Staunton - Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Birthplace

The Birth Place of Woodrow Wilson

Ms. Edwards and I drove to Staunton Virginia and stopped at our second Presidential Library of the year. The first library we visited was in Boston Mass. (John F. Kennedy). We were unable to see the second floor to the house due to the fact that they were renovating.

Facts we learned about Woodrow Wilson:

• Woodrow Wilson name was actually Thomas Woodrow Wilson. He dropped Thomas (Tommy) when he was in college. Woodrow was his mother's maiden name.
• He was the third child in a family of four. He had two older sisters.
• His father was a Presbyterian minister.
• He only lived in the house pictured above for about the first year of his life.
• Wilson's family owned slaves.
• Wilson was raised in Augusta Georgia
• He did not learn to read until he was around 12 years old.
• Graduated Princeton College in 1879
• Attended one year of law school and passed the bar in Georgia.
• Received a doctorate in political science from Johns Hopkins University. (The only President to actually earn one the hard way)
• He was married to Ellen Louise Axson and they had three daughters that survived to adulthood. His wife died during his first term as president.
• He married Elanor R. Wilson.

The house had some originial items of the Wilson family. I found the Woodrow Wilson house in Washington DC to have more artifacts about his life. The renovations could have something to do with that. I found the musuem to be filled with a lot of interesting information about Wilson and his family. There were exhibits for all periods of his life. There were exhibits about trying to avoid the First War, Womens Rights, Prohibition, the League of Nations and more. I really enjoyed the sections on his personal life and his family.

Ms. Edwards bought her first t-shirt of the trip. It is green and has the following quote on it:

"If you want to make enemies, try to change something." - Woodrow Wilson

We were not able to take any pictures inside the museum or the house. Below are what were were allowed to take pictures of.