Hi everyone! I'm Ranger Douglas, and welcome to the Texas White House: Past, Present, and Future video series. In this series, we'll explore the history of the Texas White House, from the area's first inhabitants all the way to the present day. Let's start at the very beginning. For approximately 16,000 years, the Texas Hill Country has been home to diverse communities. The earliest evidence of human activity in the area dates back to 9,200 BC, during the Paleo-Indian period. These early inhabitants gathered wild plants and hunted now-extinct megafauna, such as mastodon, camel, horse, and bison. As time went on, various cultures emerged, such as the Folsom, Clovis, and Plainview cultures. These groups were nomadic, hunting and gathering throughout the area and experiencing both the beauty and the challenges of life in the Hill Country. Over time, more developed cultures took root, and new tribes like the Tonkawa, Leaping Apache, and Comanche began to call this place home. These Native American groups thrived through periods of prosperity and hardship, but their way of life would soon be threatened by the arrival of the Spanish, the creation of Mexico, and the eventual entrance of Texas into the United States. Skirmishes, wars, disease, and forced removal by colonizers drastically altered the landscape of the Hill Country, leaving the area largely devoid of its Native American population. In the following period of western expansion, a wave of immigration descended on Texas. Newcomers arrived from southern states like Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, as well as from international destinations, including Scotland, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. The land that would become the LBJ Ranch sat at the heart of the burgeoning German-American diaspora. Records indicate that from 1845 onward, the land passed through several hands and was mainly used for grazing longhorn cattle. In the early 1880s, German immigrants Wilhelm and Wilhelmina Meyer purchased 650 acres of this land to farm and raise their family. They built a log cabin beside the Pedernales River, where they cooked on an open fire and tasked their children with working in the cotton fields. By 1895, Wilhelm decided to build a larger home for the family. Construction took almost an entire year, but when finished, the house, built from native limestone, would serve as the foundation for what would later become the Texas White House. The two-story structure became a community hub, hosting dances, weddings, and large meals for locals. In 1900, the Meyers sold their home and land, and the property went through a series of different owners. Then, in 1909, the house was purchased by Judge Clarence and Frank Martin, the aunt and uncle of a ten-month-old Lyndon Baines Johnson. Over the next few years, the Martins enlarged the house, adding a bay-windowed bedroom, a shaded porch, a dining room, and more. Like the Meyers before them, they grazed cattle on the land, built a new barn, and expanded the property. Young Lyndon Johnson often visited, and he fondly recalls hanging his Christmas stocking on the mantel, reciting poetry for his extended family, and enjoying hearty Thanksgiving meals. It was these experiences, along with his deep affection for his aunt and uncle, that cemented LBJ’s love for what he would later call “the big house on the river.” When Judge Martin passed away in 1936, his widow Frank lived with her children and later alone for another 10 years. But soon after, the most significant chapter in the history of the house would begin, thanks to her enterprising young nephew. Join us in the next video, where we’ll explore Lyndon B. Johnson’s time in the home, both before, during, and after his presidency.

