Category: United States

Every month, we’re going to take a deep dive into history, looking at one event that was important, remarkable, or impacted things in the world.

This month, we’re going to look at the life of President John F. Kennedy, and his assassination on November 22, 1963.

Birthplace of John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was the second of nine children born to Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy, and one of three brothers who had successful careers in politics.

His family lived in the home for six years, but moved a few blocks away, as they needed more room when Rose was pregnant with her fifth child. The Kennedys lived in the Boston suburb for the first ten years of John’s life.

Riverdale, New York Home

The Kennedys moved to New York City, in part to avoid some of the discrimination against Irish Americans in Boston. Their home had 20 rooms spread across three floors, and sits on 1.3 acres, a massive estate in New York City. However, the family only lived here two years, as Joseph wanted an even grander house for his family, to demonstrate their upward mobility.

Kennedy Compound

The Kennedy family spent their summers in the “Kennedy Compound” in Hyannis Port, MA.

The compound is made up of three houses on six acres of waterfront property on the island of Cape Cod. John F. Kennedy used the compound as his presidential campaign headquarters, and later as a “Summer White House” while he was president.

Edward “Ted” Kennedy, who represented Massachusetts as a US Senator for nearly 50 years, also had a home on the property. He lived there from 1982 until his death in 2007.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ Childhood Homes

While John was growing up in New York, his future wife, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, was growing up in Virginia and Rhode Island. She was born on July 28, 1929, in Southampton, New York, but moved at a young age to Merrywood in McLean, Virginia when her mom married Standard Oil heir Hugh Auchincloss.

Jacqueline’s family also spent time in Newport, Rhode Island, in a home called Hammersmith Farm. This is where she married John F. Kennedy when he was a US Senator on September 12, 1953.

Later, the family spent part of their summers here during his tenure as president, giving it the nickname of “Summer White House” alongside the Kennedy Compound.

Hickory Hill, McLean, VA

John and Jacqueline bought a home named Hickory Hill in the DC suburb of McLean, Virginia, in 1955. However, they only lived here for about a year before selling the property to Robert Kennedy and his wife Ethel, to house their growing family.

The White House

On November 8, 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected president, and was sworn in as President of the United States on January 20, 1961. He and his family moved into the White House, where they lived for nearly three years.

During that time, Jacqueline made a great effort to restore the “People’s House” to its original grandeur and created the Rose Garden, a beautiful and lasting legacy of their time as First Family.

Dealy Plaza

In November 1963, President Kennedy and his wife took a trip to Texas to work out some political issues and visit the people of Texas. On November 22, the couple, along with the Governor of Texas John Connally and his wife, were in a motorcade driving through Dealy Plaza in downtown Dallas when, at 12:30 pm, the president and the governor were both shot.

X Marks the Spot

In an effort to preserve the memory of the president and the tragic events, many of the signs, buildings, and other features near Dealy Plaza have been protected. Additionally, an X painted on the street marks the spot where the 35th president was shot and assassinated.

Parkland Memorial Hospital

The Secret Service quickly realized what had happened, and the president was rushed to Parkland Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about thirty minutes after being shot.

Later that day, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States.

Dallas Municipal Building

Less than 90 minutes after the shooting, Dallas police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald for the shooting. He was held at the Dallas Municipal Building, where the police were headquartered.

On November 24, Oswald was being moved to another jail when he was shot and killed by nightclub owner Jack Ruby. This murder prevented Oswald from being given a fair trial and the opportunity to confirm many of the details of the assassination.

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Burial Spot in Arlington Cemetery

President Kennedy was laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.

His wife felt his final resting place should be a public memorial to him and his legacy, as he died serving the American people. At his tomb is an eternal flame to keep his memory alive.

Presidential Library and Museum in Dorchester, MA

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is located next to the University of Massachusetts in the Dorchester area of Boston.

The building was designed by renowned architect I. M. Pei.

