Camp David Museum

Even if you can not hitch a ride on Marine One, you can get a glimpse of why the Obamas love Camp David. Hop in your car and journey to the Catoctin Mountains in Thurmont, Maryland. Just a little over an hour from downtown Washington, DC by car, Camp David is located in the middle of a National Park. Although Camp David itself is closed to the public, the National Park Service and the Maryland park service both operate two fabulous park facilities that the public can enjoy for a day or over night.

Camp David, the presidential retreat, was carved out of 10,000 acres of land that is now the Catoctin Mountain National Park and the Cunningham Falls State Park during the Roosevelt administration. The national park park allows visitors to take day hikes, rent cabins or pitch tents in designated areas of its 5,000 acres. Be sure to plan ahead. The competition for park reservations can be fierce in season and the park is subject to "temporary partial park closures" that often coincide with presidential visits to Camp David.

Cunningham Falls State Park has a beautiful lake with camping, boating and multiple beaches in its 5,000 acres. The state park boasts a wonderful hike from the beach area to Cunningham Falls. During the summer, expect to find the 78 foot falls full of children climbing and frolicking in the natural land mark.

Before pitching tent or after taking a dip in the lake, make a stop at the Camp David Museum at the Cozy complex. The Cozy Restaurant and Inn has been a hang out for press since President Roosevelt established Shangri La (FDR's name for the presidential camp when it was first created). The Freeze family, owners of the Cozy property, created the Camp David Museum from items donated by the many members of the press corp that stay and eat at Cozy while covering news events at Camp David.

The impressive collection includes Camp David trinkets and memorabilia from the Roosevelt to the Obama administrations. Of particular note is a commemorative plate from President Carter's historic summit at Camp David with President Anwar El Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menahem Begin of Israel. The presidential trinkets reflect the dramatic shift in social trends and values. For example, the collection includes packages of cigarettes with the presidential seal that are no longer made, but were replaced with packages of M&Ms with the presidential seal.

The Camp David Museum is located at 103 Frederick Road in the town of Thurmont, Maryland. The museum is approximately 50 miles from both Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland and 20 miles from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Museum hours are 11:00am to 9:00pm weekdays and 8:00am to 9:00pm on weekends.