Hi, I'm Ranger Joe, and welcome to the second installment of The Texas White House: Past, Present, and Future. I'm excited to share with you how President Johnson acquired the Texas White House and how it became an important part of United States history. As you learned in our last episode, Senator Johnson purchased a two-story home from his aunt, Frank Martin. When Senator Johnson bought the house, it needed major renovation and repair before Lyndon and his family could move in. The initial repairs and renovations were completed in July 1952. However, as Senator Johnson moved up in his political career, many more renovations were made to accommodate the increasing number of visitors the family would entertain at the home. Lyndon B. Johnson would fly back and forth from Washington, D.C., to the Texas Hill Country to recharge his batteries and improve his health. It was during these years that Lyndon B. Johnson's home in the Texas Hill Country began to take on a new meaning, both for the Johnson family and for the many people who visited. Not only would Lyndon use this place to recharge as a break from the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C., but the ranch would also become a center of political power during his presidency. President and Lady Bird Johnson frequently said, "All the world is welcome to the LBJ Ranch and Texas White House." They hosted many barbecues at the LBJ Ranch for foreign heads of state. During his presidency from 1963 to 1969, he spent 490 days—one-quarter of his presidency—at the Texas White House. From there, President Johnson held cabinet meetings and worked tirelessly to accomplish his political goals. As required by law, the Secret Service became a permanent presence, protecting the President and First Lady on a full-time basis at the LBJ Ranch. President Johnson was briefed by his staff on the front lawn of the Texas White House on topics such as the Vietnam War, the Cold War with the Soviet Union, and domestic issues like the War on Poverty, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Space Race. Balancing their personal and public lives, the home was where the Johnson family could be together as a family. It was also a place where President Johnson could relax and unwind by walking in the fields around his ranch, going on solitary drives in his vehicles, visiting with family and friends, and occasionally playing dominoes with friends. After the presidency, President Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson would live at the Texas White House on a permanent basis. President Johnson passed away on January 22, 1973. After his death, Lady Bird Johnson became the public face and the hostess of the Texas White House. The Texas White House was a central part of President Johnson's life: he was born here, spent the most important parts of his life here, and died here, in his beloved big house on the river. Join us for our next episode about Lady Bird Johnson and her influence in the Texas Hill Country and beyond.

[Narrator]: Hello everyone, welcome to the third installment of The Texas White House: Past, Present, and Future. My name is Chloe Fields, and I'm the Community Volunteer Ambassador here at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. In this video, we're going to explore how the home evolved over the years after President Johnson passed away, and what role Mrs. Johnson played in sharing her home with the general public. What did this look like? Let's find out. As a child growing up in East Texas, Claudia Alta Taylor found the most enjoyable moments for her were spent out exploring nature. Throughout the decades of her life, she carried that love with her to the White House in Washington, D.C., and here to her home on the LBJ Ranch, which showcased the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country. Lady Bird and Lyndon Baines Johnson spent many of their 34 years together here at the ranch. In 1972, they agreed to donate this home and several acres of the LBJ Ranch to the National Park Service, though they would retain lifetime rights to the home for the remainder of their lives. When President Johnson passed away on January 22, 1973, Mrs. Johnson found herself the sole occupant of this historical home that was filled with memories. Soon after, with her support, the National Park Service started driving busloads of visitors through the iconic LBJ Ranch. However, the stops were limited to the area of the Reconstructed Birthplace, the Johnson Family Cemetery, and the Show Barn. The most anticipated part of the tour was a drive through the east gate, past the Secret Service guard shack, and up to the front of the Texas White House. Since the former First Lady was still living in the home under U.S. Secret Service protection, no one was allowed to exit the bus. Only members of the Johnson family, invited friends and guests, and the U.S. Secret Service had authorized pedestrian access to the home and the grounds. However, when she was home, Mrs. Johnson would always stop what she was doing and give some lucky visitors a big wave and a smile as they drove by. Let's hear from Ranger Cynthia about some of her memories of seeing Mrs. Johnson around the home during these years.

[Ranger Cynthia]: “If you were lucky, on a weekend—quite often when Mrs. Johnson was there—if the weather was nice, she liked sitting out on the west porch outside the house. We’d spend a moment there so folks could look out the window to take pictures. And, like I said, if they were lucky and Mrs. Johnson was there, they could see her waving to them from the bus, you know, from the front porch. She actually seemed to quite enjoy knowing that folks were coming to the ranch. One summer, I can remember where, for whatever reason, she hadn’t noticed the buses driving past the house, and I actually had someone call over to the state park just to find out if the buses were running and if everything was okay.”

