Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
Georgia
Managed by National Park Service
Established 1987 National Historic Site, 2021 National Historical Park
71 acres
Website: nps.gov/jica
Overview
Jimmy Carter was the 39th U.S. President (1977-1981) and the first to reach the age of 100 before he passed away on December 29, 2024. Following his presidency, he and his wife (Rosalynn) returned to their hometown of Plains and cemented their legacy as diplomats and humanitarians, mostly through their work with the Carter Center in Atlanta (he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002). Up until the end, Jimmy Carter taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church, which is open to the public. The National Historical Park encompasses Jimmy’s boyhood farm, high school, and the old Plains railroad depot. It also includes his residence since 1961, which continues to be closed but will eventually be turned into a museum by the National Park Service (NPS). In July 2025, the Carter Gardens and Burial Site of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter opened to the public.
Highlights
Plains High School, film, train depot, boyhood farm, burial site, Carter Gardens
Must-Do Activity
The best place to start a visit is the NPS visitor center and museum in the former Plains High School, which is full of artifacts and information on the Carters. Next, drive or walk to the main street, where the train depot that shut down in 1951 was turned into Jimmy’s presidential campaign headquarters. While downtown, check out the shops for souvenirs and try some boiled peanuts or soft-serve peanut-flavored ice cream. There are several other sites of interest around Plains, including the boyhood home, burial site, Carter Gardens, Maranatha Baptist Church, and peanut statue (see Photographic Opportunity).
Best Trail
A half-mile trail winds through the boyhood farm where Jimmy lived starting at age four. Farm animals and seasonal crops are raised here, including peanuts. You can take a self-guided tour through his boyhood home, which was restored to its appearance before electricity was installed in 1938.
Photographic Opportunity
While not part of the official National Historical Park, when you drive up Buena Vista Road to see Maranatha Baptist Church, you pass the 13-foot-tall Jimmy Carter peanut statue built during the 1976 presidential election to support the former peanut farmer.
Peak Season
Spring and fall
Hours
https://www.nps.gov/jica/planyourvisit/hours.htm
Fees
None
Road Conditions
Paved parking is available at the high school, train depot, and boyhood farm (located about three miles west of town).
Camping
About 30 miles away in each direction are campgrounds at Georgia Veterans State Park and Providence Canyon State Park (which is featured on a U-Haul super graphic).
Related Sites
Andersonville National Historic Site (Georgia)
Cumberland Island National Seashore (Georgia)
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park (Georgia)
Nearest National Park
Explore More – According to an urban legend, why was a hole cut in the back of the Jimmy Carter peanut statue by the U.S. Secret Service?
Raven About The Parks 
This presidential park remains on your list of presidential historic sites. Hope to get to Georgia one day.
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It’s a good museum and a fun little town. You’ll like it.
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One of my favorite presidents who contributed so much to the world, not so much for what he accomplished as President, but for who he was: a man of high moral character who walked his talk. Thanks for sharing this T.
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Agreed. One of the few presidents whose best work came after his term ended.
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