View source for Jimmy Carter Library and Museum

{{Short description|Library in Atlanta, Georgia, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox building
 | name = Jimmy Carter Library and Museum
 | logo = Official logo of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.svg
 | logo_alt =
 | logo_caption =
 | image = Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.jpg
 | image_alt =
 | image_caption =
 | map_type =
 | map_size = 220
 | map_caption =
 | location = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], US
 | coordinates = {{Coord|33|45|59|N|84|21|23|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
 | inauguration_date = Dedicated on October 1, 1986
 | namesake = [[Jimmy Carter]]
 | construction_start_date = October 2, 1984
 | completion_date =
 | cost = $26 million [[USD]]
 | size = {{cvt|69,750|ft2}}
 | management = [[National Archives and Records Administration]], [[Carter Center]]
 | architect =
 | website = {{nowrap|{{URL|www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov}}}}
}}

The '''Jimmy Carter Library and Museum''' in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], houses U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]]'s papers and other material relating to the [[presidency of Jimmy Carter|Carter administration]] and the Carter family's life. The library also hosts special exhibits, such as Carter's [[Nobel Peace Prize]] and a full-scale replica of the [[Oval Office]] as it was during the Carter Administration, including a reproduction of the [[Resolute desk|''Resolute'' desk]].

The Carter Library and Museum includes some parts that are owned and administered by the federal government, and some that are privately owned and operated. The library and museum are run by the [[National Archives and Records Administration]] and are part of the [[presidential library system]] of the federal government. Privately owned areas house Carter's offices and the offices of the [[Carter Center]], a [[non-profit]] [[human rights]] [[non-governmental organization|agency]].

The building housing the library and museum makes up {{convert|69,750|ft2|m2|abbr=off}}, with {{convert|15,269|ft2|m2|abbr=off}} of space for exhibits and {{convert|19,818|ft2|m2|abbr=off}} of [[archive]] and storage space. The library stacks house 27 million pages of documents; 500,000 photos, and 40,000 objects, along with films, videos, and [[audiotape]]s. These collections cover all areas of the Carter administration, from foreign and domestic policy to the personal lives of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Mrs. [[Rosalynn Carter]].

The complex is situated next to [[John Lewis]] [[Freedom Parkway]], which was originally called "Presidential Parkway" (and at one point, "Jimmy Carter Parkway"<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19940915&id=JskHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ijMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6819,3799595 |title=Freedom Parkway to open |work=[[Rome News-Tribune]] |date=September 15, 1994 |access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref>) in its planning stages. The land on which the museum sits was a part of [[William Tecumseh Sherman|General Sherman]]'s headquarters during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]'s [[Battle of Atlanta]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Carlson|first=Adam|title=Guide to visiting the Carter Presidential Center|url=https://www.ajc.com/events/guide-visiting-the-carter-presidential-center/W4eY9W50Si3RGDijlqLW3L/|access-date=November 25, 2020|website=ajc|language=en}}</ref>

Although President [[Herbert Hoover]] and almost all Presidents since (except [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]) have chosen to be buried at their presidential museum, Jimmy and [[Rosalynn Carter]] chose to instead be interred on the grounds of [[Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter House|their home]] in [[Plains, Georgia]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/10/AR2007011001277_pf.html ''The Washington Post''] (subscription required)</ref> The Carters also planned for their home, which is owned by the [[National Park Service]] and is part of the [[Jimmy Carter National Historical Park]], to be converted into a museum.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eenews.net/stories/1061539847 | title=E&E News: Jimmy Carter, Park Service prepare for 'life after death' }}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Jimmy Carter Library.png|left|thumb|The library viewed from within the museum]]
Early in his administration, Carter indicated interest in having his presidential library be built in Georgia.<ref name="jclhistory">{{citation|url=https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/library/libhist.phtml|title=History of the Jimmy Carter Library|publisher=Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum|access-date=April 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413160035/https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/library/libhist.phtml|archive-date=April 13, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The site chosen was in the [[Poncey–Highland]] neighborhood of Atlanta, on land that had been acquired by the state of [[Georgia Department of Transportation]], for an [[highway interchange|interchange]] between two redundant highways that were cancelled by Carter when he was [[governor of Georgia]], in response to the [[Atlanta freeway revolts]]. (See [[Interstate 485 (Georgia)|Interstate 485]], [[Georgia 400]], [[Interstate 675 (Georgia)|Interstate 675]], and the [[Stone Mountain Freeway]].)

