Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
Encyclopedia
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is a United States
National Historical Park
in central Texas
about 50 miles west of Austin
in the Texas Hill Country
. The park protects the birthplace, home, ranch
and final resting place of Lyndon B. Johnson
, 36th President of the United States
. During Johnson's Administration, the LBJ Ranch house was known as the Texas White House.
The park is split into two distinct visitor areas, Johnson City and the LBJ Ranch. The first unit, located in Johnson City
, contains the boyhood home of President Johnson and his grandparent's log cabin settlement as well as the National Park Visitor Center. The second unit is located roughly 14 miles west of Johnson City along the north side of the Pedernales River
. Among the sites preserved at the Ranch are the President's first school, birthplace, Texas White House and the Johnson Family Cemetery. The land south of the Pedernales River is operated as Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site. In order to see the LBJ Ranch, visitors take a self-guided auto driving tour from State Park visitor center, a permit is required.
The park
was authorized on December 2, 1969 as Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Site and was redesignated as a National Historical Park
on December 28, 1980. Present holdings are approximately 1,570 acres (6.4 km2), 674 acres (2.7 km2) of which are federal. The Johnson family generously continues to add to this property; their most recent donation of land was in April, 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Historical Park
National Historical Park
National Historic Sites are protected areas of national historic significance in the United States. A National Historic Site usually contains a single historical feature directly associated with its subject...
in central Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
about 50 miles west of Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in the Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
. The park protects the birthplace, home, ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
and final resting place of Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
, 36th President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. During Johnson's Administration, the LBJ Ranch house was known as the Texas White House.
The park is split into two distinct visitor areas, Johnson City and the LBJ Ranch. The first unit, located in Johnson City
Johnson City, Texas
Johnson City is a city in Blanco County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,191 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Blanco County. It was the hometown of President Lyndon Johnson and was founded by James Polk Johnson, nephew of Samuel Ealy Johnson, Sr., cousin to President Johnson....
, contains the boyhood home of President Johnson and his grandparent's log cabin settlement as well as the National Park Visitor Center. The second unit is located roughly 14 miles west of Johnson City along the north side of the Pedernales River
Pedernales River
The Pedernales River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately long, in central Texas in the United States. It drains an area of the Edwards Plateau, flowing west to east across the Texas Hill Country west of Austin...
. Among the sites preserved at the Ranch are the President's first school, birthplace, Texas White House and the Johnson Family Cemetery. The land south of the Pedernales River is operated as Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site. In order to see the LBJ Ranch, visitors take a self-guided auto driving tour from State Park visitor center, a permit is required.
The park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
was authorized on December 2, 1969 as Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Site and was redesignated as a National Historical Park
National Historical Park
National Historic Sites are protected areas of national historic significance in the United States. A National Historic Site usually contains a single historical feature directly associated with its subject...
on December 28, 1980. Present holdings are approximately 1,570 acres (6.4 km2), 674 acres (2.7 km2) of which are federal. The Johnson family generously continues to add to this property; their most recent donation of land was in April, 1995.