We were very fortunate to visit the Lyndon B. Johnson ranch, also known at the Texas White House. Once you enter the grounds of the National Historical Park, you need to stop at the visitor center. Once inside the building, you need to talk to one of the park rangers. They will give you an entrance pass. The pass to enter the National Historical Park is free. We drove about 1.5 miles on a winding road following the banks of the Pedernales River. The first stop, before entering the ranch area, is the Junction School house. This is a one room school house where Lyndon B. Johnson attended his earlier years of school. I attached a photos that show the area and the desk that he signed an Educational Act.
We drove a short distance to the cemetery where the President and his wife, Lady Bird Johnson are buried. You cannot access the cemetery, however the view from the surrounding security area still allows you see their head stones.
Across from the cemetery is the rebuilt boyhood home of LBJ. I have included a few photos of this very well maintained home.
We drove a short distance again and arrived at the area surrounding where the Texas White is located. When driving to the entrance of the Texas White House grounds, we entered on what was at one time a runway for the President to land his plane. The landing lights still nicely mounted close to the former runway. Luckily we were are able to see the Presidents plane, a permanent exhibit at the park. As a guest on the ranch, you were allowed to walk up a set of stairs to enter the plane. I attached a few photos of plane.
Once we viewed the plane, we entered the Texas White House entrance area. We were met by another park ranger. We were able to purchase tour tickets for $3.00 to take a scheduled tour of the Texas White House. Before completing our tour, the center had a great video of the President and the importance of this ranch and his life as President. The tour guide told us that the President spent 25% of administration at this ranch.
Once the tour started we were only able to take photos of the exterior, not the interior.
Our tour guide stated that the former residence has been opened to the public since August 27, 2008. He did tell us that only the first floor is viewable, the second is not structural sound to visit. While touring the Texas White House, we visited the President’s Office, living room, dining room, and the Johnsons’ bedroom suites. The tour guide told our group that the home was restored after purchasing the home from his aunt. Interesting story, LBJ bought this home without consulting Lady Bird Johnson. If you would like to read more about the house, I attached a link to the National Park Service website.
https://www.nps.gov/lyjo/planyourvisit/twh.htm
This stop is well worth it if you are in the Austin or Fredricksburg Texas area, central Texas.
Enjoy our photos. Please follow us on Facebook & Twitter ! We encourage you to visit our sponsors (ads) on each page.
#BretonTravels #LBJranch #NationalParkService
