We visited the life and times of President Gerald Ford while we were in Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to information at the museum, “Gerald Ford was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. … Shortly after the birth of her son, Dorothy Gardner King left her physically abusive husband and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan – described by one historian as ‘America at it’s best, a community of great expectations.’ Settled by thrifty Dutch and Eastern European immigrants, the town boasted 70 furniture factories, 134 churches and the second highest rate of home ownership in the nation.”
I was born in Grand Rapids and spent the first fourteen years of my life near there.
The documents and photos show the presidency from 1974-1977. These were the times of the hippies, the Beatles, Vietnamese refugees, the energy crisis, the bicentennial, the Nixon pardon and the invention of the Polaroid camera.
I was impressed with the replica of the oval office, as it appeared when Gerald Ford was president.
Another plaque reads “ On December 26, 2006, Gerald Ford passed away. . . At sunset on January 3, 2007, his body was laid to rest on the grounds of his museum, in the city of his youth.”
The documents and photos show the presidency from 1974-1977. These were the times of the hippies, the Beatles, Vietnamese refugees, the energy crisis, the bicentennial, the Nixon pardon and the invention of the Polaroid camera.
I was impressed with the replica of the oval office, as it appeared when Gerald Ford was president.
Another plaque reads “ On December 26, 2006, Gerald Ford passed away. . . At sunset on January 3, 2007, his body was laid to rest on the grounds of his museum, in the city of his youth.”
3 comments:
Darlene, thanks for sharing this part of America with us. We have wanted to visit some presidential museums in our travels, but something else always got in the way. For Ronald Reagan, it was a break in the Santa Ana winds that allowed us to move on (we'd been hunkered down for a while, anxious to get back to Arizona). For Bill Clinton, we had to change direction to go to a grandson's wedding way up in Coeur d'Alene, a long ways from Little Rock, AR!
THanks for the tour!
Hi Darlene, looks like you're having a great time. My question is, why did Gerald Ford change his name so drastically, did they explain that?
We're up in Spokane, soon to head towards Glacier Nat'l Park.
Hugs, Sharon & Ron
Hi Darlene,
I love going to the Presidents Libraries even the ones I don't care for politically. So much to learn.
We like the Meads are heading for Glacier NP we have been there before but Gordon really wants to go again and so do I.
Take care, Laura
Post a Comment