Twenty-three days and nearly 6,000 miles gave me plenty of opportunities to explore two of my favorite parts of American history: presidents and National Park Service sites.

Of all the presidential stops, Calvin Coolidge’s Plymouth Notch in Vermont intrigued me the most.

This wasn’t a grand presidential mansion. It was a small Vermont village where Coolidge grew up and returned throughout his life. His father administered the presidential oath of office there after President Harding died in 1923. (His father's station in life for that role? Notary Public!)

Walking around Plymouth Notch gave me a sense of Coolidge that I hadn’t expected. The village, buildings, and surrounding countryside still feel connected to his life. I’ve visited many presidential sites, but this one stood out.

My stop at Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park, New York, offered quite a contrast.

FDR was born at Springwood, returned there throughout his presidency and was buried there. From that home, his story connects directly to the Great Depression, the New Deal and World War II. He was elected president four times and led the country through two of the defining crises of 20th-century America.

I also visited nearby Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt’s home, adding another dimension to the Roosevelt story. The National Park Service preserves both properties today.

Presidential history appeared throughout the trip. My stops connected me with Chester A. Arthur, Martin Van Buren, Theodore Roosevelt, Millard Fillmore, and Gerald Ford, as well as another presidential site in Ohio.

The other major theme was the National Park Service. I visited more than 25 NPS units during the trip, ranging from presidential homes to battlefields, canals, factories and historic trails.

A few particularly memorable stops included Antietam, Valley Forge, Flight 93 Memorial, Minute Man, Saratoga and River Raisin. Together, they covered centuries of American history.

Some visitor centers were closed. Some stops were short. One even required an unexpected ferry.

But that’s one reason I enjoy these trips. Sometimes a famous presidential home tells the story. Sometimes it’s a battlefield or an old factory.

And sometimes it’s a tiny Vermont village that becomes one of the most memorable stops of nearly 6,000 miles.

“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.” — Calvin Coolidge

Classic Rock song: “Long May You Run” — Neil Young

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Until next time.....

Stan

Featured Post: Here’s another post about National Parks and Presidential sites.