LBJ NATIONAL HISTORICAL AREA

LBJ NATIONAL HISTORICAL AREA

Way back a decade or so after the halfway mark of the last century, following an unexpected event at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, a Texan named Lyndon Baines Johnson became president. LBJ was our last frontier president, the last to be born in a house without indoor plumbing or electricity. LBJ came from the Hill Country of Texas. While he was president LBJ caused the Hill Country to become well known because he had some acreage here which came to be called the Western White House, a sprawling ranch on the Pedernales River. It is at this ranch LBJ and First Lady Lady Bird are buried. It was Lady Bird who began the national project to Beautify America. Once you see the wildflowers and lush green beauty of the Hill Country you understand what inspired her.

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A poignant indicator of how many years have passed since LBJ was President.

No. The transportation conveyance shown in this photo was not from the LBJ years. It sits at Johnson Settlement in Johnson City where LBJ's ancestors were early settlers back in the 1800s. LBJ was born in Johnson City in a house which exists to this day and is part of the Historical Area.

A walking tour takes you past the Johnson family cabin in Johnson Settlement.

We did not know Longhorns are dangerous until we read this sign.

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch...

The Western White House is across the Pedernales, somewhere behind that clump of trees.

LBJ was a larger than life figure. Here you see a statue of LBJ, looking across the Pedernales River towards his ranch and dwarfing the tourist standing in front of him.

This scene of a pasture of wildflowers is a good end to this short tour of the LBJ zone of the Texas Hill Country. The view above is part of the Visitor's Center which is across the Pedernales from the LBJ Ranch and is your starting point for guided tours of the ranch.

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