Only in Virginia’s historic triangle and Presidents Park can you receive the entire span of our nation’s history from the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown in 1607 to the present.
Presidents Park offers a continuation of the all-encompassing lesson in American History, starting with Washington’s inauguration in 1789, through, to the new millennium and the current war on terrorism. Learn about all 43 unique presidencies as you enjoy a patriotic, educational and inspiring experience at Presidents Park in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Presidents Park is the creation of David Adickes, an internationally renowned sculptor and painter. The Park features 16-18 foot tall busts of all 43 Presidents of the United States, placed in a garden setting. Presidents Park has established a Board of Education which reviews educational material to ensure that the Virginia Standards of Learning are met. All content is also reviewed by the President Park’s National Council of Scholars. The museum building on site houses meeting rooms, a gift shop, café, banquet room, and other amenities.
1. The Constitution and The Bill of Rights
The Constitution contains the rules of government; in over 200 years, there have been only 27 formal amendments ratified. Who helped frame our original Constitution? Who was President when the income tax became legal? Women gained the right to vote? Citizenship was defined? What will be the next amendment’s topic?
2. Protecting The Nation
The United States president is constitutionally the “Commander-in-Chief” of the nation’s armed forces. Find out how presidents have led the country during times of crisis. Which presidents have been war heroes? Which have used diplomatic skills to keep us out of war? Is military service a requirement for the presidency?
3. Human Rights, Civil Rights, Slavery
How people are treated must be a concern of presidents. Whose administration issued the Emancipation Proclamation? The “Trail of Tears”? The Japanese-American internment camps? School desegregation? What problems in the areas of human and civil rights should the president work on today? In what ways are all people created equal?
4. Religion
Religion has held great meaning to many Americans and presidents. Recognizing dangers to liberty posed by state religion, the framers of the Constitution guaranteed freedom of religion, clearly separating church and state. Which presidents helped establish separation of church and state? Which Commanders-in-Chief were Quakers? Who was called the Preacher President?
5. Assassinations and Near Misses
Find out which four presidents were assassinated, which five presidents survived attempted assassination, and which one fought a duel. In all, eight presidents have died in office. Some presidents had earlier survived military dangers. What were the circumstances of each occurrence? How did each of these events affect our history?