This is the official repository for Kennedy’s papers, presidential material, and correspondence. It is also a museum to the 35th president and his term in office.

John F. Kennedy only lived to be 46, but he has left an imprint on the national memory, and will always be remembered as a dynamic, forward-thinking leader who was not afraid to face the challenges of his day head on and work to advance the causes of democracy and freedom around the world. He started the Peace Corps, advanced the US space program, appointed the first African American Supreme Court Justice, and raised the reputation of the US around the world.

For this and more, he will always be remembered.

It’s October, the perfect time to spend time among the cemeteries, give ourselves a little spook, safe from the computer. Most cemeteries in the United States are peaceful resting places for our dearly departed loved ones, but there are some that stand out due to their historical importance, fame, reputation, or serenity.

Arlington Cemetery, Virginia

Arlington Cemetery is “America’s Cemetery”, the final resting place for over 400,000 military members, their families and renowned civil leaders including President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Thurgood Marshall.

The cemetery is known for its rolling hills and uniform white headstones. Visitors can access maps and databases to locate their loved ones’ final resting places. The most hallowed portion of the cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which houses unidentified remains of soldiers from several conflicts, and is watched over by a military guard day and night, rain or shine, including the brutal summer heat, terrible snow storms and even hurricanes.

Photo Credit: AP

Bonaventure Cemetery, Georgia

Just east of Savannah, GA is the Bonaventure Cemetery, made famous in the book and movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and long acclaimed for its beautiful graves and tombs. Over 150 years old, the cemetery has large oak trees and Spanish moss, unique statues and tombs, and landscaping that evokes a time long past and a respect for those beyond the grave.

Photo Credit: Bonaventure Historical Society

Most famous is the “Bird Girl” statue featured in the book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”, but the statue has since been moved to a local museum to better feature the statue while maintaining a respectful and peaceful atmosphere in the cemetery.

Key West Cemetery, Florida

This cemetery on the edge of the United States was established in 1847, after an 1846 hurricane damaged other cemeteries on the island and bodies needed to be reburied quickly. It has an eclectic mix of residents, some having died long before the cemetery was created, others being unknown slaves, Cuban revolutionaries from the 1800s, and soldiers who died in the Spanish-American War on the USS Maine. There is a meaningful memorial to those Africans who died on the transatlantic journey to the United States to be sold as slaves.

The cemetery has a unique feel, blending a peaceful respect for the dead with well-known laid back island attitude famous to Key West. Pleasant palm trees and bright blue sun are contrasted with austere and ornate vaults, tombs and statues intermingled with broken and crumbling carvings tombstones and monuments. The cemetery is the final home to over 100,000 individuals, far surpassing the 30,000 living residents of the island.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, New York

Located in Sleepy Hollow, New York, this cemetery is one of the most storied final resting places in the United States. Rolling hills, large trees and ancient statues contribute to the “haunted” feeling made famous in Washington Irving’s short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” that takes place in the old village.  Walking the winding pathways in the fall, one almost anticipates running into a headless horseman.

Tours are available of historical sites within the cemetery, as well as of resting places of famous individuals including Washington Irving, Elizabeth Arden, William Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie.

These are just a few of the many interesting cemeteries across the country. If you’re not close to one of these, you can certainly go exploring in your own hometown and find unique, memorable or interesting stories in any cemetery!

Politicians, civic leaders and royalty are often idolized, followed and even revered. Tragically, these leaders are sometimes stalked, harassed or even murdered in cold blood. When that happens, the scene of the assassination becomes a memorial to the victim, a place where mourners can honor and remember the dead.

Here are the sites of several famous assassinations.

Abraham Lincoln-Ford’s Theater, Washington, D.C.

Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. was a new and popular destination when Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln went to the theater on April 14, 1865. In the middle of the performance, Lincoln was shot by actor John Wilkes Booth, an embittered supporter of the Confederacy. Lincoln was carried across the street to the Peterson House, where he died early the next morning.

