Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum Visitor Center — Attraction in Staunton

As someone with an interest in the Progressive Era it was great to visit President Wilson’s birthplace and museum! I had done some reading and watched some videos on Wilson in advance, so it was easy to understand what all the exhibits were talking about. As a progressive Wilson made some great advancements in society as president such as establishing the eight-hour work day, ending child labor and creating the League of Nations. The manse where Wilson was born and museum does a really great job showcasing what it was like living in Staunton in the mid 19th Century and how President Wilson grew up to become who he was and what he stood for.

When you visit after you get your ticket you first take a tour of the manse where Wilson was born. You view all levels of the home and get to see the various furniture, objects, and artifacts on display inside. The guide my group had was amazing. She knew so many facts about the manse and it ended with an incredible story about how the bed that then President-elect Wilson and his first wife Ellen used during their 1912 stay was rediscovered and came back to the site.

At the museum the exhibits are arranged chronologically starting with Wilson's younger years and ending with his legacy. Numerous artifacts and objects are all over the museum including wool from the flock of sheep that grazed the White House lawn during World War 1. One thing I learned I didn't know before about Wilson was that he was willing to sacrifice his own life to get the US to join the League of Nations. He made a huge cross country train stop tour in 1919 to try to gain support for the League but due to a severe decline in his health and collapsing in Pueblo, CO his wife Edith, personal physician Cary Grayson, and secretary Joseph Tumulty pretty much forced him to return to DC even though he wanted to keep going. Days later after arriving back in Washington he suffered his massive stroke which caused paralysis on his left side and his wife Edith became what many people believe to be the first female president although she claimed she was just his "steward".

If President Wilson himself doesn't interest you, you'll still enjoy seeing the awesome reproduction of a World War 1 trench in the basement along with select war artifacts and supplies including a great array of war posters. They really help bring the time period alive. If you like historic cars Wilson's 1919 Pierce Arrow is not to be missed and was one of my favorite parts of the museum! Edith Wilson actually donated it to the museum and if you want to see it in action, it actually takes part in the July 4th parade in Staunton every year. If you enjoy women's history there is a great deal on his first wife Ellen who was an incredible painter, second wife Edith, and his three daughters, Margaret, Jessie and Eleanor. The gift shop has a number of items ranging from postcards, holiday ornaments to books, clothing and candy.

Overall, I had so much fun (spent several hours at the site) and now look forward to seeing President Wilson's house on S Street in DC where he and Edith moved to after his presidency ended in 1921 and where he died in 1924. I'd suggest this place to anyone interested in President Wilson, Ellen & Edith Wilson, World War 1, or life at the turn of the 20th Century in general.

I heard during my visit that the museum will be expanding in the future. If you want to learn more in depth information through primary sources by President Wilson, Edith Wilson, Cary Grayson and others check out their digital library on the museum's website where you can examine digitized documents,...

Good in that it confirmed what a manipulative, at-times malevolent, mostly-failed politician Woodrow Wilson was. Commonly thought of as a champion "Progressive" by fans of big government, he laid the groundwork for the extraordinary, barely-constitutional growth of the Federal Govt under F.D.R.

After drifting from UVa, to Davidson, Wilson became a Pol.Sci professor at Princeton who was promoted to President of the University. He tried to ban the Eating Clubs and tussled with the Trustees wrto the Grad College, and was ultimately shown the door, only to fall into the laps of NJ.Dems in 1910 and was improbably elected Governor.. Then when most of his government-control-is-enlightened plans were rejected by the State Legislature, he fell into the nomination for President in 1912, and won only because T.Roosevelt couldn't stay away and split the R vote with Taft.

As President, he pushed a bunch of big Fed govt initiatives, that led to dubious results for our country. Income Tax and Federal Reserve laid the groundwork for Prohibition, and then the Depression. Promised to "keep the U.S. out of War" in Europe, he reneged during his 2nd Term and then helped write the Treaty of Versailles that was incredibly punitive to Germany.

Oh, and btw, more racist than his predecessors, Wilson demoted dozens of Black Civil Servants who were managers back to menial, lower-paid positions. Princeton University was correct to turn their back on his...

We have stopped in Staunton several times on our way north/south but never took the time to visit the Wilson Library. I would recommend it highly. They had a lovely tour of the house he was born in and then a very informative museum which focused on his presidency. The house tour could be an issue for people who struggle with stairs. Tour guide was very thorough and had lots of interesting stories to tell. The museum itself had a lot of information about Wilson's presidency and also about America at the time. They had a good exhibit down in the basement of a ww1 bunker with sounds that I believe were actually recorded at the time. Good exhibit....and I have visited actual WW1 trenches in Vimy Ridge.....so I can vouch for the athenticity of the work. The gift shop is very good. Quite extensive. The garden needs some work....but it does look like they are in the midst of some garden project which I hope will brighten that area up and make it a little more inviting. I only have one tiny complaint. When we were walking around the museum there was a meeting (an interview I believe) happening upstairs in what I presume were offices.....the voices really carried and it was a bit odd and a little intrusive. Maybe a closed door next time...