Woodrow Wilson's Library & Limo

(Another leftover post from Staunton. Scroll down a few posts to read about breakfast and see pics from our roam around the downtown.)

The trip to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library was pretty cool, if you are completely geeky in a history sort of way. As, well, some of us are! It wasn't nearly as decadent as other libraries I've visited – say, Jimmy Carter's in Georgia. Just a few historic buildings on a tree-lined street in a sleep Virginia town. The Manse, the museum, and the requisite gift shop are clustered together.

Photo credit: Woodrow Wilson Library web site

This is the Manse, what served as the minister's house in Staunton and the site of Woodrow's birth. His dad was a minister in town.

The rooms are all restored to that time period. You can see the bed where Woodrow was born. Here's the kitchen, complete with gadgets of that era. (The tour guide asked us about this torturous-looking device – turned out, it was a cherry pitter.)

Photo credit: Woodrow Wilson Library web site

Here's the view from the back of the Manse, looking out to Staunton. If my memory serves, that is the steeple of Woodrow's father's church.

The coolest part, though, was back at the museum. Among all the usual exhibits and memorabilia was a garage with Woodrow Wilson's presidential limo. It's a Pierce Arrow. And it's beautiful.

I wish I had taken a photo of the grill: It reads "AAA" in thick, silver-colored letters. Turns out Woodrow was the first president who belonged to the American Automobile Association. His actual AAA card is even behind glass in the garage exhibit. Bizarre and amusing.

And supposedly, this is the oldest presidential limo still in working order. The glossy black is highlighted with bright orange details. Guess why?

Clue: It has to do with a sports team.

And not, sadly, the Orioles.

Woodrow was president of Princeton University. Black and orange are Princeton's colors.

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library

18-24 North Coalter Street

Staunton, Va.