LBJ Presidential Library

The library

The library stands on a university campus but is federally run

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is on the grounds of the University of Texas at Austin, but it is federally run and independent from the university. It is one of 15 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration.

1971

Lady Bird Johnson helped choose the architect, and the library opened in 1971

First Lady Lady Bird Johnson toured existing presidential libraries and university campuses to consult on the design. She presented three potential architects, and Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill was chosen. Construction began in 1967, and the library was dedicated on May 22, 1971.

The building

The top floor has a 7/8ths scale replica of the Oval Office

The complex is an unadorned 10-story building clad in cream Italian travertine. The top floor has a 7/8ths scale replica of the Oval Office, decorated as it was during Johnson's presidency, including the Johnson desk. Another exhibit features an animatronic LBJ.

The archive

The library holds 45 million documents and 650,000 photographs

The library contains approximately 650,000 photographs, 7,500 video recordings, 45 million documents and 12,000 audio recordings related to Johnson's presidency. A photoengraved mural of scenes from Johnson's life, by Naomi Savage, is among the artworks on display.

45 milliondocuments related to Johnson's presidency, approximately

The queen

Queen Elizabeth II visited in 1991, as she had never met Johnson

In 1991 Queen Elizabeth II visited the museum and met Johnson's family. He was the only U.S. president during her reign whom she had never met. She had arranged a private meeting with him at Buckingham Palace after the funeral of Winston Churchill, but his doctors barred him from going.