParks on Instagram and please like our Facebook page. Please check back for new episodes on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.

Music: "Solo Acoustic Guitar" by Jason Shaw
From the Free Music Archive
CC BY