LBJ Ranch and "Texas White House"

Longhorn on the LBJ Ranch, these fellas are huge!

Yesterday turned out to be a very blustery day. Our original plan was to go to Luckenbach to listen to some music but it was just too cold for that so we changed it up and headed to the LBJ Ranch and historic site. We had heard it was mainly a car tour so we could stay nice and warm.
This park is both a State Park and a National Park and the amazing thing is the only charge is $2 for the ranger led tour of the Johnson Texas White House. When he donated the house and land, President Johnson felt it belonged to the people and wanted to make it affordable for all. What a great concept.
John with statue of President Johnson
LBJ is really the first US president I remember much about. I was 8 years old when President Kennedy was assassinated and I remember that event but not much else. LBJ in my memory was a bigger than life character. When I would see him on TV or hear him talk he would remind me of my grandfather, but Texan style. Until going through this exhibit, I didn’t realize what a difficult hand he was dealt as president. He inherited a war he didn’t want but felt compelled to finish, and a civil rights movement in full swing that he felt passionate about. He also had a compassion for the plight of the poor and a compelling desire to improve education. Did you know he was a teacher before he became a politician? I was also impressed with the amount he accomplished in his presidency. I think he is remembered more for all that happened in Vietnam and forgotten are the strides made in civil rights and education.

Many books now have been written about what a difficult man he could be. He was known as the Great Persuader. The ranger on our tour was great about presenting both sides of the story and I appreciate that. Perhaps it was the powerful and stubborn will that led to him to accomplish so much in such a short time as president. I also didn’t remember that he was only 64 when he died. He died the day after then President Nixon called to tell him we had signed a peace accord with North Vietnam.
Our welcoming committee. :)

The farmhouse
Back to the tour, at the state park visitor center they give you a cd that will narrate your car tour and explain the places you can stop and visit. There is a living history farm that is part of the tour and you can drive to it or walk a trail to it. We decided we needed to get a little exercise in so even though it was chilly we walked over to the Saur-Beckman Living History farm. You are greeted in the farm yard with colorful chickens pecking the ground. This is a working farm and they use volunteers and work campers who dress in period costumes. We talked to several who were recruiting and they actually help tend the animals, milk the cows and demonstrate many activities on the farm. I was impressed with how well kept up the farm was. After enjoying the farm life we headed back to the truck, put the cd in and listened to the narration as we drove around. We did stop at the house where LBJ was born and the cemetery where he and Lady Bird are buried. Then it was on to the house and the tour. 
The Texas White House

Air Force One at the hanger
House for the Secret Service detail
Adjacent to the house, there is a runway and hangar where a  medium size jet was parked that acted as Air Force One back in the day to bring him to the ranch as they couldn’t land a larger jet here (any plane the president is on becomes Air Force One). I found the house to be very surprising. It was known as the “Texas white house” because LBJ used it for much more than just as a retreat. Though there is lots of land, the house is surprisingly modest in size. The interior has been restored to a 60s decor like it would have been during his presidency. I think many of us would remember some of that furniture and the color schemes; it really made me smile. You also get a sense of Lady Bird’s influence in the house too. It really has only been a few years since her passing (2007) and she lived here until that time. They don’t allow photos inside the house so I only have a few outside. This tour is well worth the $2 and I am so glad I visited this site.  Thanks to everyone who recommended this tour to us.
Hi from the farm porch!
Well, today has turned cold and it has been sleeting on and off but they say it will be short lived and Valentine’s day is predicted to be sunny and in the 70s. This is a good excuse to cuddle up inside and spend a relaxing day.
Happy Trails..............................

Comments

  1. Hi there neighbors. We are cuddled up having a relaxing day over in site 18. havent left the wheel house yet today, but think we may get out for a walk before dark!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The volunteers that give tours of the house even get to use the pool after hours. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. We have to see the ranch, for sure. We have been there several times, but yet managed to see it:(

    ReplyDelete
  4. The tour of the ranch is quite interesting. The last time we were there, they were working on the inside so we only got to see the room he used as an office. The farm is such a neat place to visit. The volunteers do everything including making their own food, canning, making sausage, etc. and fixing food the way it was back then.

    http://travelinglongdogs.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've heard it's a great tour. Thanks for sharing your visit. One of my dream workamper jobs would be a guide dressed in period costumes somewhere. I guess it comes from my drama days in high school. Maybe someday I'll do it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great tour that would be - thanks for posting all the great pics!

    I remember LBJ very well and always thought it too bad his legacy will forever be the Vietnam War.

    He accomplished a lot of things in his short presidency including the passing of the Civil Rights Act which many folks thought could not be done.

    ReplyDelete
  7. We were in Austin in October. The LBJ Library is on campus at UT and was free. Worth the visit too.

    We were at a winery in Hill Country a few days before going to Austin and didn't realize until we were at the Library that we were probably within 5 miles of the LBJ ranch. Wish we would have seen both.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Glad you got to go on this tour. We really enjoyed it and I too learned a lot about LBJ's presidency. Quite a large ranch but, you're right, a modest home. Did you see the antelope when driving out to the house?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Urban Life

Back in Iowa and changes ahead

The desert is getting ready to bloom