For serious historians and casual tourists alike, Pathways to the Presidency is an ideal travel guide to touring presidential homes and museums. Gerald and Patricia Gutek invite American history enthusiasts to journey through the private lives of our presidents--from George Washington to George W. Bush--by visiting the family homes of our former chief executives as well as the libraries and museums honoring their presidencies. Aided by the Guteks' extensive research and concise biographies of each of their subjects, readers of this handy guidebook can deepen their knowledge of these central figures in American history. Presidential birthplaces, boyhood homes, and adult residences have been preserved, restored, or re-created by a local, state, and national historical agencies. Among the sites described in the Guteks' guide are Jefferson's Virginia plantations; the only home ever owned by Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois; the Truman home in Independence, Missouri; and the first home of Clinton in Hope, Arkansas. Beyond residential buildings, the guide also highlights all of the presidential libraries and museums, such as Kennedy's on the Boston waterfront, Carter's in downtown Atlanta, and Reagan's in Simi Valley. The section on each president begins with a biographical sketch followed by site descriptions of their homes and libraries that are open to the public. The information needed to locate and tour each of these sites, as well as important details on admissions, operations, and contacts, is also provided. Pathways to the Presidency offers a comprehensive introduction to historical preservation and tourism connected to America's highest office and an invitation to learn more about the U.S. presidents as distinct individuals with lives rooted in the larger American experience.

Historic getaways in the land of cotton Seasoned travel writers Gerald and Patricia Gutek believe the American South is for history enthusiasts what Ghiradelli's is for chocolate connoisseurs, and with their latest guidebook they invite travelers of all ages to sample what life was once like in this beguiling region. As they did in their popular guide Experiencing America's Past, the Guteks introduce readers to the pleasures of exploring historic America--this time turning their travel know-how to the preserved and restored plantations and museum villages that grace the Southern landscape. From the Great River Road Plantations between Baton Rouge and New Orleans to Montpelier Mansion in Virginia, these plantations and villages demonstrate how people lived, worked, prayed, and played decades and centuries ago. In their easy-to-use guide, the Guteks tell how to visit and enjoy sixty-eight such gems of the Old South. In addition to current phone numbers, times of operation, and admission fees, each entry includes a historical overview, directions for finding the site, and information on restaurants, shops, facilities, and special features. The Guteks also list nearby accomodations and suggest side trips of historical interest.