Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum

08/28/2026

Here’s a fun Flashback Friday!

Check out this image from 1982 that we found in our collection! It shows a couple of WWPL employees serving tea to guests visiting the Birthplace.

The house was still painted white, and the gazebo had a small brick terrace. It’s always fun to see these little details from the museum’s past!

https://presidentwilson.org/items/show/26348

08/26/2026

August 26 is Women’s Equality Day!

Today marks the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which was certified in 1920 and prohibited denying the right to vote based on s*x.

The path to the 19th Amendment was anything but easy. For generations, women organized, marched, protested, and pushed lawmakers to recognize their right to participate fully in American democracy.

Today, we remember the women who fought for the right to vote, and recognize that
the story of equality didn't end in 1920.

08/22/2026

In Memory of Don W. Wilson, Ph.D. (1942–2026)

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Dr. Don W. Wilson, a man whose vision, integrity, and good humor shaped the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum for decades. Don served on our Board of Trustees for ten years, including as Board Vice Chair and Chair of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Task Force, before leading WWPL as President & CEO for six years beginning in 2009. All of us who had the privilege of working alongside him remember his steady and thoughtful leadership, his intelligence, his kindness, and his ability to bring people together with a smile.

Don brought a rare depth of experience to our organization. A native of Kansas, he earned his Ph.D. in American History from the University of Cincinnati and went on to a distinguished career stewarding the nation's presidential legacy, serving as Deputy Director of the Eisenhower Library, founding Director of the Gerald Ford Presidential Library, and Executive Director of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation, which he helped establish and open to the public. In 1987, President Reagan appointed Don as the seventh Archivist of the United States, a role in which he oversaw the National Archives until 1993.

Don brought all of that experience to Staunton, where he devoted himself to ensuring President Wilson's story, in all its complexity, would be told with honesty and care for generations to come.

We extend our deepest condolences to Patsy and the entire Wilson family, including his daughter, Denise, who currently serves as a WWPL Trustee. Don's fingerprints are on nearly everything we do here, and his legacy will continue to guide us. He will be deeply missed.

08/20/2026

Looking for a fun and educational way to spend the weekend with the family?

Thanks to our friends at CMA’s Valley Subaru, families can enjoy Family Weekends at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum!

Children 17 & under get FREE admission!
Adults can take advantage of Pay What You Will admission!

Our first Family Weekend is September 5–6, and will continue on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month through February!

Gather the family, bring your curiosity, and come make some history with us!

Learn more and plan your visit: https://www.woodrowwilson.org/cma-valley-subaru-family-weekends-wwpl

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum is proud to partner with CMA's Valley Subaru to make history more accessible for families throughout the Shenandoah Valley.

08/18/2026

🇺🇸 On This Day in 1920...

On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment, providing the final state approval needed for its ratification. The amendment prohibited denying or abridging the right to vote based on s*x.

The 19th Amendment expanded voting rights to millions of women, but it did not mean that every woman could immediately exercise the right to vote. Black women, Indigenous women, Asian American women, and other women of color continued to face laws and discriminatory practices that restricted their access to the ballot.

For example, many Black women in the South faced poll taxes, literacy tests, intimidation, and other barriers for decades after 1920. Native American women faced additional barriers related to citizenship and state voting laws, while Asian American women were affected by laws restricting immigration and naturalization.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 helped dismantle many of the barriers that had prevented Black Americans from voting, while other groups continued to fight for full and equal access to the ballot.

As we remember the ratification of the 19th Amendment, we can celebrate this important milestone while also recognizing the many women whose fight for voting rights continued long after 1920.

📸 : Images courtesy of National Geographic and The Library of Congress

08/15/2026

Whether you’re a Staunton local, a newcomer, or just visiting our beautiful town, The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum is a local treasure you can't miss!

Our museum invites everyone to engage with the complex legacy of America's 28th president. By exploring the pivotal moments of the past, we gain the critical insights necessary to understand our present and to build a better future!

08/09/2026

💡On This Day in History

Did you know that one of America's most unique national parks was established during President Woodrow Wilson's administration?

On August 9, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the legislation creating Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. The new park combined the existing Lassen Peak and Cinder Cone National Monuments, which had been protected by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907.

Just a few years earlier, Lassen Peak had erupted in a spectacular series of explosions between 1914 and 1915, drawing national attention to the area's remarkable volcanic landscape. Today, the park is home to steaming fumaroles, bubbling mud pots, boiling springs, and Lassen Peak—one of the world's largest plug dome volcanoes.

More than a century later, Lassen Volcanic National Park continues to protect one of the most fascinating volcanic landscapes in the United States, preserving its natural wonders for future generations to explore.

📍 Have you ever visited Lassen Volcanic National Park? Share your favorite memories or photos in the comments!

📸: photos courtesy of
National Park Service Lassen Volcanic National Park

08/06/2026

A special thank you to the Amazing America team for highlighting our museum and helping share our story with viewers across the country. We'd also like to thank our Curator & Director of Museum Operations, Andrew Phillips, for representing the museum and sharing his knowledge and passion for history.

📺 Watch the feature here:

One modest brick home in Staunton, Virginia offers a reminder that history doesn’t always begin in grand places. This home is where Woodrow Wilson was born.

08/03/2026

📆Mark your calendars!

We're excited to launch CMA's Valley Subaru Family Weekends at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum! Beginning this September, join us on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month through February for a family-friendly museum experience
that's both fun and affordable.

- Children 17 and under receive FREE admission
- Adults are Pay What You Will

Explore interactive exhibits, tour President Woodrow Wilson's birthplace, discover stories that shaped our nation, and make memories together along the way. Whether it's your first visit or your fifth, there's always something new to experience.

A special thank you to CMA's Valley Subaru for helping make history more accessible for families throughout our community.

https://www.woodrowwilson.org/cma-valley-subaru-family-weekends-wwpl

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum is proud to partner with CMA's Valley Subaru to make history more accessible for families throughout the Shenandoah Valley.

07/31/2026

We're thrilled that the Historic Staunton Foundation found these baseball uniforms and that Augusta County Historical Society worked their detective magic to find out the history!