B.A.R.K. Rangers Are Making History at Eisenhower Farm
At Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg, history isn’t just experienced through artifacts and tours—it’s also experienced through sniffs and tail wagging.
Allowing dogs on the grounds of the Eisenhower National Historic Site began as a response to shifting visitor patterns post-pandemic but it has become a community favorite, drawing in both dog lovers and history lovers.
The B.A.R.K. Ranger Program is transforming how visitors interact with the park, thanks to the creative leadership of Eva Blankenhorn, park guide for Eisenhower National Historic Site, and support from team members like Jason Martz, communications specialist for Eisenhower National Historic Site and Gettysburg National Military Park.
A Program with Purpose—and Personality
Blankenhorn, a National Park Service staff member whose journey began as an intern in 2019, returned full-time to the Eisenhower National Historic Site in 2022 and soon after brought her passion for dogs to work with her.
“Among many things in life, I’m very passionate about my dogs. My dogs are quite literally my world outside of work,” she says. “My husband and I love to make day trips with them, travel with them and take them to surrounding parks.”
That personal passion intersected with a shift in operations in the post-COVID era.
The Eisenhower farm site made the critical transition away from shuttle-only access, allowing visitors to drive and park on-site.
“With that change, inherently more people started coming with their dogs,” reflects Blankenhorn. “Especially in the post-COVID world, people are traveling with their pets. And for a lot of people, their dogs are like their children.”
That wave of pet-inclusive visitation created the perfect environment to launch the B.A.R.K. Ranger Program, a national initiative by the National Park Service designed to encourage safe, respectful recreation with pets.
“At its heart, the B.A.R.K. Ranger program is an education program,” she explains. “It is intended to encourage visitors to safely, responsibly and respectfully visit their parks.”
Eisenhower’s Unique Twist
What makes the Eisenhower version of the B.A.R.K. program stand out? It’s tailored not only to the natural setting but to the legacy of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie.
“Our tag actually has the five stars on it because Eisenhower was a five-star general,” Blankenhorn notes. “Most of the tags are pretty basic, but ours is a little bit unique.”
The B.A.R.K. acronym—Bag your waste, Always leash, Respect wildlife, Know where you can go—is standard across the National Park Service, but Eisenhower’s implementation takes it further. The park’s activity booklet includes farm-specific education, such as tick safety and appropriate interaction with the park’s cattle. It also mentions that the Eisenhowers owned dogs while they lived in the White House and Gettysburg. The result is a program specifically tailored to the uniqueness of the Eisenhower Farm.
“It is truly a booklet that you couldn’t do in any other site because it is really focused on the Eisenhowers, the property, their dogs and the specific animals and things we have here,” Blankenhorn explains.
Community Connection
The impact of the program stretches well beyond the visiting public. Park staff, volunteers and locals have embraced the opportunity for outdoor recreation.
“A lot of people, even some of our park volunteers … now come to Eisenhower to walk their dogs,” Blankenhorn says. “It’s a little bit quieter than the battlefield. People are really starting to realize that this is also their park.”
That local connection was on full display during the B.A.R.K. Ranger launch party in spring 2023.
“We had a lot of activities. Visitors could make paw print art, do a presidential pet trivia game,” she reflects. “That day really stood out to me because … house tours had wrapped up, but we were still so busy on-site. Families were coming to experience the park with their dogs.”
For Martz, the success of the program speaks to Eisenhower’s recreational and familial tone.
“It’s a fun way to look at the space in a way that we wouldn’t necessarily think would be maybe even appropriate to utilize the Gettysburg space,” he explains, referring to the neighboring Gettysburg battlefield. “To have a B.A.R.K. Ranger program at Eisenhower in mid-20th century feels … it feels right. It’s supposed to be there.”
Martz, who oversees communications for both Gettysburg National Military Park and the Eisenhower National Historic Site, views the B.A.R.K. program not just as clever outreach but as a natural extension of Eisenhower’s legacy. “You’re not really thinking about war here. It’s a family setting. It’s a farm.”
That idea of inclusivity and community echoes Eisenhower’s own approach to leadership and home life. “[Mamie] believed in the power of this place to build communities, to bring people together—whether that was their family, members of their White House staff or world leaders,” Martz explains. “This has historically always been a place committed to community building.”
