I visited a presidential library for the first time. Here are 6 things that surprised me, including a celebrity cameo from 'The West Wing.'

The author inside a replica of the Oval Office at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.Talia Lakritz/Insider

• I visited the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia.
• I was surprised by the historical significance of artifacts on display and a celebrity cameo.

As someone who often writes about US presidents, first families, and White House history, I've wanted to visit a presidential library for a while.

Not every former US president has built one — only 15 have done so since Congress established the practice with the Presidential Libraries Act in 1955. Maintained by the National Archives, the libraries preserve documents and artifacts from a president's time in office. Some also include museums with exhibits about their administrations.

On a trip to Atlanta in October, I spent the afternoon at The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, which opened in 1986. The library stores millions of documents, photos, and hours of video from Carter's time in the White House, and the museum features 15,269 square feet of exhibits about his life and presidency, according to the organization's official website.

Here's what I found surprising during my visit.