Cumberland Township near Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Second best, he didn’t want. – Robert Hartley, herdsman

Eisenhower National Historic Site

— National Park Service —

Second best, he didn’t want Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 10, 2013

1. Second best, he didn’t want Marker

Inscription.
Cattle housed in the show barn (in front of you) lived in bovine luxury. Designed in 1957 for Eisenhower’s Angus show herd, the barn included a heated office and washroom. The washroom gave herdsmen a warm place to groom cattle even during the coldest winter.

During the summer, cattle rested in the barn sheltered from the sun and cooled by breezes through special ventilation doors under each window. The Eisenhower Farms provided only the best for the show herd.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Animals. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #34 Dwight D. Eisenhower series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1957.

Location. 39° 47.399′ N, 77° 15.882′ W. Marker is near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. It is in Cumberland Township. Marker can be reached from Eisenhower Farm Road. Marker is located at the Eisenhower National Historic Site, in front of the show barn. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Barnyard Diplomacy (within shouting distance of this marker); Ankonian has been invaluable. – President Eisenhower (about 300 feet away, measured

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in a direct line); I shall leave the place better than I found it. (about 400 feet away); A Herd of Modest Size (about 400 feet away); Welcome to Eisenhower National Historic Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Pond (approx. 0.2 miles away); Follow in the Footsteps (approx. ¼ mile away); The Helicopter Landing Pad (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gettysburg.

More about this marker. The background of the marker contains a photo of one of Eisenhower’s Angus bulls, with some grooming tools. It includes a caption of “Herdsmen used tools to groom the cattle’s coats and to train the hair to curl. At cattle shows staff polished the cattle’s hooves with printer’s ink and oiled the coats to add bloom and luster.
A photo at the upper right of the marker has a caption of “Eisenhower’s dedication to farming earned him an Honorary Master Farmer award from the Pennsylvania Master Farmers Association.”

Also see . . .
1. Eisenhower National Historic Park. National Park Service website. (Submitted on April 14, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 10, 2013

2. Second best, he didn’t want Marker

The Show Barn can be seen behind the marker.

2. Biography of President Eisenhower from the White House website. (Submitted on April 14, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Marker at the Eisenhower Farm image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 10, 2013

3. Marker at the Eisenhower Farm

Inside the Show Barn image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 10, 2013

4. Inside the Show Barn

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 605 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 14, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.