Everything LBJ!

We camped near Austin, TX for two nights so that we could visit the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin on the campus of the University of Texas in downtown Austin.  Admission to the library was free, and a donation was gratefully accepted.  

The library boasts three floors of documents for research, and the public library/museum offers film clips and displays of events during his presidency - from film of Kennedy's assassination,  a replica of his oval office and Lady Bird's office, his early years in government, and the film clip of his decision not to run for re-election.  

I was blown away by the amount of legislation LBJ was able to accomplish in his time as president.   He was born on a ranch near Stonewall, Texas to Rebekh Baines Johnson and Sam Ealy Johnson Jr.   At the age of 4 he went to a one-room school called, Junction, a short distance from the house.   At age 5 the family moved to Johnson City, TX so that Lyndon would have more opportunities for education.   He lived in that home until  he was married to Lady Bird.    He attended college in San Marcos, and taught school to migrant children for a short time.   He admired FDR, and when he became president his goal was to level the playing field, so that poor people would have a better chance at bettering themselves.   As a result, he worked at negotiating his "Great Society".   He was president from 1963-1969.   His body of achievements include voting rights, Headstart, Medicare, and PBS to just name a few of his accomplishments.   The reader can see the extensive list of his achievements on the web.

Other sites of interest on our tour of all things LBJ included a short walk from the National Park Visitor Center in Johnson City to the "Johnson Settlement" where Sam Ealy Johnson Sr. brought his bride in 1867.   Sam was a cattleman and he and his brother drove cattle from Texas up to Abilene Kansas.
On the site is also a James Polk Johnson Barn, built  by his nephew in 1875.  Johnson City was named after James Polk Johnson, who donated the land for the town.

We drove the 16 miles from Johnson City to Stonewall, to the LBJ State Park and Historic Site Visitor Center where we received a free driving permit and a CD containing audio about sites we would see on the tour of the ranch area.    

Junction School:   4-yr old Lyndon learned to read at this one room school.  He returned 53 years later to sign the Elementary and Secondary Eduction Act with his first teacher sitting beside him!

LBJ's birthplace was reconstructed by LBJ and was used as a guest house during his presidency.

Johnson Family Cemetery is right across the road from Lyndon's birthplace.   Lyndon and Lady Bird are both buried at this cemetery as are generations of Johnsons.

Sam and Eliza Johnson (Lyndon's grandparents) moved to Stonewall and lived out their lives "just down the road" from his grandson, Lyndon.

The Texas White House - The house is a century-old rock farmhouse which was enlarged as the Johnson family grew.   During the Johnson presidency it was called the Texas White House.   The site includes a hangar and LBJ's smaller Air Force One (he called it Air Force one half) which flew him from Austin to the ranch.   Today the site includes a working ranch and as you drive to the house, you share the road with cattle grazing along the road.  

We enjoyed our stay in the area and felt we had learned a great deal about our 36th president of the US.

See the pictures in the next blog.