Barbara Bush is beloved in Kennebunkport, Maine. Known to locals as Mrs. Bush, First Lady 41, Babs, and Ganny to her grandchildren. Our famous First lady and wife of President Geroge H.W. Bush was often seen about town, walking her dogs on the beach, driving her Mercedes SUV to the library, shopping locally, dining at favorites like Striper’s at the Breakwater, Alisson’s and Mabel’s, attending church at St Ann’s, and frequenting fundraisers. She was classy, sassy, kind, indulgent of photos when asked, funny and friendly. My Barbara Bush story… and places in Kennebunkport our First Lady loved.
Barbara Bush, and her literary legacy, is now commemorated on a USPS Forever stamp. How appropriate for a woman who love to read and write notes, her foundation and life’s focus was Children’s Literacy.
June 8 2025 Barbara Bush Birthday Celebration and USPS 1st Lady Stamp Inauguration!
Sunday June 8 Barbara’s Beach Dog Walk – everyone was invited to a dog walk on Gooch’s Beach at 7 am. Dressed up and decorated pups in a Barbara Bush style! Does your pooch have pearls? Mrs Bush was often seen strolling Kennebunk Beach in the early hours with her beloved doggies. What a fun way to celebrate our 41st First Lady’s birthday and her love of tail-waggers and the Pooches of Gooch’s.
Sunday June 8 First Lady Birthday Celebration on the Village Green, 12-3pm, free to the public, celebrating Mrs. Bush’s birthday at her namesake Ganny’s Garden on Ocean Ave. The festivities include live music by Lisa Mills, books, games, and birthday cake. Bush family members will be in attendance. Take time to admire Ganny’s Garden with Barbara’s trademark mismatched Ked sneakers and sun hat, and her favorite book “Pride and Prejudice” cast in bronze. Surrounded by 17 trees, one for each grandchild, with their initials engraved in stone– it’s a heartwarming tribute to her love of family – they call her Ganny. This garden was dedicated to Barbara Bush in 2011, thanks to the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust.
Sunday Evening, a private invitation-only Barbara Bush reception with the Bush family was hosted by Doro at Walkers Point in memory of Mrs. Bush.
Tuesday June 10 Barbara Bush USPS Stamp Dedication Ceremony at 11am, Ganny’s Garden on the River Green, hosted by the United States Postal Service and the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. Be present for this honorary inauguration of our 41st First Lady’s Forever stamp. And buy your Forever Barbara Bush stamps and send a hand-written note to a friend from our historic 04046 Kennebunkport Post Office! Registration with USPS Encouraged.
Tuesday June 10 Maine Celebration of Reading at Vinegar Hill Music Theatre at 5:30pm hosted by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, this dedication and party is ticket required – register here.
Barbara Bush would be 100 years old on her birthday this year! Born June 8, 1925 – she left our beautiful planet April 17, 2018. Her husband George, Mr. President, followed her Nov 30, 2018. Barbara Bush served as First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993, and mother of the 43rd president, George W. Bush 2001-2009.
Maine also has an official Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital specialty license plate, and MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital is in recognition for her commitment to children’s health.
Here are Barbara Bush favorite places around Kennebunkport you can visit in her memory!
Treasure your time in Kennebunkport, get your Barbara Bush Forever stamps, and keep a little of Barbara Bush’s grace, humor and strength with you.
“Your success as a family… our success as a nation… depends not on what happens inside the White House, but on what happens inside your house.” ― Barbara Bush, June 8, 1925 – April 17, 2018
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