The Atlanta firm of [[Henri Jova|Jova]]/Daniels/Busby was selected as architects, in cooperation with Lawton/Umemura/Yamamoto of Hawaii. During design and construction, Carter's papers were temporarily housed at the former post office building in downtown Atlanta.<ref name="jclhistory" /> Construction commenced on October 2, 1984, and the library was opened to the public on Carter's 62nd birthday, October 1, 1986. Construction cost $26 million, funded by private contributions.<ref name="jclhistory" />

A $10 million renovation of the museum began in April 2009 with completion on President Carter's 85th birthday in October 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-us-carter-presidential-library-093009-2009sep30-story.html|title=Revamped Carter museum to reopen in Atlanta|first=Greg|last=Bluestein|agency=Associated Press|work=San Diego Union Tribune|access-date=February 26, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

The first director of the library and museum was Dr. Donald Schewe, who originally assisted with the transfer and processing of the Carter Administration materials at the end of Carter's term in early 1981.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/pdf-archive/annualreport1982-1988-01011989.pdf|title=The Carter Center: Annual Report 1982-1988|publisher=Carter Center|year=1988|location=Atlatnta|pages=91}}</ref>

Since 2015, the current director is Dr. [[Meredith Evans (archivist)|Meredith Evans]], an Atlanta native who had held various leadership positions in special collections and libraries in institutions such as [[Washington University in St. Louis]] and [[George Washington University]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2016/nr16-14.html|title=National Archives Selects Former Atlantan to Head Carter Presidential Library|date=August 15, 2016|work=National Archives|access-date=February 26, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

The library and museum offers free admission to all students 16 and under. They can either go on a docent or self-guided tour. Together the library and The Coca-Cola Foundation have established funding for the library to provide transportation funds for all Georgia schools to use when bringing students to the museum for education activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/education/school_tours.phtml|title=The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum|website=www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov}}</ref>

Following her death, [[Rosalynn Carter]] laid in repose at the library on November 27, 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/27/us/rosalynn-carter-repose-motorcade-ceremony/index.html|title=Rosalynn Carter lies in repose in Atlanta as the world shares final goodbyes|first=Christina|last=Maxouris|publisher=CNN|date=November 27, 2023|accessdate=November 27, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.axios.com/2023/11/27/rosalynn-carter-motorcade-repose-ceremony-atlanta|title=Rosalynn Carter lies in repose in Atlanta|first1=Emma|last1=Hurt|first2=Ivana|last2=Saric|publisher=Axios|date=November 27, 2023|accessdate=November 27, 2023}}</ref> A year later, Jimmy Carter was also laid in repose at the library from January 4 to 7 before being sent to Washington, D.C. for the [[Death and state funeral of Jimmy Carter|state funeral]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=State Funeral for former President Jimmy Carter: Sequence of Events for Jan. 4, 2025 |url=https://jtfncr.mdw.army.mil/News/Articles/Article-Display/Article/4021458/state-funeral-for-former-president-jimmy-carter-sequence-of-events-for-jan-4-20/|publisher=Joint Task Force-National Capital Region|date=January 3, 2025}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Presidential memorials in the United States]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite news |first=Peter |last=Applebome |title=Carter Center: More Than the Past |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/30/travel/carter-center-more-than-the-past.html?pagewanted=all |date=May 30, 1993 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 19, 2015}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov}}
* [https://www.c-span.org/organization/?42403/Carter-Jimmy-Presidential-Library-Museum Carter Presidential Library and Museum footages] on [[C-SPAN]]

{{US presidential libraries}}
{{Jimmy Carter|state=expanded}}
{{Atlanta landmarks}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carter, Jim Lib}}
[[Category:Library buildings completed in 1986]]
[[Category:Presidential libraries|Carter Library and Museum]]
[[Category:Museums in Atlanta]]
[[Category:Jimmy Carter]]
[[Category:Libraries in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Presidential museums in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:1986 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]