Lyndon Johnson presided over our country as the 36th President during one of the tumultuous and historical significant periods of United States history. Becoming President just as the nation was rocked by the assassination of John F. Kennedy, life as America knew it immediately began to change. As for civil reform, it’s possible no President did more than LBJ. His Great Society programs which included voting rights, Medicaid, foodstamps, education aid, environmental protection, consumer protection, public radio and telelvision, and the Civil Rights Act, have left an impact that resonates even today. And his commitment to the space program ensured that we would put a man on the moon before the end of the decade.
If it had not been for our dire, losing position in the Vietnam war, LBJ would most certainly have been remembered as one of our great Presidents. While touring Texas with my friend Bob, we had the opportunity to visit all of the prominent historical locations from Johnson’s life.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 – Lyndon Johnson Birthplace – The Lyndon Johnson Historic Park in Stonewall, Texas includes the entire LBJ ranch and some of the surrounding area. Johnson had actually extended his land so that it would include both the house where he was born. A short film that we saw in the visitors center of the park showed LBJ giving a tour of his birth home, where he exhibited some of his flair for stretching the truth saying that it contained the actual bed on which he was born. The house was later completely reconstructed when it became unsafe, so what we saw was an exact replica in the original location.
Bob and I had to illegally cross ‘behind the bus’ to get this shot with the birthplace sign, but Presidential locations are not always for the squeamish
The reconstructed birthhouse
Me and our park ranger tour guide in front of the birthplace
The room where LBJ was born, closed for renovation
The well that LBJ was shown pumping when he toured this house with a reporter while President
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 – LBJ Boyhood Home – Just east of Stonewall is Johnson City, a town actually named after Johnson’s ancestors. Located here is Johnson’s boyhood home whic was built in 1901. The Johnson family moved here when Lyndon was about five years old and he lived here for nearly ten years. Johnson returned to this home and launched his first campaign for Congress from the porch of this house.
The LBJ Boyhood home in Stonewall
The boy meets the boyhood home
LBJ’s old room
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 – LBJ Ranch – This ranch was owned and occupied by Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson during his presidency and was known as the Texas White House. He continued to live here after he left office until his death in 1973. Lady Bird continued to occupy the home until her death in July 2007.
Although the house will not be opened to the public until the celebration of Johnson’s 100th birthday in August 2008, our bus stopped in front of the house so that we could get pictures of the home – something that was not permitted while Lady Bird was still alive. Our tour also took us throughout the entire functioning ranch.
Outside the LBJ ranch
The Texas White House, not yet open to the public
With the hulking LBJ statue on the LBJ Ranch property
In addition to the birth house being added to the property, Johnson also purchased his former childhood schoolhouse, which was located just a stone’s throw from the house. Johnson had actually returned to the school house in 1965 to sign an education which allocated 1.5 billion dollars in federal funds to America’s schools.
In front of the schoolhouse and Centennial Celebration sign
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 – The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum – The LBJ Library was dedicated in 1971 at the University of Texas at Austin and is the only Presidential Library that does not charge admission. This was a great museum filled with artifacts and displays on Johnson’s career and Presidency. Among the highlights were the bible used and clothing worn by LBJ and Lady Bird when he was sworn in as President following the Kennedy assassination, recorded diary entries from Lady Bird, the Presidential limousine, a display of gifts from heads of state, and a talking animatronic of LBJ.
One current attraction is a Johnson look-a-like who has stepped into Johnson’s shoes at the time that he was Senate Majority Leader during the 1950’s. This actor named Michael Stuart can answer any question pertaining to that time period employing the look, voice, and feel of the Johnson of that era.
With a lot of construction going on in the area, it was hard to get a good shot (without an orange pylon) outside the LBJ Library
The LBJ Library or bust!
With the Bible on which LBJ was sworn into office in Dallas on Air Force One, November 22, 1963
In the LBJ Oval Office reproduction
The 1968 “Stretch” Lincoln used to transport President Johnson in Washington
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 – Lyndon Johnson gravesite – LBJ and JFK are the only late Presidents with Libraries who are not buried at them. Instead Johnson is buried on his ranch within a very short walking distance of his birthhome. I was concerned that I would not be able to get a good picture with the grave, knowing that it was located within a small private family cemetery that was surrounded by a small wall and could only be visited as part of the guided tour. In other words, much as I wanted to, I could not jump the fence.
However, I was able to have a relatively nice and clear photo taken of me with the grave. Lady Bird Johnson was now buried next to her husband, but unfortunately her headstone had not yet been erected.
The flowers mark the site of Lady Bird, buried next to her husband
Me and LBJ
Continue to the next President…
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You look like a little kid being scolded by LBJ’s statue.
Chris
May 4th, 2008
That’s great! Very interesting!!!
Amber
May 5th, 2008
That LBJ statue sure seems intimidating. Imagine the real Lyndon Johnson looking at you like that!
I’m a bit confused about your comment about the LBJ grave. I thought that visitors could drive around the ranch and visit sites at their own pace.
Kurt
March 18th, 2012
That ‘finger-pointing’ image must be of his attitude as congressional leader. That would be… ‘It’s my way or the highway’
doctorhugo
July 26th, 2015