05/08/2026
Happy Mother's Day to you all. Hope you have a memorable day with your family. Our Mother's Day Peony(Fern Peony) is getting ready to bloom and should be fully open on Mother's Day. If you are out for a walk be sure to stroll through the Birthplace's gardens to enjoy the blooming flowers. Sit on our benches to just enjoy the wind blowing through the leaves on the trees. Relax and imagine Mamie's family living here in 1896. This is the birthplace of a girl from Boone who would eventually become America's First Lady, the wife of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States.
May 24, 1955: Mamie and President Eisenhower visited the Smithsonian Institution to officially open an exhibit of First Ladies' inaugural gowns, including her own.
With proms in full force in May with all of the beautiful gowns being worn by the ladies, we wanted to highlight Mamie's Inaugural Gowns. The first for the Inauguraion of 1953:
• The gown was designed by Nettie Rosenstein and is a full-length, off-the-shoulder dress.
• It is heavily beaded with 2,000 pink rhinestones on a pale pink silk base.
• The outfit included matching long gloves and a beaded handbag with a monogrammed "M".
For President Dwight D. Eisenhower's second inauguration in 1957, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower wore an elegant off-the-shoulder gown designed by Nettie Rosenstein.
Key Details of the 1957 Second Inaugural Gown:
• Color & Material: The gown was a light yellow or ice-white/cream color, constructed with satin.
• Embellishments: It featured intricate embroidery, including pearls, crystal drops, and translucent topaz beadwork.
• Style: The gown was described as "softer and grander" than her 1953 gown, symbolizing an established, confident style.
• Accessories: She carried a matching bag specially made for the 1957 event, featuring the letter "M" on one side and "1957" on the other.
The Mamie Eisenhower Birthplace and Museum is at 709 Carroll St., Boone, Iowa is open June through October, Thursday - Saturday 10:00 - 5:00 and on Sunday, 1:30 - 5:00. We open on Thursday, June 4th, at 10:00 AM for our 2026 season. With this being America's 250th anniversary of being a country and Mamie having had a role in the Country's history, we are looking to welcome visitors to her Birthplace who want to celebrate our Country's 250th.
The Mamie Eisenhower Birthplace and Museum is operated by volunteers, we have no paid staff. We really need people who are inspired by history/community and could be involved in helping keep the Birthplace open for our visitors from all over the World. We need to have people volunteer to give a few hours of their time each month, when we are open, to give tours, water the gardens, tend to our flower beds, help with maintenance of the property and buildings, and that person could be you. This is something in our community that draws visitors to Boone and you can help us even if it is only once or twice a month. So call the number listed on the website and we'll get back to you to be a part of our team. We are having a docent/tour guide training session at the Birthplace at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 16th. We'd love to have you attend and become a docent. Come in the back door and down the stairs to find out about the training.
Another way to help Mamie's Birthplace is to get an annual or lifetime membership for yourself or someone you know and that would be great way to celebrate our Country's great history and also support the Mamie Eisenhower Birthplace Foundation. Receive free tours during open hours as long as your membership remains active! Download a registration form from our website to activate your membership today.
https://mamiebirthplacebooneorg.wordpress.com/friends-of.../
All donations are tax deductible as the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501 (C)(3) that owns and operates the birthplace of Mamie Doud Eisenhower, located at 709 Carroll Street, Boone, Iowa.
Please make checks payable to the Mamie Eisenhower Birthplace Foundation and mail to:
Mamie Eisenhower Birthplace Foundation
PO Box 2
Boone, IA 50036
Thank you ahead of time for the donation of your time or any monetary amount you can give.