December 26, 2010 - March 27, 2011
Focusing on the early education of American Presidents from Herbert Hoover through George W. Bush, the family-friendly School House to White House exhibition engages visitors of every age and interest.  Documents and photos drawn from the collections of the National Archives Presidential Libraries reveal fascinating details about children that would grow up to be presidents.  Journey back to a time of one room school houses, large public schools, and private tutors.  See these future presidents as young sports stars, choir members, and musicians. Watch them mature into serious college and military academy students.  Together these experiences demonstrate the variety of educational and extra-curricular experiences that trained and influenced our nation’s future leaders.

Selected Highlights:

• Discover why John F. Kennedy missed 65 of the term’s 88 days in kindergarten.
• See Richard Nixon with his childhood violin, and read his 8th grade autobiography.
• Read what Harry Truman wrote in middle school about “Courage.”
• Peek at report cards for Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, and Jimmy Carter.  
• Learn what the presidents really thought of their teachers.
• Learn which president, while in college, received offers to play professional football.

School House to White House includes more than 150 items from the holdings of the Presidential Libraries, including large photomurals of class photos and graduations.

Sponsored by the Douglas County Commissioners, the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Memorial Foundation and U.S. Bank

Photos: Johnson playing baseball; Nixon in first grade, 1919