JImmy CaRtER Road tRIP FROM LEFT: PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL, PLAINS/CALEB JONES; JIMMY CARTER BOYHOOD FARM, PLAINS/CALEB JONES Born in the small Georgia town of Plains, humble peanut farmer Jimmy Carter rose quickly through the local and national political ranks. He was elected to serve as a state senator and then Georgia’s governor before becoming the nation’s 39th president—the first and only from the Peach State. But Carter’s commitment to service didn’t stop when he left the Oval Office. He remained active in several humanitarian causes, winning a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work with the Atlanta-based nonprofit The Carter Center. Experience his life and legacy with this itinerary through Jimmy Carter’s Georgia. Plains Start your journey at the Plains Visitor Information Center , which displays mementos and photos of President Carter, including a cardboard cutout of the president— perfect for selfies. Then head downtown to visit the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park , a trio of historical buildings where Carter spent his childhood. Carter’s alma mater, Plains High School , serves as the park’s visitors center and museum. Tour the former school, with period-appropriate rooms restored to how they looked when Carter walked the halls, and exhibits about his life in Plains. Then take an Insta-worthy picture with his Oval Office desk—it’s an exact replica!— and see Carter’s original artwork (painting was a favorite hobby of the artistic former president) along with one of his three Grammy Awards. From there, visit the second stop in the historical park— The Plains Depot . The town’s train station until 1951, the depot served as the headquarters for Carter’s 1976 presidential run. The small, white clapboard building now houses memorabilia like buttons and signs from that era. For a quick bite to eat, walk half a block to Buffalo Cafe along the same streets Carter and his family strolled over the years as longtime Plains residents. Located in a former bank building, the casual eatery features a menu of hearty burgers and sandwiches as well as Southern favorites like fried green tomatoes. If you’re craving something sweet, buy a pack of peanut brittle or peanut soft serve at Plain Peanuts to snack on while browsing the local antique shops. You may just spot vintage Carter campaign buttons and other collectibles. Or meander EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG 105
Official State Travel Guide 2024 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 105
