Thirteen popular Presidential Libraries. The Presidential Library system began in 1939, when FDR donated his personal and Presidential papers to the Federal Government. There are now 13 official Presidential libraries open and operated by the National Archives and Records Administration (or NARA, which you've no doubt heard a lot about lately). Abraham Lincoln's is outside NARA's auspices.
I'm a nerd and admit I've been to five of the libraries on this list (*). Three I've visited more than once. It's true, I love this shit! Here are the most popular Presidential libraries, as determined by annual visitors.
1. Ronald Reagan -- Simi, California -- 383,000 visitors in 2019
2. Bill Clinton -- Little Rock, Arkansas -- 334,000*
3. John F. Kennedy -- Boston, Massachusetts -- 296,000*
4. Abraham Lincoln -- Springfield, Illinois -- 240,000*
5. George W. Bush -- Dallas, Texas -- 232,000
6. Dwight Eisenhower -- Abilene, Kansas -- 186,000
7. Gerald R. Ford -- Grand Rapids, Michigan -- 158,000
8. Franklin D. Roosevelt -- Hyde Park, NY -- 140,000
9. Lyndon B. Johnson -- Austin, Texas -- 139,000
10. George H. W. Bush -- College Station, Texas -- 136,000
11. Richard Nixon -- Yorba Linda, California -- 85,000*
12. Harry Truman -- Independence, Missouri -- 59,000*
13. Jimmy Carter -- Atlanta, Georgia -- 52,000
and to be complete, here's #14 ...
14. Herbert Hoover -- West Branch, Iowa -- 43,000
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