Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s residence in Plains, Georgia, provides the key to understanding what was most important to them: home and family. Built in 1961, the house reflected their modesty and unpretentiousness and was their home through the major milestones of Jimmy Carter’s life and career, including his service as a state senator from 1963 to 1971, governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975, thirty-ninth President of the United States from 1977 to 1981, Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 2002, and citizen of Plains. Jimmy Carter said in 1976, after winning the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, that coming back to Plains was what meant most to him, because his home folks treated him as one of them. The Carters welcomed special guests, dignitaries, and friends there; cabinet and vice presidential hopefuls were interviewed there, his inaugural address was prepared there, and other functions of his office were carried out there while they used the house as a retreat from Washington. The house is filled with White House memorabilia, gifts from foreign dignitaries, and handmade furnishings the Carters constructed, including built-in shelves for their many books. After Carter’s defeat in the 1980 presidential race, he and Rosalynn returned to Plains and built a new life centered on gardening, woodworking, painting, writing books and memoirs, humanitarian projects, and time with friends and family. They achieved international recognition for involvement and leadership in peace, conflict resolution, human rights, health care, nutrition, education, and low-income housing.