Into the Mystic: Texas White House

Leaving for Glen Rose, TX today
Next Up: Texarkana, TX, then Hot Springs, AR and Memphis, TN

Last winter Johnny and I visited LBJ's Library on the grounds of the University of Texas in Austin. We then took the opportunity to learn more about this president and his family as we toured the State and National Park in Johnson City.

We hiked a short trail next to the Visitor Center in Johnson City. It describes the life that LBJ's parents and grandparents established. His grandfather, Samuel Johnson, and his wife Eliza settled on this 960 acre ranch in 1867. Samuel and his brother drove cattle on the Chisolm Trail. Here is their home, called a "dog-trot" as a dog can trot from one side to the other. The breezeway provided relief from the hot summers.

Johnson City was named after James Polk Johnson, the nephew of LBJ's grandfather. This was is barn from 1875.

He added the windmill, water tank and cooler house.

We also saw these longhorned cows at the Johnson Settlement. The closest I've ever been to the State Mammal of Texas!

While we were taking a look at the Exhibit Center that details frontier life, our friend Tim found a map of Blanco County homestead plots. He discovered that his great-great grandmother had a plot of land adjacent to the LBJ ranch. How exciting!

Just outside the Johnson Settlement is LBJ's boyhood home. It was built in 1901, but his father Sam Jr. bought it in 1913 and moved the family from the family farm near Stonewall in 1913 when young Lyndon was 5 years old.

Jenny and Johnny waited on the porch swing for the tour to start. Lyndon announced his candidacy for the US Senate from this porch in 1937.

Becky was our tour guide and she shared many stories of LBJ as a boy, particularly as he listened and learned about politics from the discussions his father, a state representative, had in their home. Lyndon's mother, a college educated woman at the turn of the century, influenced the president's views on education and culture.

Here is young Lyndon's bedroom. His childhood picture is on the wall. There is a pot bellied stove in his room instead of a fireplace.

I always enjoy looking at the kitchens from days passed. The icebox was kept on the porch. But look at that stove!

I was intrigued by the original linoleum floor laid right over the wood floor. Quite a luxury in those days.

The backyard had the smokehouse, the water tank (the windmill is hidden), and the red barn. They have done a marvelous job preserving all of this.

Once we left the Johnson Settlement, it was time for refreshments. Our friend Jenny worked at the Blanco County Jail built in 1894 when she first got into law enforcement. It is right next to the place we stopped for lunch.

After lunch we drove to the LBJ Ranch District located along the banks of the Pedernales River in Stonewall.

Tourists are guided to parking where the airplane runway used to be.

We then saw the hangar and the Jetstar aircraft known as "Air Force One-Half".

Unfortunately the Johnson home, known as the Texas White House, was closed due to structural problems. But we were able to tour the outside of the house and hear stories of LBJ conducting official business here. These flags fly in the front yard - American Flag, Texas flag and the Johnson family flag.

On the backside of the property there are commemorative concrete blocks noting many of the visitors to the Texas White House. We saw names like John Kennedy, Eddie Arnold and several astronauts.

There was a small automobile collection on the property, including the amphibious car, known as the Amphicar. LBJ used it to cross the river and bring visitors to the house.

When we walked back to our car, we were reminded that we were on a working ranch!

On our way out of the National Park, we stopped to see LBJ's birthplace, a very modest home.

It is across the street from the cemetery where LBJ, Lady Bird and other relatives are buried. I find it so interesting that this man was born, died, and is buried all within a mile.