Presidents Cottage Museum

The Presidents Cottage Museum is located near the main building of the Greenbrier Resort which was completed in 1913 and replaced a previous structure. In the antebellum period, most guests stayed in cottages and this cottage was the largest and overlooked the resort's large lawn which was the scene of many business deals and courtships that cemented familial and political alliances that shaped the history of the South both before and after the Civil War. The museum includes a variety of artifacts that share the history of the resort, with an emphasis on the Presidents and dignitaries who stayed at the cottage and the role of the resort as a gathering place for white Southern families of wealth and influence both before and after the Civil War. Many wealthy Southern families saw the resort as a place where they could escape the summer heat and humidity while also building social, economic, and political connections with other families of wealth and influence.

Today, the heart of the Greenbrier Resort is a central building that was completed in 1913 and replaced the previous central resort structure. Construction of this cottage began in 1816 and the historic structure was preserved thanks to a variety of renovation efforts, most notably one in the 1930s and a major effort to preserve the structure by the railroad that owned the resort in 1957. The resort has maintained a reputation of being one of the most luxurious in the world and has hosted professional tennis matches, golf tournaments, and training camps for NFL teams. Guests who stay at the resort often walk the grounds and reflect on the resort's history, and this museum is open and available at no cost for self-guided tours. When open, the cottage is staffed by an employee of the resort who is available to answer questions while guests enjoy the view and a seat in wooden rocking chairs on the cottages two front porches. 

The Presidents Cottage earned its name after multiple United States Presidents stayed at this cottage for extended periods during the summer. Five sitting US presidents have stayed in the cottage, and this was not only the largest and most luxurious accommodation at the resort, it's second story balcony offered a commanding view of the grounds of the resort. Presidents Martin Van Buren (1837-1941), John Tyler (1841-1845), Millard Fillmore (1850-1853), Franklin Pierce (1853-1857), James Buchanan (1957- 1961). The was given the nickname of the Summer White House as The Greenbrier served as a luxurious place to escape the sweltering heat of summer in Washington DC while still maintaining the remaining responsibility of being the President.

During this antebellum period, many of these families traveled to the Greenbrier with enslaved servants and the resort was staffed by a mixture of free and enslaved persons. To date, little research has been conducted or made public about the many enslaved and free African Americans who staffed the resort in the antebellum period. One article suggests that the resort included enslaved persons valued at a total of over $55,000, but more research needs to be done or made public to offer more details about these individuals and the connection between the resort and the institution of slavery.

Today the Greenbrier resort remains one of the most luxurious resorts in the country and continues to host presidents, world leaders, celebrities, and other dignitaries. However, they no longer stay in the President’s Cottage as it serves as a functioning museum to teach about the history of The Greenbrier. The museum is complimentary to guests staying or visiting the resort. The resort also hosts a tour of the Presidential Bunker which was constructed to house the President and other Congressional figures in the wake of a nuclear attack as it was a constant threat during the Cold War. The Greenbrier remains as a fully operational resort that attracts visitors from around the world to the Mountain State, as well as a gateway to understanding the history of the South both before and after the Civil War.

Presidents Cottage Museum , The Greenbrier . Accessed October 25th 2020. https://www.greenbrier.com/Activities-Events/Presidents-Cottage-Museum-(3).aspx.

White Sulphur Springs, President's Cottage, U.S. Route 60, White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, WV, Library of Congress . Accessed October 25th 2020. https://www.loc.gov/item/wv0226/ .

Greenbrier Presidential History , June 16th 2020. Accessed October 25th 2020. https://www.greenbrieroutfitters.com/the-greenbriers-presidential-history/ .

Estate Map, The Greenbrier . Accessed October 25th 2020. https://www.greenbrier.com/About-Us/Estate-Map.aspx.

Brumfield, Nick. It's Time to Talk About West Virginia's Slaves , Expatalachians. January 29th 2019. Accessed November 16th 2020. https://expatalachians.com/its-time-to-talk-about-west-virginias-slaves.