History

LBJ Presidential Library

In that spirit, and in the hope that the institution would also serve as a "springboard to the future," the mission of the LBJ Presidential Library is "to preserve and protect the historical materials in the collections of the library and make them readily accessible; to increase public awareness of the American experience through relevant exhibitions and educational programs; and to advance the LBJ Library's standing as a center for intellectual activity and community leadership while meeting the challenges of a changing world."

Situated on a 30-acre site on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas, the Library houses 45 million pages of historical documents, 650,000 photos, and 5,000 hours of recordings from President Johnson's political career, including about 643 hours of his recorded telephone conversations. The iconic ten-story building was designed by award-winning architect Gordon Bunshaft and features a Great Hall with a stunning four-story, glass-encased view of the archives collection. A centerpiece in the Great Hall of the LBJ Library is the photo-engraving mural by artist Naomi Savage. Approximately 100,000 visitors from around the world visit the LBJ Library exhibits each year.

The museum collection of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum contains more than 54,000 objects donated by the President and Mrs. Johnson, their family, close friends, associates, and the American people. Like that of most history museums, the collection is very diverse and includes objects ranging from Middle Eastern antiquities and coins to postage stamps to Oval Office furniture. The art collection ranges from drawings by schoolchildren to masterpieces by such renowned artists as Americans Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, and Winslow Homer, and Mexican Diego Rivera.

The core of the museum collection consists of personal objects owned, used, bought, or worn by the president and first lady, all donated by President Johnson under the Presidential Libraries Act (1955). These objects include the clothing worn by the President and First Lady at the 1964 inauguration, pens, paper, and chairs used in the Oval Office, the desk used for the signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and thousands of objects related to their daily lives, official duties, and political events.

Special activities, events, and permanent exhibits are sponsored by the Friends of the LBJ Library and its parent organization, The LBJ Foundation.

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is one of 15 Presidential Libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration.

LBJ Library Land Acknowledgement

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library & Museum is located in Austin, Texas, which is situated on the ancestral lands of, among others, the Coahuiltecan, Comanche, Jumano, Lipan Apache, and Tonkawa peoples. The modern city of Austin is situated geographically at a crossroads of varied eco-regional types: rich soils and farmland to the east and south, dense forests and grass plains to the north, and the dramatic “hill country” of the Edwards Plateau to the west. As far as our nascent research shows, the indigenous cultures who lived in this area were a similarly diverse mix of cultures who lived on the land and interacted with others in varied and complicated ways. Attempting to document and shine light on this history is difficult but important work, and we are committed to continuing to learn about the land we call home.

History

Official Name:

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum

Other Appropriate Name:

LBJ Presidential Library

Dedication Date:

May 22, 1971

Location:

The library is situated on a 30-acre site on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The building is on a promontory-like plaza adjoining Sid Richardson Hall and the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Library Architecture:

  • Modern and monolithic in design, the ten-story building is notable for its unornamented travertine exterior
  • The east and west walls have a base thickness of eight feet, curving gently upward to the underside walls of the tenth floor, which overhangs the exterior walls by fifteen feet on each side
  • The north and south walls are set back fifteen feet, with balconies overlooking the campus and city
  • The most notable feature of the interior is the Great Hall, with its ceremonial staircase and a four-story, glass-encased view of the archives collection

Library Architects:

Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill. Partner-in-charge: Gordon Bunshaft

Brooks, Barr, Graeber, and White. Partner-in-charge: R. Max Brooks

 

It is all here: the story of our time with the bark off...This library will show the facts, not just the joy and triumphs, but the sorrow and failures, too.

from the words of Lyndon Baines Johnson at the dedication of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
May 22, 1971
Lbj On a fence Sepia

Friends of the LBJ Library

When you become a member of the Friends of the LBJ Library, you'll be making an important contribution to the library's mission -- and to our community. You will also get special access to events.