The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, also known as the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas is the presidential library and museum of Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th president of the United States. It is located on the grounds of the University of Texas at Austin, and is one of 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The LBJ Library houses 45 million pages of historical documents, including the papers of President Johnson and those of his close associates and others.
Discussions for a Presidential library for President Johnson began soon after his 1964 election victory. In February 1965, the chairman of the Board of Regents at the University of Texas at Austin, William H. Heath, proposed building the library on the university campus, along with funds to construct the building and the establishment of the Johnson School of Public Affairs on the campus.
First Lady Lady Bird Johnson toured existing Presidential libraries and university campuses to consult the design of the library. Lady Bird presented three potential architects to President Johnson; Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill was chosen. The design was completed in the Summer of 1966 and construction began in 1967. The Library was dedicated on May 22, 1971, with Johnson and then-President Richard Nixon in attendance.
Features
The complex, which was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill architects Gordon Bunshaft and R. Max Brooks, is an unadorned 10-story building clad in cream Italian travertine. Library, adjacent to the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, occupies a 14-acre campus. Although the Library is on the grounds of UT Austin, it is federally run and independent from the University. The top floor of the Library has a 7/8ths scale replica of the Oval Office decorated as it was during Johnson’s presidency, including the Johnson desk.
The LBJ Library provides year-round public viewing of its permanent historical, cultural, and temporary exhibits to approximately 125,000 visitors each year. It is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week throughout the year. The Library is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Bed Bug Exterminator Austin
Permanent Exhibitions
- First Lady’s Gallery
- Great Hall
- Lady Bird Johnson’s Office
- LBJ Animatronic
- LBJ’s Presidential Limousine
- November 22,1963
- The Oval Office
- The White House Years
Be A Member
When you become a member of the LBJ Presidential Library, you make an important contribution to the library’s mission and to the community. Support from membership programs helps to sustain the library’s public programming, innovative special exhibits, and educational workshops and curriculum.
Address: 2313 Red River St, Austin, TX
Check out other attractions like McKinney Falls State Park