Blankenhorn’s personal story is also part of the program’s history. Her greyhound Lupa was the first official Eisenhower B.A.R.K. Ranger.
“There’s a little bit of nepotism there,” she jokes, “but it’s OK.”
From its bespoke badge to its rich historical content, the Eisenhower B.A.R.K. Ranger Program is much more than a fun outing. Guests who visit may walk away with a meaningful experience wrapped in tail wags and fresh air. The program allows guests to explore beyond the house tour into fields, trails and stories that form the greater whole of the Eisenhower site.
“We want the public to know that we are more than a house tour,” Blankenhorn says. “The Eisenhowers didn’t just buy a house here, they bought a farm that they loved.”
If You Go
Visitors are encouraged to participate in the B.A.R.K. Ranger program at their leisure. While special events are occasional, the program runs year-round with no registration required. Materials are available at the site, and guidelines for pet visitors are posted online at the National Park Service website at tinyurl.com/gettybark.
While Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site are both entities of the National Park Service, the B.A.R.K. Program is exclusive to the Eisenhower property.
Whether you’re local or just passing through, the B.A.R.K. program offers a chance to slow down, breathe in the pastoral peace of the farm and maybe earn your pup a wooden badge—and a place in Eisenhower history.
Junior Ranger Program at the National Park Service
The National Park Service’s Junior Ranger Program is another way younger visitors can interact with the park. Primarily for children ages 5 to 13, the goal of the program is to educate children and families about the natural and historical significance of national parks in the United States. The program encourages young visitors to explore, learn and protect the parks while visiting these historical and significant sites.
Children who participate receive a Junior Ranger activity booklet specific to the park they’re visiting. Activities are created to match the relevance of the site and often include scavenger hunts, drawing exercises, puzzles and questions that promote observation and understanding of the park’s significance. When complete, the booklet will be reviewed by a park ranger, and participants are “sworn in” as official Junior Rangers, receiving a badge or patch as a symbol of their participation in the program.
More than just fun, the program fosters a sense of stewardship and reverence for the parks. Things like environmental awareness and civic responsibility are lessons that Junior Rangers may take away with them, along with their symbolic badge. Many parks also offer Junior Ranger programs online, allowing children to earn badges from home.
With more than 200 participating parks across the United States, the Junior Ranger program continues to inspire the next generation of history lovers and those who value the natural beauty of our national parks. The Junior Ranger program makes learning about national parks a hands-on adventure for the whole family. The motto says it all: “Explore. Learn. Protect.”
You can find more about the Junior Park Ranger experience online at at the National Park Services website.
Dog-Friendly Places in Adams County
Dog-Friendly Parks & Outdoor Spaces
Gettysburg Recreation Park Dog Park: Fenced-in dog park with separate areas for small and large dogs
Eisenhower National Historic Site: Dogs are welcome on the grounds as part of the B.A.R.K. Ranger Program (Leashes required. No pets inside the house.)
Gettysburg National Military Park: Leashed dogs can accompany you on most trails and open grounds. Be mindful of tick-prone areas.
Mary’s Gift Dog Park at Oakside Community Park (Biglerville): Fenced-in dog park with separate areas for small and large dogs
Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve (Fairfield): Dogs allowed on leash throughout the preserve’s hiking trails
Codorus State Park (in nearby Hanover): Leashed dogs allowed on most trails and in designated camping areas
Dog-Friendly Restaurants & Breweries
Thirsty Farmer Brew Works (Biglerville): Outdoor seating is pet-friendly with scenic farm views
Fourscore Beer Co. (Gettysburg): Patio seating welcomes well-behaved pups. Staff often offer water bowls!
Mason Dixon Distillery (Gettysburg): Dogs allowed in the outdoor dining area
The Gettysburger Company: Pet-friendly sidewalk seating in downtown Gettysburg
Reid’s Winery: The Cider House (Gettysburg): Pet-friendly patio with live music and local vibes
Shops & Attractions
The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg: Many stores allow dogs inside; look for “dog-friendly” signs on doors
Dogs of Gettysburg: A charming boutique just for pups!
Ghost Tours of Gettysburg: Some walking tours allow leashed dogs (call ahead to confirm)
