A fella from Atlanta has paid his respects at each of the 39 presidential burial sites. Recently, he made a visit to honor Jimmy Carter.
In 2021, history enthusiast Michael Tropp embarked on a journey with a friend to Plains, Georgia, a town with significant ties to former US President Jimmy Carter. Known for his affinity towards American history, Tropp visited Plains before, indulging in local delicacies, purchasing memorabilia, and even buying Billy Beer, a beverage promoted by Carter's brother.
During this visit, a friendly suggestion from a hotel patron in Americus led them to Maranatha Baptist Church, where Carter had previously taught Sunday school. To their surprise, they ended up being the only other attendees besides Carter, his wife Rosalynn, their secret service, and a few church officials. This chance encounter marked one of the few in-person gatherings the Carters had attended since the pandemic.
Tropp later spotted Rosalynn for a photo walk outside the church, and this event turned out to be the last of his four encounters with the former president. Sadly, Rosalynn passed away in November 2023, while Carter himself lived to the ripe age of 100, passing away in Plains on December 29. Carter held the title of the oldest living former president following his surpassing of George H.W. Bush's record in March 2019.
Throughout his life, Tropp has been fortunate enough to meet seven US presidents, with Carter being one of them. He hasn't had the chance to meet President-elect Donald Trump yet but eagerly anticipates the opportunity. His love for US and European history has led him to visit numerous gravesites and historical sites, including the first one he visited at 10 years old - Thomas Jefferson's grave in Virginia.
Visiting presidential gravesites has become an annual tradition for Tropp on his birthday. He has an undying passion for exploring the lives of historical figures and has made it his mission to visit all 39 presidential gravesites across the US. Each shrine holds a unique charm, from the intricate interior of Abraham Lincoln's tomb to the simpler burial sites of lesser-known presidents such as Millard Fillmore and Martin Van Buren.
In December 2023, Tropp paid his respects to Jimmy Carter at The Carter Center in Atlanta, a deeply emotional experience. Carter's final resting place will be in Plains, where his wife is already buried, and Tropp is eager to visit the site as soon as it becomes accessible to the public. His dedication to presidential history is unwavering, as was evident when he spent two hours standing in line to pay his respects to the late president at The Carter Center.
After their visit to Maranatha Baptist Church, Tropp and his friend decided to expand their travel itinerary and explore more historical sites related to US presidents. During their journey, they hoped to add more president's gravesites to Tropp's growing collection.
Upon learning about Carter's death in December 2023, Tropp immediately planned to visit his final resting place in Plains, eager to pay his respects to the late president.