Ford’s Theater later fell into decline and disrepair. It was partially opened as a museum in the 1930s and as fully renovated museum and theater in 1968.

Now, many visitors come each year to learn about and pay respects to the 16th president.

John F. Kennedy-Dealy Plaza, Dallas, Texas

John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline traveled to Dallas, Texas in November 1963. They were part of a public motorcade as they traveled to a luncheon event. As they turned onto Elm Street on Dealy Plaza, the President was fatally shot. Governor Connally was also shot but survived.

Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the murder, but was himself assassinated two days later by Jack Ruby.

Visitors and mourners can see the exact spot of the shooting, which is memorialized by an X on the street. Conspiracies still circulate widely about the truth behind the events that day.

Martin Luther King, Jr.-Lorraine Motel, Memphis, Tennessee

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a great civil rights leader fighting for racial equality. He traveled to various cities to lead nonviolent protests and marches. He was such a frequent traveler to Memphis that he was a regular at the Lorraine Motel, staying in the same room every time he was in town.

On April 4, 1968, King was in Memphis to organize a nonviolent protest. While standing outside his hotel room, he was shot and killed by James Earl Ray. Ray escaped to London, where he was arrested and send back to the United States for prosecution. He pled guilty and died in prison in 1998.

The room was never again used for guests, and the entire hotel was turned into a National Civil Rights Museum in 1991, where visitors can learn about the history of civil rights in the United States since the 17th century.

Malcolm X-Audubon Ballroom, New York, New York

Malcolm X  was born Malcolm Little in Nebraska. While  in prison, he became a member of the Nation of Islam, which advocated for black self-reliance, racial segregation and Islamic teachings. He changed his last name to “X” to be rid of the name given his family by white slave owners.

Malcolm X became well-known throughout the United States, but eventually became disillusioned with the organization. After leaving the organization, he clashed with it and received serious death threats for months. On February 21, 1965, he was preparing to speak at a meeting at the Audubon Ballroom, he was shot 21 times by three individuals associated with the Nation of Islam. His life and death and the aftermath were all controversial, but his death was nonetheless tragic and difficult for the communities he loved and helped through his works.

Robert Kennedy-Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California

Just a few short years after his brother’s death at the hands of an assassin, Robert Kennedy was running for president on a platform of social justice and equality. He was campaigning in Los Angeles on California’s primary election day on June 5, 1968. After receiving the positive election results, Kennedy gave a speech at the Ambassador Hotel and then left through the hotel kitchen when he was mortally wounded by Sirhan Sirhan.

Kennedy’s death rocked the country, following on the heels of Martin Luther King Jr.’s murder and so similar to his brother’s tragic and public murder.

His death, while witnessed by many, is still surrounded by conspiracy and confusion as to specific details of the crime.

These are just a few of the many politically and personally motivated killings that have rocked the world, and each one leaves a mark on their family, the community, and often even the world.

From a presidential impeachment to a global pandemic, from murder hornets to a presidential election, 2020 seems like the year that has it all. But looking back throughout history, we are reminded that many important, and world-altering things have happened before. And we’ve always survived, moved on, and become stronger from our experiences.

Let’s take a look back on some important events from Septembers past.

Luis XIV of France Dies

Louis XIV of France was king for more than 72 years, wearing the crown from the age of five until he died at age 76 on September 1, 1715. The 72 years of his reign were eventful, and impactful on all of Europe. He was one of the most powerful leaders in European history, and ruled France with absolute authority. His most enduring legacy may in fact be the absolutely stunning Versailles which he developed and turned into the grandest palace in Europe.

Assault on Israeli Athletes in Olympic Village

The 1972 Summer Olympics were held in Munich, Germany, and were supposed to be a global event focused on non-violence and global unity.

However, on September 4, several terrorists from the Palestinian Liberation Organization attacked the apartments of Israeli athletes, killing two and taking nine hostage. After a tense day of negotiations, as the terrorists and their captives were about to leave the country by helicopter, a shootout erupted. The remaining nine hostages were killed, along with five of the eight terrorists and a West German police officer.