[Narrator]: During the many decades after leaving the White House, Lady Bird remained dedicated to beautifying the Texas Hill Country. In 1969, she founded the Texas Highway Beautification Awards and hosted annual award ceremonies. The winners of these ceremonies would receive a personal check directly from Mrs. Johnson. Just like during the years of the Johnson Presidency, many distinguished guests were invited to the LBJ Ranch to meet with the former First Lady. One of the most notable guests to visit during these years was Coretta Scott King, the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They both continued to be dedicated to their husbands' legacies. As the years progressed, Lady Bird began to slow down and enjoy time with her family at the ranch, which was not always possible during her busy life with Lyndon. Her days were often filled with visits from her daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who called her "Nini." After a long, loving life, Mrs. Johnson passed away peacefully on July 11, 2007, at the age of 94. She was buried next to her husband in the Johnson Family Cemetery here at the LBJ Ranch. The inscription on her tombstone speaks to her lifelong love and dedication to conservation efforts: "A gentle heroine to nature and mankind." Lady Bird’s legacy continues to live on through the commitment of the National Park Service in maintaining and preserving the LBJ Ranch so that it always reflects what she would call her heart’s home. On the next installment of this series, find out what happened when the National Park Service opened the home for the first time to the public.

[Narrator]: Welcome to the fourth installment of The Texas White House: Past, Present and Future. I'm park ranger Cynthia Dorminey. So far, we’ve discussed the early history of the Texas White House and what life was like while President and Mrs. Johnson were living here. But what has it been like in the years that followed? As you learned in the last episode, in December 1972, the Johnsons gifted the Texas White House and approximately 600 acres to the National Park Service. Nearly 30 years later, Mrs. Johnson reflected on this gift in an opening letter to the park’s management plan. It reads: "As we reflected on the Presidential years, Lyndon and I felt strongly that this place should be preserved for the American people. We also wanted the LBJ Ranch to be our home for the remaining years left to us, and then to be open to all who wish to visit." President Johnson died just a month later, on January 22, 1973, after giving this gift to the American people. Mrs. Johnson passed away on July 11, 2007, and was laid to rest next to him in the family cemetery on the LBJ Ranch. Lady Bird Johnson's passing in 2007 marked the beginning of a new era at the park and for the Texas White House. During Mrs. Johnson's lifetime, the U.S. Secret Service maintained security at the ranch, especially around the Texas White House. After her death, the Secret Service left the LBJ Ranch, and the way visitors experienced the ranch began to change. The bus tours continued, but rangers started allowing passengers to step off the bus in front of the Texas White House to enjoy a better view and take better photos of the historic home. Behind the scenes, preparations were underway to honor the Johnsons’ wish to open their home to all who wished to visit. For a home of approximately 8,500 square feet with 28 rooms and over 50 years of Johnson family history, there was much to do. The goal was to restore the majority of the home to the look it had during President Johnson’s lifetime, especially the period of 1963 to 1969, known as the “period of significance.” Due to the home’s size and the funding needed for the work, the plan was to open the home one section at a time, starting with the President's office. Virginia Kilby, the park museum curator from 1998 to 2011, led the effort to restore the home and prepare it for public tours.

[Virginia Kilby]: “Well, it was always decided that it would be during the Presidential time period, and that was because mainly the house had changed very little over the years. We researched the interior of the house at the LBJ Library in their photo archives, and Mrs. Johnson changed very little from the '60s until she died, so it was very easy to put the house back to the way it looked during the Presidential time period. This house is one of the better-documented presidential homes as far as what it looked like during the presidential time period and the later years. There are hundreds of photographs in the LBJ Library archives of the interior of the house. The photographers were there for special events and when people were visiting, so we know what it looked like at that time."

