Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm in Archery, Georgia
While Jimmy Carter’s current residence in Plains is off limits to the public, visitors to Jimmy Carter National Historical Park are welcome to tour the farm where he lived from the age of four until he left for college (1928-1941). There was no running water at the farm until 1935 and no electricity until 1938. The farm remained in the Carter family until 1949 when Earl Carter, Jimmy’s dad, sold it and moved the family back to Plains (the farm is located three miles from downtown Plains in the rural community of Archery).
To the people of Plains, Archery was the sticks. Carter is quoted as saying, “During my childhood I never considered myself a part of the Plains society, but always thought of myself as a visitor when I entered that metropolitan community.” I’m not sure what the population of Plains was back in the 1930s, but it’s 750 today, so you can imagine what Archery was like.
Visitors can tour the farm and grounds on their own every day from 10 AM to 5 PM (except when closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s days). There are plenty of information panels that tell the history of the farm. In some buildings you can listen to an audio commentary by Jimmy Carter himself. Listen to him reminisce about his boyhood years on the farm.
On weekends, park Rangers lead one-hour guided tours of the farm at 1 PM. Tours are limited to twenty-five people and may be cancelled if the weather is bad. If interested, just show up at the farm and wait next to the restroom building near the parking lot. Remember, times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s Guilded Tours web page for Jimmy Carter National Historical Park.
Restroom building at the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm
The farm is comprised of five different sites of interest. See the following web pages for more details.
Keep in mind that the Carter Farm is more than just an outdoor museum dedicated to Jimmy Carter’s boyhood days, it is an actual farm where traditional crops and animals are grown and raised. However, it is not a petting zoo, so be careful about trying to touch the animals when they come close to the fence. You can do it, but you could get bitten.
Crops grown at the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm
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Last updated on April 30, 2022
