Celebrating the National Historic Site DECENNIAL 2011-2021 National Historic Site Celebrating 10 Years In this house on Hervey Street, a young boy named William Jefferson Blythe III lived with his mother and grandparents. He was born on August 19, 1946 to Virginia Blythe. Named for his father who died before his son was born, Billy grew up to become William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States. He lived in this comfortable frame house, pictured below, with his widowed mother and her parents for the first four years of his life. They taught him lessons about the importance of education, family, and being kind to others. These life lessons later defined his presidency and his emergence as a global statesman. The nonprofit Clinton Birthplace Foundation, Inc. acquired the Birthplace Home in 1994 and opened the restored house to the public three years later as President Bill Clinton’s 1st Home Museum & Exhibit Center. In 2010 the home was officially designated as a National Historic Site and the National Park Service assumed operation of the site in January 2011. The National Park Service protects and preserves President Clinton’s Birthplace Home and tells the story of his early life in Hope, Arkansas. President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home NPS photo How to Become a Junior Ranger Do you want to be a Junior Ranger at President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site? Do you have what it takes? Here’s the secret: anyone between the ages of 9-12 can become a Junior Ranger. It’s easy and fun! Just take a tour of the Birthplace Home, talk to a park ranger, and complete two of the three other activities in this booklet to receive your Limited-Edition Junior Ranger Decennial Patch and Certificate. Left: A young Billy Blythe (Clinton) poses in a photographer’s studio in Hope. Clinton Family photo, courtesy of the William J. Clinton Foundation. Right: President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site Junior Ranger badge 1 Jr. Ranger Activity Booklet Tour President Clinton’s Birthplace Home Take a tour of the home where the future president spent the first four years of his life. See his childhood bedroom where he looked out of his windows and watched the trains go by. Walk down the stairs where he hid on Christmas morning to look at the presents under the tree. What are your memories of home? Tours leave every 30 minutes. Talk to a ranger to schedule yours. Tour Completed on ______ at __:___ (Date) (Time) Jr. Ranger Activity Booklet 2 Interview a Ranger Park rangers (whose gray and green uniforms and Stetson hats make them easy to find), volunteers, and other National Park Service employees have many different jobs. They take care of the buildings, answer questions at the visitor center, patrol the park, and give guided tours of the Birthplace Home. Find out more about the park rangers! Here are a few questions to get you started. Add two questions of your own and write down the answers. 5. (Write your own question here.) 3 Jr. Ranger Activity Booklet Matching Many people in Arkansas helped shape young Bill Clinton’s view of the world and taught him lessons that helped him to become President. As you walk through the exhibits in the visitor center, look for the answers to match these people and events with their roles in President Clinton’s life. A. Hopalong Cassidy F. Edith Grisham Cassidy B. Boys Nation G. Buddy Grisham C. Roger Clinton H. 1993 D. Playing the saxophone I. Eldridge Cassidy E. Virginia Cassidy Blythe Clinton Went to New Orleans to finish school while young Bill stayed with his grandparents. Owned a grocery store on Berry Street and taught his grandson about social and racial justice. Taught a young Bill Clinton to read and inspired him to dedicate his life to helping others. Activity the future President loved in high school. President Clinton named his dog after this person because his dog seemed intelligent and good-natured, too. Born in Hot Springs, this person inspired Billy Blythe to legally change his name to Clinton. As a child, young Bill Clinton liked to dress like this cowboy hero. The year Bill Clinton first took the oath as President of the United States of America. Where a teenage Bill Clinton met John F. Kennedy in 1963. Jr. Ranger Activity Booklet 4 Journal Entry Do you want to be President? When President Clinton was very young, his grandmother wrote a letter saying: “We’re getting Billy a little roll top desk for Christmas. He’s going to grow up to be president and he’ll need a desk.” Big dreams can start very young. President Clinton thought that education and health care were very important issues. What do you think is important? If you were President, what changes would you like to make to the country? 5 Jr. Ranger Activity Booklet Word Search Find the following words that relate to President Clinton’s childhood. Buddy Hopalong Student Commitment Watermelon Jr. Ranger Activity Booklet 6 CONNECT THE DOTS! President Clinton’s childhood hero was Hopalong Cassidy and as a child, he often dressed up like him. Identify the image below and connect the dots. Who was your childhood hero and why? _____________________________________ Young Bill Clinton in Hope, AR Photo courtesy of The Clinton Foundation Jr. Ranger Activity Booklet 7 I Spy with My Little Eye Find and Circle the objects An old radio - The radio in the Birthplace Home is a Philco radio. The Philco radio was invented in 1892 in Philadelphia! A black rotary phone - Rotary phones, which were was invented in 1919, were very popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Three tin cars - Tin cars were a popular child’s toy when President Clinton was growing up. Tin cars first became popular in the late 1950s, around the time President Clinton was 9 years old. A red tricycle - The Thistle tricycle was a popular child’s toy in the 1940s and 1950s, during President Clinton’s early years. An old fashioned camera - The Spartus Full View Camera was made between 1948- 1960 and was the premier camera to have. Bookcase – The family kept the bookcase filled with books to encourage reading. NPS photo Jr. Ranger Activity Booklet 8 Junior Ranger Certificate This Certificate is presented to: ____________________________________________ I promise to: 1. Treat all other people with respect 2. Work hard and do my best in school 3. Learn more about the history and contributions of people all over the world, starting with my own family and community 4. Tell others about my experiences in National Parks This certificate is given in recognition of completing the required activities in the Junior Ranger Booklet and Celebrating President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site Decennial! ____________________ ________________ Park Ranger Date Jr. Ranger Activity Booklet 9 .