National Park Service at 100: President Clinton childhood home, Arkansas

Bill Clinton's Childhood Home

“I believe in a place called Hope.” Those words ended the acceptance speech of then Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton at the 1992 Democratic Party convention. Clinton eventually went on to win the 1992 presidential election and re-election in 1996.

Clinton referred to his childhood hometown in rural southwestern Arkansas. He said growing up the first few years of his life in Hope helped established his views on life and society.

Bust of Bill Clinton

Clinton was actually born William Jefferson Blythe Jr. His natural father died in a car accident a few months before his birth. His mom moved to Hope to live with his grandparents because she knew she would need help with his upbringing, while she attended college.

His grandparents actually rented the house on South Hervey Street after losing their house during the depression.

The house was turned into a National Park Service attraction in 2010.

I was in Texarkana, Arkansas, recently on business. Since we had some free time, a colleague and I drove to Hope – about a 30-minute drive.

Backyard of Bill Clinton's Childhood Home

The park ranger actually gave us a guided tour of the house. Clinton lived in the house for the first few years of his life. His mother eventually married Roger Clinton. The elder Clinton then moved the family across town to his house. A few years later, the family moved to Hot Springs.

President Clinton took on the last name of Clinton shortly before his younger brother was to start grade school. The President explained that he thought it best for both boys to have the same last name. This was as a child!

Decorating the house was based on photographs and people’s recollections.

Living Room of Bill Cliinton's Childhood HomeThe living room had a sofa and sitting area.

The dining room reminded me of the one we had when we lived in Oakland, Nebraska. Mainly, the dining table looked very much like the one we had.Dining Room in Bill Clinton's Childhood Home

A small pantry between the dining room and the kitchen displayed a laundry and ironing set-up.

The kitchen played a major role in Clinton’s development.

Kitchen in Bill Clinton's Childhood Home

An interesting note about the kitchen – the water heater was next to the stove. That was common in older homes. It was also common for the heater to catch fire because of the heat generated by the stove.

Kitchen in Bill Clinton's Childhood Home

Moving upstairs, Clinton’s bedroom was the first on the floor. It was decorated with a western motif. He was a major cowboy fan, partial to Hopalong Cassidy. Some believe this is because of his grandparents’ last name – Cassidy.

Mom's bedroom in Bill Clinton's Childhood Home

The largest room in the floor belonged to his mom.

The lone bathroom was located on the second floor.

bedroom in Bill Clinton's Childhood Home

The last room on the top floor was his grandparents’ bedroom. They slept in separate beds. Each bed’s headboard was next to a window. It’s believed that was to help catch a cool breeze at night.

Following our tour, it was recommended we check out the train depot for more Clinton history.

Train Depot in Hope, AR

The depot was turned into a Hope museum in 1999. A large part of the depot contains Clinton memorabilia, but it also has displays of railroad history and other Hope celebrities.

Ketty Lester was a well-known singer. She had a Top 5 hit in 1962 with “Love Letters.” She later acted on “Little House on the Prairie.”

 

Another well-known politician from Hope is for former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Huckabee, who is a conservative TV and radio personality, ran unsuccessfully for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. I am impressed that a small town turned out two presidential candidates.

Hope is also home to a watermelon festival during the summer. In 1980, it recorded its largest watermelon at 200 lbs.

200 lb watermelon in Hope, AR

While Hope may not be a destination spot for people, it is definitely worth pulling off the interstate and spending an hour or so in the hometown of one of our presidents.

 

 

Hope, Arkansas - Birthplace of Bill Clinton