Austin, TX

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library & Museum in Austin

Address: 2313 Red River St., Austin, TX 78705 - MAP
Phone: (512) 721-0200
Web: www.lbjlibrary.org

The life and legacy of Lyndon Baines Johnson is highly celebrated at the presidential museum that bears his namesake, located on 30 acres at the University of Texas at Austin campus.

Dedicated in 1971, the Lyndon B. Johnson Library & Museum chronicles the 36th U.S. President's contribution to civil rights and education in photographs, letters, official documents and exhibits. While many of the documents and letters were written by Johnson himself, others written by colleagues and friends describe an engaging man who was an underrated orator and a popular politician, whose seemingly low-key demeanor often overshadowed his many ground-breaking accomplishments in public service.

Johnson became president in 1963 following the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Austin. Johnson went on to win the 1964 presidential election with 61% of the popular vote, the largest percentage of popular vote ever for a modern U.S. president. One of his first major accomplishments in office was the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Lyndon B. Johnson Library houses 45 million pages of historical documents pertaining to Johnson's entire public career. Permanent exhibits include artwork of the President and First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson. A 7/8th scale replica of the Oval Office as Lyndon Johnson occupied it is also on display.

No memorial to the legacy of President Johnson would be complete without recognition of the accomplishments and endeavors of Lady Bird Johnson, the First Lady who was active in children's education and passionate about beautification and conservation. The First Lady Gallery displays artifacts that chronicle the programs Mrs. Johnson actively promoted as First Lady, such as Head Start, Vista, and the Space program.

Both President Lyndon B. Johnson and wife lay in repose on the grounds of the library and museum, which features a majestic waterfall at its inviting and stately entrance.