The event led to significant changes in Olympic security, as well as a years-long hunt by Israel’s Mossad to track down and eliminate everyone responsible for the attack.

Unites States Attacked by Terrorists

If you live in the United States, it’s hard to forget the importance of September 11, 2001, when more than 3,000 men, women, and children were killed in terrorist attacks. In the 19 years since, the country has done so much to commemorate those who died that day, and to make sure something so terrible doesn’t happen again.

There is a beautiful memorial at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, to commemorate those who died on the flight and on the ground.

Just outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania is the memorial to those who died on Flight 93 as they thwarted an attack likely aimed for the U.S. Capitol.

In New York City, at the site where the Twin Towers once stood is a large and peaceful memorial for those who died on the airplanes, those who died in the towers and on the ground, and those brave first responders who died or were injured trying to save others after the attacks.

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Battle of Baltimore and Writing of Star Spangled Banner

The Revolutionary War wasn’t the only battle between the United States and Great Britain. In 1812, the two countries went to war again. American lawyer Francis Scott Key was on a British ship to negotiate a prisoner exchange when the Battle of Baltimore broke out. As he watched British ships bombard Fort McHenry on the night of September 13, 1814, he focused on the American flag flying over the fort.

When he woke the next morning, a larger American flag was flying, showing they had not surrendered during the overnight battle. He was so inspired that he wrote a poem, which later became the “Star Spangled Banner”, the country’s national anthem.

Battle of Antietam

The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, was the bloodiest day of fighting during the Civil War. Between the two sides, nearly 23,000 men were killed, wounded, or went missing. It was fought near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and was the first battle in the eastern hemisphere of the war to be fought on Union soil.

While the battle was fought to a draw, it was a tactical win for the Union, as the battle discouraged France and Great Britain from recognizing the Confederate States of America as an independent country. The battlefield has been turned into a national historical site and is a great place for families to visit and learn more about the sacrifices made by individuals during the Civil War.

Sandra Day O’Connor Joins US Supreme Court

When Republican President Ronald Reagan nominated Sandra Day O’Connor to the US Supreme Court in 1981, it was groundbreaking. She was the first female nominee to the highest court in the United States. She was approved by the Senate by a vote of 99-0, and was sworn in as an Associate Justice on September 25, 1981. She served as a swing vote for many important cases, and is a role model to young women everywhere, reminding them that they can achieve anything if they get a good education, work hard, and never give up.

James Dean Dies in Car Crash

James Dean was an American heartthrob in the 1950s, even though he only starred in three movies in his career. His celebrity icon status endures even to this day. James Dean rocketed to fame after starring in East of Eden in 1955, and quickly cemented his status in Rebel without a Cause later in the year.

On September 30, 1955, James Dean was driving his Porsche Spyder in the California desert when he collided with another car and was killed in the accident. Dean was nominated for an Academy Award in 1955 for his work in East of Eden and in 1956 for his work in Giant.

These are just a few of the memorable, tragic, and world-changing events that have happened in history. It’s cool to think that the experiences we have will someday be considered important history. And even if they don’t end up in the history books, they’re important to all those experiencing them.

Now that many places, especially outdoor locations such as amusement parks, are opening, this is the perfect time to plan a vacation, virtual or in real life. Let’s take a look at some amusement parks across the US that are not Disney!

Hersheypark

One of the happiest places in the world is not Disneyland, but Hershey, Pennsylvania. The town is named after a real-life Willie Wonka chocolate maker, and is home to the Hershey Company research facility and production facility, and literally smells like chocolate.

What makes it even better is Hersheypark, a theme park in the town that has roller coasters, kids rides and even a zoo, as well as chocolate themed activities and specialties throughout the park.

It has a dozen roller coasters, other amazing rides and even a fun water park. In 2009, it expanded the water park to include The Shore, a large wave pool.

