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Chickasaw - GHW Bush Library - LBJ Library - LBJ National Historic Park

Monday we headed back to Chickasaw National Recreation Area.  We stopped by in December, since it was on our route, but of course, it was closed!


We were happy to find it open today!

The Travertine Nature Center is a really cool building that is built OVER the stream

Tuesday we went to the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum

It is located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas

Scattered throughout the museum were these dog houses and a dog

When you opened the dog house, there was a "bone" inside with a piece of trivia that went along with the exhibit


There was a replica of the Oval Office during Bush 41's term (to keep the two separate, father and son, they are often referred to as Bush 41 and Bush 43.  The website for the museum is www.bush41.org)

And there was a replica of his office at Camp David

One of the most favorite things S has liked about the presidential museums is that they all seem to have been fond of their pets, mostly dogs!


There was a lot about Desert Storm, since that was a large part of Bush 41's term


Afterwards, we went out to see the gravesites.  Their toddler daughter died of cancer and is buried there with them.





Wednesday we visited the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum. It was interesting to come here after having visited the Sixth Floor Museum, as this is "the rest of the story" after JFK's assassination as LBJ took office.

As soon as we stepped inside, we saw this display of all the different issues that Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law during his terms

If you look closely below, those are all pens he used during his presidency

Three floors of a ten floor building are museum.  The other floors are auditorium/classrooms and then the archives.  This is looking up at a wall of archival boxes on shelves

If you wanted to, you could sit and listen to 640+ hours of LBJ's recorded phone conversations

LBJ was a force of nature and in the museum, they called it "The Johnson Treatment"  You could pose like he was getting in your personal space! The original photo is up at the top right corner.

This is the photo of LBJ speaking to Congress as he took office after JFK's death. In his speech he said, "All I have I would have given gladly not to be standing here today"

The replica of the Oval Office during his term was under wraps as they were fixing a leak in the roof


There was also Lady Bird Johnson's office on display--this was her actual office that she used until she was 85


She had a great view of the campus and if you look carefully, you can also see the state capitol's dome

I learned a few things: LBJ was a school teacher in Cotulla, Texas in his early 20s. His dad was a politician, and LBJ had things to say and do and knew that he needed to go into politics too! He wanted to be president, got there inadvertently, but also won his next term of office fair and square.  He didn't run for office again because of the Vietnam War (his sons-in-law fought in it).  He felt very responsible for the U.S. involvement in it and felt maybe someone else could figure out how to get the U.S. out of Vietnam.

 We had a beautiful Texas sunset that evening

Thursday we headed to Texas Hill Country to see the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park


This is the home (and neighborhood) where LBJ grew up, settled by his extended family, his parents moved here when he was a small child.  It was pretty rustic, especially for where LBJ ended up professionally as an adult!


Friday-Saturday the Mr. headed to Utah for meetings, so this is what his days looked like:



Today we attended the Marble Falls Ward, Cedar Park Texas Stake. I guess it used to be the Marble Falls Branch.  I forgot to take a photo of the building!

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