The Gerald Ford Presidential Library & Museum

06/07/2026

The deadline is approaching for the 2026 Fall Padnos Museum Internship!

If you are an upper-level undergraduate or a graduate student looking for hands-on experience in a museum, come join us at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.

Learn more here: https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/museum/interninfo.asp

06/06/2026

The vault is open!

A special display at the Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids features the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, on loan from the US National Archives. The exhibit is free and open to the public until November 1.

Drafted by the Confederation Congress at the same time as the Constitution, the Ordinance outlined a framework for government in the northwest territory, defining the rights guaranteed in that territory, and creating a process for admitting new states to the United States.

06/05/2026

Happy !

Gerald Ford “spent one of the greatest summers of my life” as a seasonal ranger at Yellowstone National Park in 1936. He returned to Yellowstone on August 29, 1976, and spoke about his plans to ask Congress for funding to increase the amount of land set aside for national parks, recreation areas, and wildlife sanctuaries. “I remember as a ranger the first time I stood alone on Inspiration Point over at Canyon Station looking out over this beautiful land,” he said in his remarks. “I thought to myself of how lucky I was that my parent’s and grandparent’s generation had the vision and the determination to save it for us. Now it is our turn to make our own gift outright to those who will come after us 15 years, 40 years, 100 years from now.”

After his speech President Ford toured part of Yellowstone, going out to see the view at Artist Point. He also met with current park rangers and Wayne Replogle, a National Park Ranger Emeritus who had supervised him in 1936.

NAID: 7518529, 45644229, 45644227
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06/05/2026

in 1975, President Gerald R. Ford congratulated the graduating cadets at commencement ceremonies at West Point - The U.S. Military Academy in New York.

"To combine the qualities of good citizens and good soldiers, the ability to lead and the ability to obey leadership, to use your intellectual powers and the judgment to the fullest within the stern demands of discipline and duty– these are the personal challenges worthy of the highest callings to which man aspires.

I know that each of you will meet them, as have all the West Pointers who pledge themselves to duty, honor and to country."

NAID: 6340606

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

On display now!

This table, gifted to President Dwight D. Eisenhower by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, bears an inlaid copy of the D-Day battle plan used by the President when he commanded the invasion from England's shores—an enduring reminder of shared wartime sacrifice. During the Queen’s 1957 State Visit, Eisenhower wore the British Order of Merit awarded to him by King George VI after World War II.

Eisenhower explained that Americans’ affection for the monarchy reflected a broader affinity for Britain itself, a sentiment later echoed by President Ford during the Bicentennial. This visit marked the Queen’s final official trip to the United States before 1976.

06/01/2026

Congratulations to Jackie and Bob who completed their Presidential Passport at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library! 🎉🎉🎉

Starting the journey at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, over the past 13 years they have visited 13 NARA Presidential Libraries!

05/30/2026

How did two former foes become close allies? Discover the depth of the Anglo-American "Special Relationship" in our newest temporary exhibit, "Waltzing with the Queen: President Ford and the Anglo-American Special Relationship."

This immersive exhibit explores five pivotal moments in history, from World War II to the Cold War, and culminates in Queen Elizabeth II’s historic 1976 Bicentennial visit to the United States.

Highlights Include:

🟣The Queen's Gown: On view in the U.S. for the first time, see the elegant gown worn by Her Majesty to the 1976 State Dinner.
🟣The Eisenhower Table: A unique gift from the Queen featuring a map of the D-Day invasion.
🟣Archival Treasures: Explore rare documents, personal correspondence, and gifts that shaped the transatlantic relationship.

05/29/2026

How should we read the United States Constitution today?

Join us for "The Original Debates over Constitutional Interpretation" with Jonathan Gienapp, Associate Professor of History and Law at Stanford University. Professor Gienapp will explore the eighteenth-century debates that shaped our founding document and how those historical lenses continue to structure American law today.

This event will also include book sales and a signing of Gienapp's latest work, "Against Constitutional Originalism: A Historical Critique."

When and Where:
June 24: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids
June 25: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor

Learn more about the free events: www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/events/all-events?search_api_fulltext=Gienapp

05/28/2026

Congratulations to Patricia who completed her Presidential Passport at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum! 🎉🎉🎉

Starting the journey on the East Coast at the JFK Library Foundation, she zigzagged across the country and visited 13 NARA Presidential Libraries!

To learn more about the Passport to Presidential Libraries program, visit: https://estore.archives.gov/ford/product/passport-to-presidential-libraries