PLAINS, Georgia

Jimmy Carter was elected President in 1976, shortly after, this 10 foot "smiling" peanut appeared in Plains!  After the election, the community of fewer 700 drew several thousand visitors each day!

Maranatha Baptist Church

This church was established when the congregation of the Plains Baptist Church split in the 1970s.  President Carter is an active member who serves as a deacon and Sunday School teacher.

Plains High School Museum 

Plains High School opened in 1921 and served students until 1979.  It has a rich history of educators and a progressive curriculum.  One of those educators greatly influenced Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Her name was Miss Julia Coleman and today many of her quotes are painted on hallway walls.

Miss Julia's Classroom

This classroom is set in 1937 when Miss Julia was Jimmy Carter's seventh grade English teacher.  In 1981, Carter said of Miss Julia, "I thought... she treated me in a special way because I was exceptional in some way, but later I found this was not the case.  She had a lot of special students... I have been continually surprised to discover how many of her students she made to feel extraordinary because she saw in them an exceptional yearning, or talent - or just a need for love and understanding".

Miss Julia's desk...

I liked the sign leaning in the chalk tray behind Miss Julia 's desk.

Coat hooks and lunch pails in hallway.

In the 1930s school began in the auditorium with patriotic songs, daily announcements, and on occasion, students performed plays for the entire student body.

Had to take this picture!  Cove drinking fountain... and it's in Plains, Georgia too!

Scott with the Cardboard Carters!

Business District

Downtown Plains remains relatively unchanged since Carter's youth.  

Billy Carter's Gas Station

Jimmy Carter's younger brother, Billy, ran the local gas station and was active in the family farm supply business.  It was a popular place for visitors and members of the news media.

Plains Depot

Jimmy's Boyhood Farm

Childhood home, the Carters grew peanuts, cotton, sugar cane, and corn to sell, and raised vegetables and livestock for their own consumption.

This store is adjacent to the Carter home and had various rural necessities for sale.  Earl Carter also sold hams, pork shoulders, and sausage which he cured in the smokehouse.  Farm workers and neighbors would buy goods on credit and then settle their bill on payday, which was Saturday. 

Area around the barn on the Carter farm.

Farm animals included cows, guinea hens, ducks, geese, and pigs.  Jimmy had pets to take care of such as dogs, Shetland ponies, and calves and pigs for FFA projects.

Jack and Rachel Clark were day laborers who lived in this cabin on the Carter farm.  They were provided a place to live and earned a salary in exchange for their work.