Gerald R Ford Birthsite and Gardens

I honestly didn’t know what to expect but this is a beautiful, quiet garden in Omaha. There are historical markers around, a special garden dedicated to his wife, Betty Ford. There is a statue in both persons honor. It was kind of interesting when we noticed that Betty passed away July 8, 2011. We visited July 23, 2011. Large stone tablets lined the birthplace, etched with all past and present President’s names. This would be a great place for photography sessions. We just parked along the street. I’m not from the area but the homes around it looked nice. I didn’t feel unsafe. Worth a visit, especially for history buffs.
The Gerald Ford birthsite and gardens commemorate the birth of Leslie King, Jr., who later became Gerald R. Ford, Jr. and was eventually sworn in as the thirty-​eighth president of the United States of America in 1974. The ornate Victorian house at 3202 Woolworth Avenue was one of the finest homes in Omaha. The three-​story, fourteen-​room house reflected the status of its wealthy occupants, the King family. The Kings’ only son, Leslie, married Dorothy Gardner and, in the summer of 1913, the young couple lived in this house with Leslie’s parents as they awaited the birth of their first child. On a hot and steamy July 14, 1913, Leslie King, Jr., was born. Soon afterwards, the new mother took the little boy to live with her parents in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dorothy and Leslie’s marriage ended in divorce and in 1916 Dorothy remarried. The three-​year-​old boy was adopted by his new stepfather and became Gerald Rudoph Ford, Jr.
In 1971 President Ford’s birthplace home was razed following a fire. Upon Ford’s succession to the presidency in 1974, Omaha businessman James M. Paxson purchased the property intending to build a memorial on the site. In 1977 the birthsite was dedicated. The following year a rose garden was added in honor of former First Lady Betty Ford.

Beautiful well kept garden near downtown. It’s a nice place to visit. There is a larger park nearby and parts of it are a bit run down and I have been a bit intimidated by some of the people who hang out there. But, this garden is in a nice neighborhood.