[Narrator]: The much-anticipated day arrived on August 27, 2008, the 100th anniversary of President Johnson's birth. For the first time in the park’s history, visitors were allowed to drive their own cars into the LBJ Ranch to attend the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Johnson Family Cemetery. Afterward, they continued through the ranch to the Texas White House. The Johnson’s daughters, Lynda Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson, along with park staff and the Director of the National Park Service, officiated the festivities. That day, more than 800 visitors got their first look at President Johnson's office in the Texas White House, complete with original furnishings and personal belongings. Over the course of the next three and a half years, the remaining rooms on the first floor were opened, and visitors enjoyed learning about the Johnson family’s home life and political life through ranger-led tours. Through the next 10 years, until August 2018, thousands of visitors each year toured the Texas White House. Just as their mother had on occasion, Lynda and Luci would share their own love for their family home with lucky visitors. But all the activity began to take its toll on the aging house. On August 2, 2018, the Texas White House was closed to public tours due to structural and environmental issues. Join us next time for the fifth installment of The Texas White House: Past, Present, and Future, to find out what the National Park Service is doing to preserve the home for future generations of visitors.

[Ranger Carole]: Welcome to the fifth installment of Texas White House: Past, Present, and Future. I'm Ranger Carole. In the last video, we discovered what it was like to open the Texas White House to visitors. Today, we're going to dive into the importance of historic preservation. What does it take to protect history in the present day and in the future? Let's find out. After hosting thousands of visitors on tours inside the Texas White House, park staff began noticing signs of structural damage between 2016 and 2018. Let's hear more from Facilities Manager Rebecca Renaud about the decision to close the house.

[Rebecca Renaud]: "During the centennial in 2016, we started noticing cracks on the ceiling of the living room, as well as the second floor on the walls. Also during that time, we noticed the bowing of what we perceived were four structural beams in the living room. At that point, we closed down the living room and redirected tours. So, knowing about all these projects that were coming up, we did some preliminary work, which included the structural investigation, hazardous materials investigation, and some mold abatement mitigation. Eventually, the musty smell in the house got worse. We had some HVAC issues due to the seven different additions to the house. So, we had to deal with seven different units, seven different zones. And at that point, we decided that the interior climate just wasn't conducive to visitation as well as employees, so we shut down the house."

[Narrator]: Starting in 2008, the National Park Service took many actions to address these issues, including replacing roofing, gutters, electrical system improvements, and installing environmental monitoring systems. However, by the time the house closed to the public in 2018, it was clear that a more comprehensive solution was needed. In 2018, the National Park Service brought in an outside architecture and engineering firm to assess the issues throughout the Texas White House Complex. This led to the creation of a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the Texas White House, aides and communications buildings, the historic airplane hangar, as well as utilities and paving throughout the site. Luckily for the park, the completion of this assessment coincided with the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act on August 4, 2020. The Great American Outdoors Act, or GAOA, is a significant investment that helps reduce the burden of backlogged maintenance in national parks, public lands, and tribal schools. Additionally, it funds critical infrastructure projects to support continued preservation, accessibility, and enjoyment of our national parks. Thanks to support from the National Park Service and beyond, the Texas White House project was included on the list of Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund projects for fiscal year 2022. This funding has allowed the park to continue with more detailed planning and design for this major rehabilitation effort. Over the last year, the National Park Service worked closely with the Denver Service Center, Anderson Hallas Architects, and representatives from the National Park Service regional office serving Interior Regions 6, 7, and 8 to complete a schematic design for the project. This high-level design paves the way for more detailed design development and the production of construction drawings through 2023. Once these plans are complete and construction begins, it is expected that the Texas White House Complex will be closed to visitors for roughly two years.

[Justin Bates]: "Hi everyone, I'm Justin Bates, the superintendent here at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. The mission of the National Park Service is to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. As you've heard, preserving resources like these takes particular care, study, and work. Here at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, we are working every day to advance the rehabilitation and restoration of the Texas White House and Texas White House Complex. We encourage you to visit our website or follow us on social media for project updates. We will continue to post information about the Texas White House, this major rehabilitation project, and the work and care that goes into preserving and protecting special places like these. We also encourage you to visit us and experience the places and landscapes that shaped our 36th president, Lyndon B. Johnson. From the Birthplace to the Boyhood Home, to the working landscape of the LBJ Ranch, there's something here for everyone, and so many stories to share."