Press Releases | May, 11 2026
“The American Experiment: Pursuing Our Promise” Presents Rare, Foundational Documents From America’s Past and Asks Visitors to Consider Their Part in Our Nation’s Future
AUSTIN, TX – MAY 6, 2026 – Beginning in late May, the LBJ Presidential Library will offer visitors a rare, limited-time opportunity to view original documents that shaped the course of American history – including the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Wright brothers’ Flying Machine Patent. As part of the nation’s semiquincentennial, the LBJ Library will serve as a central site of several rotating exhibits and programs titled “The American Experiment: Pursuing Our Promise.”
Anchoring this initiative is a two-part exhibition curated by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), featuring original documents spanning 250 years of America’s history. The LBJ Library is the only presidential library in Texas to host both sets of documents on this national tour. Programs will explore how culture, history, and the relationships that shaped the nation continue to influence American identity and politics today.
“The American story is remarkable—full of challenges, advancements, setbacks, and triumphs,” said Mark Updegrove, President and CEO of the LBJ Foundation. “We invite all visitors to join us in reflecting on our nation’s storied past and consider the part they play in continuing to ensure the success of the American experiment.”
EXTENDED VISITOR EXPERIENCE
For the first time this summer, the LBJ Library will remain open on Wednesday evenings, giving community members additional opportunities to examine these rare documents. From May 27 through September 2, the LBJ Library will stay open until 9:00 p.m. every Wednesday.
On July 4, the LBJ Library will host a day of activities, including free museum admission, complimentary refreshments, arts and crafts, and live music.
ICONIC ARTIFACTS FROM OUR NATION’S HISTORY
From May 30 to July 9, the LBJ Library will display the first group of archival artifacts from NARA, which drove our nation’s growth and innovation, including Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone patent application, the Statue of Liberty Deed of Gift, and Thomas Edison’s original patent for the lightbulb.
The second set of historical documents will be on display from July 11 through August 2 and will feature documents pivotal to shaping our nation into what it is today. These documents include original design for the Great Seal of the United States, and the Louisiana Purchase, and the original 1789 Senate amendments that would later become the Bill of Rights.
Concurrent with NARA’s exhibition, the Briscoe Center for American History will present an exhibit titled “Stars, Stripes, and Symbols: America at 250” in its main hall, highlighting American iconography and the many ways in which Americans have used them to celebrate, communicate, and critique American ideals.
“We’re honored to share some of the most significant and treasured items in Texas and US history in these exhibitions,” said Dr. Don Carleton, Executive Director of the Briscoe Center. “As one of the nation’s leading history research centers, we value our stewardship of these documents and ensure their availability can teach current and future generations about the history of the United States. We are, as always, pleased to work alongside our partners at the LBJ Presidential Library in celebration of our country’s 250th anniversary.”
The LBJ Library will continue the exhibition into the fall highlighting both American and Texas history, curated from the Briscoe Center’s rich collections.
COMING TOGETHER TO EXAMINE AMERICA’S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
Beyond the exhibitions, the LBJ Foundation will bring together leading voices in history, journalism, culture, and public life to explore the ideas, tensions, and traditions that continue to shape American democracy.
Scheduled events include “Barbecue, Culture, and Community: A Conversation with Adrian Miller” on July 23, moderated by Daniel Vaughn, Barbecue Editor at Texas Monthly. Miller is the author of “Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue,” and the conversation will examine how food, tradition, and regional identity shape our shared story.
In October, the LBJ Library will host a joint program with the John Adams Center and Monticello titled “Founding Friends, Founding Foes,” exploring lessons from John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and how the relationships and rivalries that shaped our nation’s beginning influence today’s politics.
“The American Experiment” will extend into the LBJ Foundation’s ongoing educational programming, including a summer educator institute and opportunities for onsite and virtual programs with students that introduce them to document analysis and civic participation.
The LBJ Library is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week. From May 27 through September 2, the LBJ Library is open until 9:00 p.m. every Wednesday. Admission to the LBJ Library is free for children under 12, $6 for children ages 13-18, and $16 for adults, with discounts available for seniors, retired and active military, teachers, college students, and individuals named Claudia or Lyndon. Visitors can learn more about the exciting updates to the LBJ Library and plan their visit at www.lbjlibrary.org/visit.
About the LBJ Presidential Library
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, the library houses 45 million pages of historic documents, 650,000 photos and 5,000 hours of recordings from President Johnson’s political career, including roughly 643 hours of his recorded telephone conversations. The LBJ Presidential Library is one of 15 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. lbjlibrary.org
About the LBJ Foundation
Established by President and Mrs. Johnson in 1969, the LBJ Foundation is a non-profit organization composed of a board of trustees and administrative staff that support the LBJ Presidential Library and the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. The LBJ Foundation preserves President Johnson’s legacy as a call to action to bring us together in making a better nation. It does this by providing funds for educational outreach and museum exhibits, administering grants for researchers and scholars, operating the museum store and admissions desk, and directing public programming at the LBJ Library, and by providing financial support for the outstanding education the LBJ School offers its students in public policy and government affairs, community outreach, and global initiatives. lbjlibrary.org/foundation
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Casey Murphy, Arrow
[email protected]
