Jimmy Carter in plains - Boyhood home

James Earl Carter made history from the very beginning by becoming the first American President born in a hospital, the local Wise Sanatorium. His mother, Lillian, worked there as a registered nurse.  It was obvious to everyone in the small boom town of Plains that this young man was different. The Carter family was always prosperous. Their farm produced cotton, corn, watermelons, and of course, peanuts.

The Carter boyhood home, two miles west of Plains was, for years, maintained as a working farm. It was still privately owned during Carter’s Presidency. Not opened to the public, it was visible from the road and was frequently a highlight for sightseers.
The Jimmy Carter National Historic site and preservation district was established by an Act of Congress in 1987. The historic site consists of the railroad depot, shown here in the early 1980s, that had fallen into disrepair, the boyhood home, that needed to be purchased, and the Carter compound. The preservation district consists of the historic district and 650 acres of agricultural lands.

As a child, Jimmy (here kicking a football) was free to play with the African American children raised in Archery and Plains. His father, James Earl, was a successful farmer, local public official, and staunch conservative Democrat. His wife Lillian did not share his views on race and was much more liberal on Civil Rights. Many times he would leave the house when she would welcome black guests. Plains remained unchanged throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Jimmy Carter graduated from Annapolis Naval Academy and married Rosalynn Smith. Soon the young couple left Georgia to begin a promising life in the Navy. But, following the untimely death of Jimmy’s father, James Earl Carter Sr. (Pictured below with his wife Lillian), the future President surprisingly gave up his naval commission and returned home to Plains.

Like so many other areas in the country, Plains was ravaged financially by the Great Depression.  Black families were particularly affected. Some journalists in 1976 were shocked to witness the level of poverty some African American families were living under and how close their dwellings were to the potential democratic nominee’s residency. There is a mysterious pull to this tiny Hamlet in South Georgia which is hard to explain. It can only be experienced and it continues to be each year by nearly a hundred thousand tourists. They all come for different reasons and purposes. Many come with their children to hear President Carter’s Sunday school lessons, so that they can one day tell their children that they saw an American President.  Still many come with a silent longing for simpler times and to experience the rural lifestyle of Carter’s boyhood. So for these reasons and many more, Plains remains America’s hometown.

Whether you are a Carter enthusiast, a researcher, or just curious how a small town influenced a young boy who would become the president of the most powerful nation in the world, odds are you will find a visit to the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site interesting. The history and culture of this rural community can provide a look into why the Carters' ties to Plains, Georgia, have endured the stresses of public life, yet remain as strong as they were decades ago. A visit to the site provides an opportunity to explore the historic resources and rural southern culture that had an influence in molding the character and political policies of Jimmy Carter.