LBJ Library

LBJ Library visits are more enjoyable than you might originally think. Found on the campus of the University of Texas, this Austin Presidential Library honors Lyndon Baines Johnson, who was the 36th President of the United States, and inside are many fabulous exhibits. Rare is the visitor who isn't impressed by the life-size, animatronic version of the former President, and historic photos offer tremendous insight into the times that defined LBJ's time in office. These are just some of the things that can be enjoyed on a visit to the Lyndon B Johnson Library and Museum, and since there is no admission fee, you can plan as many visits as you want without worrying what it might do to your Austin travel budget.

The LBJ Library campus covers fourteen acres, and the Oval Office-style bureau that the President maintained here before his death in 1973 offers excellent views of the grounds. Visitors can take a look at this office on a trip to the Lyndon B Johnson Library and Museum, and they can also examine the desk that LBJ used when signing the famed Voting Rights Act in 1965. Other highlights include clothing that the President and the First Lady wore during the 1964 inauguration, an impressive collection of editorial cartoons that LBJ collected himself, and LBJ's ample collection of political memorabilia. Some of the pieces in the political memorabilia collection even date back to the inauguration of George Washington! One of the best Austin attractions for cultural enthusiasts, the LBJ Library offers both permanent and temporary exhibits, with the temporary exhibits helping to keep things fresh for returning visitors.

Those who visit the Lyndon B Johnson Library and Museum could easily spend hours examining the various museum pieces and all of the various contents that are housed in the library. LBJ enjoyed a long political life, starting with a stint as a state representative and culminating with his time as the President of the United States. As one might expect, the Kennedy assassination in Dallas is covered, as is the history-changing Civil Rights Movement. LBJ was Vice President of the United States when Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas's Dealey Plaza in 1963. As such, he ascended to the Presidency once Kennedy was officially pronounced dead.

In 1998, an exhibit that relates to Lady Bird Johnson was dedicated at the Lyndon B Johnson Library and Museum, and it helps to tell the life story of one of America's most fascinating First Ladies. Lady Bird Johnson, it is worth noting, was a huge advocate for the preservation and cultivation of native plant species, and the University of Texas at Austin administers a center in her honor about ten miles to the southwest of Downtown Austin. This center is known as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. A trip to the Wildflower Center can make for an ideal complement to your Austin Presidential Library visit.

Whether you are a history buff, a political enthusiast, or a general scholar, the Lyndon B Johnson Library and Museum in Austin can be an ideal place to hang out for a while. In addition to all the great museum exhibits, the library offers 45 million pages of historical documents that are available for perusal. As is true of the other Presidential Libraries in the country, this Austin Presidential Library belongs to the United States people, and as such, most of the historical documents, museum objects, and audiovisual materials are available for public study.

LBJ Library hours are daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Christmas Day is the only day that it is closed to the public. Parking is available in the designated LBJ Visitor Parking Lot, and if you prefer leaving the car at your hotel or vacation rental, you can always hop on a bus to get to the University of Texas campus and then rely on the UT shuttle for getting around.