LBJ Day, Continued

This was the Presidential site that many of us were especially eager to see: The Lyndon Baines Johson National Historical Park. Most us us on tour remember President Lyndon Johnson, and seeing where he lived brings back very real memories of the times.

The first stop was at his boyhood home. The small "dogtrot" style residence belonged to the family for many years and was restored during LBJ's time to its appearance in the 1920's. Relatives and friends in the area donated antiques. LBJ himself would lead people on a tour of this home, reminiscing about his boyhood.

This photo of President-to-be was displayed in one of the bedrooms.

I like this wood cooking stove. (My Granmother had one like it.)

Next we visited the Johnson family cemetery. President and Mrs. Johnson are both buried here among many, many other family members.

Driving up to the ranch is very impressive. It's a long drive. Along the way we were looking for deer among the trees. (I recall reading that LBJ had taken President Kennedy deer hunting one time and I wonder whether this was the place,) Before we reached the ranch home, however, we stopped at the pens where the longhorn cattle are kept. These are direct decendents of LBJ's cattle. This is a working ranch, and the National Park Service here are dressed like ranchers.

   

There's a runway at "The Texas White House," too short for the Presidential jet Air Force One, but adequate for a smaller jet or a helicopter landing. On view is the Jetstar LBJ used that he liked to call "Air Force One-Half."

Finally we made our way to the residence itself. We had learned so much about President Johnson this day that when we saw the ranch, I almost expected him to walk out and greet us. We had an extensive tour.

Mrs. Johnson used this ranch as her home up until 2007. She updated it throughout the years. When the home was turned over to the National Park Service to be opened to the public, it was restored to the appearance it had during the LBJ Presidency.

The furnishings seemed quite common. We were told that the grandchildren didn't like the restoration because this was not the home they remembered growing up.

I really enjoyed seeing the office where he worked, and the display of what looked like a Presidential plate collection. ( This reminded me of the collection we have in our dining room.)

The room that made the biggest impression on me, however, was the bedroorm where he died. I hadn't thought about him dying here, so I wasn't expecting to see this. At the time of our tour, this part of the home was undergoing renovations.

The highlight of this day was a BBQ, just for our group, much like the ones given by LBJ years ago. The lawn under the trees near the banks of the Pedernales River was one of his favorite places. This is where he held press conferences and entertained dignitaries. And here we were on a gorgeous early Texan evening.

There couldn't have been a better finale to our exceptional trip with C-SPAN and Presidential historian Richard Norton Smith and a fine group of fellow travelers.

A Few More Photos, LBJ Library

Geo asked, "Where are the pictures of the Johnsons' private quarters at the Museum? These are more important to see than pictures of the Oval Office; everyone knows what the Oval Office looks like."

So these are especially for Geo, photos of the LBJ residence on the upper floor of the Library. This room opens to the balconey in view of the UT - Austin stadium.

Here's a photo of Mrs. Johnson's office. We were told that this is just how it was left on the very last day that she worked here:

I also took a photo of the picture of President Johnson with the news anchor Walter Cronkite. It is often said that when Walter Cronkite publicly began to turn against the Viet Nam war, that was the real turning point of Middle America turning against the war and President Johnson's policies.

Finally, LBJ himself - and his hat, a man called "Bigger than Life."

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Mrs. Johnson's Wildflower Center includes 297 acres of wilflowers, plants and landscaping promoting conservation and sustainable use. Our tour group arrived at the entrance and there we remained for an extended time, enthralled with the beauty of  the waterlily garden.

All cameras were focussed on this little guy, trying to capture a good photo when he was nearing the surface. (I thought this one came out pretty well.)

The Wildflower Center was actually co-founded in 1982 by Mrs. Johnson and the actress Helen Hayes. I recall hearing that Mrs. Johnson visited the gardens at Biltmore before this one was constructed. Since we had visited Biltmore, I wanted to see what the influences may have been. Biltmore conserves original heirloom plantings; Mrs. Johnson's Center also conserves and promotes plants that are natural to the environment.

Here's a cactus flower, ready to open.

From the very first when I found out we were visiting this site, I was eager to see the "Butterfly Garden." I had visions of butterflies flittiing all around, and we would be walking around in their midst. Well, I found the butterfly garden, but it was a challenge to find any butterflies at all! I made it my mission to get at least one photo of a butterfly. Here it is:

In this garden I did meet a woman who showed us where they "cocoon" the caterpillars, then release them when they become butterflies. I tried to capture a photo of the butterfly leaving the cocoon bag, but it was just too quick for me.

Visiting the Wildflower Center was a nice change of pace from our tours of all the Presidential sites. If we lived anywhere near Austin, I would be a frequent visitor here (and maybe a volunteer!).

LBJ Day

Day 9 of our Presidents and Patriots Tour was "LBJ Day."

After breakfast we visited the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Museum, located within site of the University of Texas at Austin, the Longhorns stadium.

We were told that President Lyndon Baines Johnson loved this balcony view from his living quarters not only because he could hear the Longhorn games, but he could get on a loudspeaker to invite all the fans to his museum.

Here are 2 views of the replica of the LBJ Oval Office:

I was impressed by a display of an original newspaper reporting on the assassination of MLK, Jr. The photo of the Lorraine Motel is clearly seen. Since we had just been to the Lorraine Motel, this was especially meaningful.

And who could not be impressed seeing LBJ's own Texan boots!

I'd rank the LBJ Museum and Library as one of the best, really portraying the many facets of a very complicated man, President during extremely turbulent times.

A Visit to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Museum

This photo of the entrance to the George H.W.Bush Presidential Museum was taken from the bus.

Our visit here was much more uplifting than our visit to the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas.

The exhibits depicting President Bush from his childhood in the 1920's through the end of his term in 1993 really gives a sense of who he is as a person. The museum had a welcoming feel. Although not everything on display is authentic to the President, all is true to the times and events of his life. For example, the 1947 Studebaker is like the one he drove from Connecticutt to Texas (very impressive, up close), and the huge World War II Torpedo Bomber is like the plane he had flown (really impressive, up close).

As in many other Presidential museums, there is an "Oval Office" that looks as it did during the times. Here Geo and I were able to spend time, not only taking it all in, but becoming part of the scene. (Note who the one is in the Presidential chair.)

A big bonus while we were here is that there was a temporary exhibit of The First Ladies' Red Dresses from 13 Presidential libraries. Included were gowns belonging to Jacqueline Kennedy, Lou Hoover, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush. I enjoyed comparing the different styles. (Most impressive!) So sorry I did not get photos.

Thus far, this has been my favorite Presidential museum.