Hersheypark’s Kissing Tower, the 330 foot observation tower, looms over the park, allowing for a great view of the park and the surrounding areas.

Cedar Point

Cedar Point takes its reputation as the roller coaster capital of the world very seriously. Located in Sandusky, Ohio, it is the second oldest amusement park in the United States, has the second most roller coasters in the world, and has the most rides of any amusement park in the United States. This amazing park holds too many US and world records to count!

The insane Millennium Force roller coaster opened in 2000, setting records as the fastest, tallest and steepest in the world.

The daring Corkscrew opened in 1976, and was at the time the first coaster to have three inversions. It spans the park’s midway, making it exciting for both passengers and spectators on the ground!

Knott’s Berry Farm

A smaller park in Southern California, Knott’s Berry Farm is a great place to visit with a family. Started by the Knott family in the mid 1900s, the park has steadily grow over the years to include several rides and roller coasters, themed attractions including Knott’s Bear-y World and Soak City, and a reputation for delicious dining that dates back to the earliest days of the family’s business.

Now owned by the same company that owns Cedar Park and other parks, the Farm has an excellent variety of rides and entertainment for every type of visitor.

Kings Island

As far as outstanding amusement parks are concerned, Ohio is where it’s at. Also owned by Cedar Fair, the company that owns Cedar Point, Kings Island is an epic place to visit.  It has over 80 rides, 15 roller coasters and a huge water park.

Additionally, the park is known for it’s Eiffel Tower replica built at one third scale of the original version in Paris. This is just a fun and quirky feature of the park.

Son of Beast, named after the original Beast roller coaster at the park, opened in 2000 with several record-breaking features. However, after years of delay, redesign and two public incidents, the ride was closed in 2009 and never reopened. In 2012, it was officially closed and removed from the park.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens has two locations on the East Coast, but the Tampa Bay Florida site is the original. The park has an “African” theme, with rides designed and named after locations in Africa and African cultural themes.

Busch Gardens has several excellent roller coasters, including SheiKra, a steel dive roller coaster that is 200 feet high and reaches speeds of 70 mph.

Busch Gardens also has an expansive zoo, being regarded as one of the largest in the United States, with over 2,700 animals. Visitors can take safaris through the park to have up close and personal experiences with animals.

It also promotes a more humane habitat for the animals, more closely recreating native habitats for animals than most zoos are able to do. Because of it’s size, the park is also a major conservator of endangered and at risk species.

Busch Gardens was named after the original parent company, Anheuser-Busch, but it was sold in 2009. The sale ended the free beer samples given away in locations within the park and the tradition of giving employees two free cases of beer each month.

Coney Island

No list of amusement parks would be complete without Coney Island. Coney Island is not an amusement park like the others in this article, but has a reputation as a funky, unique and fun amusement and entertainment area. Coney Island is a neighborhood in New York that developed as an entertainment center and seaside resort community for the surrounding area. In the 1940s and 1950s, it became run down but has recently had a resurgence in popularity and has expanded and redeveloped to increase attendance at the various sites.

There are two small amusement parks in the neighborhood, but several additional rides, attractions and food and entertainment vendors operate independently.

The Wonder Wheel Ferris wheel is nearly 100 years old, and has both rocking and stationary cars. At night, it is illuminated with neon lights that glow for everyone to see.

The Parachute Jump was a famous ride in the 1900s, but has been defunct for several decades. In 2004 it was cleaned and painted, with the intent to light it up regularly, but that has not taken place since 2009. It is often referred to as Brooklyn’s Eiffel Tower.

The most important contribution of the Island may in fact be the Nathan’s hot dog, which was originally sold at Nathan’s on Coney Island, and is still the site of the annual hot dot eating contest.

No matter what type of amusement you’re looking for, you can find it at these parks. From great food to fun rides to thrilling roller coasters, these parks have got you covered.

August is officially “Family Fun Month” which is perfect as families squeeze in one last vacation before the official end of summer and the start of school. Let’s take a look at some of the classic family vacation destinations across the US, reminisce about family road trips gone by, and maybe even make some plans for the future!

