Museum Walk: A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library

I had the opportunity to visit the William J Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas. The design inspiration for the Museum is said to be the Long Room at Trinity College Dublin.  The Museum along with a reproduction of the Moonrock displays about 4500 blue boxes containing Presidential records from the White House Office of Agency Liaison.

A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library

Moonrock at the Clinton Presidential Library

There is a reproduction of the Moonrock brought to the President by Neil Armstrong to make the 30th anniversary of his walk on the moon.  the original belongs to NASA and is dated to 3.6 billion years.  President Clinton has often noted during policy discussions at the Oval Office, he would calm things down by pointing to the rock and saying “You see this rock, it’s been here for 3.6 billion years, let’s all calm down.  We’re just passing through here, and it’s going to be fine”

A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library
A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library

The Clinton Oval Office at the Clinton Presidential Library

The Presidential Center has full-scale replicas of the Clinton-era Oval Office and Cabinet Room. President Clinton likes to use the Oval Office to display items with both historical and personal meaning. 

On the bureau you can find a limited-edition print of Thomas Jefferson; a letter from a Union general during the Civil War who commanded a unit of African-American troops; the bronze statuette An Appeal to the Great Spirit, by Cyrus Dallin; and original drawings and photographs of Abraham Lincoln. 

You can see the Presidential Seal is featured on the Oval Office ceiling.  The Thinker by Auguste Rodin also sits on one of the side tables.  The President has once remarked that the statue reminded him of the “Power of reflection.”

A virtual visit to the Clinton Presidential Library
A virtual visit to the Clinton Presidential Library
A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library | Outside Suburbia
A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library
A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library | Outside Suburbia
A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library
A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library - outsidesuburbia.com

Personal Artifacts of President Clinton

The Clinton Library features numerous items from Clinton’s time as President. Clinton’s Cadillac One is on the first floor of the main building. The United States presidential state car sometimes called “The Beast”, “Cadillac One”, “First Car” and also code-named “Stagecoach” is the official state car of the President of the United States. One exhibit at the library features a bike given to Clinton by Lance Armstrong.  The center showcases artifacts from previous state dinners and various state gifts, such as ceramics and other decorative pieces. There is an exhibit of Clinton’s saxophone and another custom cowboy boots that was made for Hilary Clinton.

 "The Beast", "Cadillac One", "First Car" and also code-named "Stagecoach" is the official state car of the President of the United States
“The Beast”, “Cadillac One”, “First Car” and also code-named “Stagecoach” is the official state car of the President of the United States
A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library
A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library
A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library
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A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library
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A visit to the Clinton Presidential Library

Presidential Park Bridge

The 1899 Rock Island Railroad Bridge across the Arkansas River, originally leading to Choctaw Station, has been converted into a pedestrian bridge connecting to North Little Rock. It has been renamed as the Clinton Park Bridge, construction began on May 28, 2010 and opened to the public on October 2, 2011.

Presidential Park Bridge
Presidential Park Bridge

Regardless of political affiliations, it is was a very educational experience visiting the Clinton Presidential Libray and hope you enjoyed this virtual tour. See here for other virtual museum walks.

You can find more details about the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum on their website.

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