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach in southern Virginia is a great place to visit year-round, but especially fun for families in the summer. The area has many beaches with fun boardwalks and entertainment for families, and campgrounds for those really wanting to enjoy nature.  Along the beach are lighthouses and other cool attractions.

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First Landing State Park commemorates where the English landed before going on to settle Jamestown. It is a beautiful park full of walking trails, camp grounds and cabins, and public beaches.

Just across the bridge in Virginia Beach’s sister city, Norfolk, are the Norfolk Botanical Gardens, with beautiful landscapes, amazing blooming azaleas, and other natural wonders to enjoy.

Historic Southern Virginia

If you’re a history buff, you should vacation in southern Virginia. With many major historical sites within minutes of each other, you’ll find this an educational, and entertaining, vacation.

Yorktown, where the British surrendered to General George Washington, ending the Revolutionary War, is about 60 minutes north of Virginia Beach, and is a well preserved national park. Visitors can take a guided tour and get a a feel for the immense scale of the battle, which played such a pivotal role in American history.

Jamestown, the first English settlement in North America, is about twenty minutes from Yorktown, and is an active historical site. Archaeologists and other scientists are constantly working to excavate the original fort and understand more about what the first European settlers in the area experienced.

Just up the road is Colonial Williamsburg, which is a living history museum. The entire colonial town has been recreated and has knowledgeable staff playing roles of specific colonial individuals, right down to the attire, personality and back story.

Nearby is Thomas Jefferson’s plantation home Monticello. The Founding Father and third president spent much of his time developing his plantation, and lived out his days here after helping to organize and establish the United States.

San Diego

San Diego in southern California, is a great place for a family vacation. With lots of beaches, family activities, and cool entertainment, this city is the perfect west coast destination. The US Navy has left a big imprint in the area, and there are several historic ships that you can tour at the Maritime Museum, including HMS Surprise from the film “Master and Commander”.

The San Diego Zoo is a must-see, with more than 3,500 animals, and is a pioneer in the design of open-air exhibits with natural habitats for the animals. Its amazing landscape, wide animal diversity and great climate make it one of the best zoos in the world.

Don’t forget Sea World, which is an amazing place to learn all about marine life! It’s a great place to take kids to learn about what’s going on under the water, and it’s even fun for adults.

Yellowstone

Yellowstone is a large national park that covers land in three states. It is famous for its gorgeous mountain vistas, geysers and geothermal activity, and amazing wildlife including buffalo, moose, and bears. The park is so beautiful and easy to enjoy, even from a car. Breathtaking sites like Gibbon Falls are viewable from the road!

Old Faithful is possibly the most popular attraction. It’s a geyser that blows boiling hot water and steam about 145 feet into the air for more than two minutes on a predictable schedule. It’s truly a sight to behold, and especially enjoyable because an eruption usually happens every 90 minutes.

There’s even a hotel you can stay at right by Old Faithful, and you can see eruptions from the lobby!

Hiking in Yellowstone is a wonderful experience, and a great family bonding activity. There are hikes for all ages and abilities, and the views along the trip and at the destination are rewarding for everyone. There are several hikes that take you to mountain waterfalls, like Mystic Falls.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is the opposite of Yellowstone, with deep gorges and desert landscapes, but like Yellowstone, it’s at the top of the list of must-see sites for every family.

Visitors can hike down the basin of the Grand Canyon, and camp along the way. They need to be prepared for major temperature changes, with really hot days and very cold nights, common for the desert even in summer.

If you’d prefer to see it from a car, there are many special viewing places, including the $40 million dollar Skywalk.

If you want to stay in the Canyon, but don’t feel like camping, you can stay at one of a few hotels, like El Tovar Hotel. Staying there is pretty epic, as the hotel is just 26 feet from the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

Dollywood

American treasure Dolly Parton grew up in the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee area. There was a small amusement park attraction for many years, but Dolly Parton became involved in the 1980s, and the amusement park has since grown to be the largest in the state and a wonderful family destination.

The amusement park complex is continually expanding, with roller coasters and other rides, theaters, museums, and a children’s interactive play area.

Pigeon Forge is a destination itself, with additional musical theaters, other entertainment, and the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Truly, there is something for everyone.

Any of these destinations would make for a family vacation to never forget. And if you’re not taking a vacation this year, at least you can look through this list and make plans for next year, and every year until your bucket list is complete!

Now that Joe Biden has announced Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, the 2020 presidential election is officially in full swing.

Let’s take a look at the candidates we’ll be voting for on November 3, less than 100 days away, and where they’ll all be living come Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021.

Joe Biden

Joe Biden has been serving in public office since he was 28 years old. He rocketed from a county council position to U.S. Senator from Delaware just two years later, as one of the country’s youngest senators ever! He served as a senator until he was elected to the office of Vice President when Barack Obama was elected President in 2008. He declined to run for office in 2016, but is now the presumptive Democratic nominee in 2020. He will formally accept the nomination at the end of the four-day Democratic National Convention on August 20.

Joe Biden has always maintained a residence in Delaware since he moved there after law school. Even when he was a senator, he never owned or rented a home in DC; always taking the train back home to be with his family.

He and his wife Jill have lived in a Wilmington suburb for decades. The 6,000 square foot home sits on more than four acres, has six bedrooms and seven bedrooms, has a pool, and backs up to a lake.

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris, like Joe Biden, has spent her career as a public servant. She was a district attorney in northern California before being elected the state’s Attorney General. She was elected to the US Senate in 2017, and ran for president in the Democratic primary in 2019. In December 2019, she bowed out of the race and endorsed Biden, the eventual nominee.

Harris lives with her husband Doug Emhoff, a high-powered attorney, in the LA suburb of Brentwood. The couple share a three bedroom, 3,500 square foot home in a tony neighborhood, perfect for a power couple. The home set Emhoff back at least $2.7 million when he bought it, and some estimate its current worth at more than $4 million.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump has always been a fixture in the New York City scene, but since being elected he has been spending more and more time at his Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida. He has also officially indicated that he will make Florida his official residence after he leaves the White House, whether that’s in 2021 or 2025.

It’s not entirely clear that he’ll live at Mar-A-Lago due to some legal technicalities of it being a resort not a residence, but it’s certain that Trump will certainly have an extremely lavish home when he leaves office.

Mike Pence

Before Mike Pence was elected vice president, he was a member of the House of Representatives, and then governor of the state of Indiana. When he was elected governor, he sold his Columbia, Indiana home and moved into the governor’s mansion.

As far as we know, he doesn’t own another personal residence, although he may still own a home he bought in Arlington, Virginia, way back when he was a Congressman.

U.S. Capitol

The new president will be sworn into office on January 20, 2021, on the west front of the U.S. Capitol Building. The swearing in is usually officiated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and attended by many senators and congresspeople, as well as D.C. elites, political supporters, and thousands of members of the public.

The White House

Whoever wins the election on November 3 will reside in the White House, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. for the next four years. The house has been the official residence for every president since John Adams in 1800, and is a symbol of the institution of the presidency and the relationship the president has with the people of the United States.

Naval Observatory

While the White House has been the official residence of the president for two hundred years, the vice president didn’t have an official residence until 1974, though it’s still officially “temporary”. The house is located about two miles away from the White House in Northwest Washington, D.C. Unlike the White House, the Naval Observatory is secluded and out of the public eye. The house is on the grounds of the still-active Naval Observatory, which provides information to the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense.

While it’s not the reason they run, the White House and Naval Observatory are some wonderful perks that come with being elected to the highest offices in the land. It’s going to be an intense campaign, and whoever wins on November 3 will certainly look forward to some time away at their private homes before picking up and settling into public life come Inauguration Day in January.