Visiting the Texas White House

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“What? The Texas White House?” you may ask. Yes, there is a White House in Texas. It’s where our 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, did his political activity during his presidential. Located in the LBJ Ranch District of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Stonewall, in this park you will learn a lot about his birth, childhood, political career, retirement, and death.

Where is Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park?

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is divided into two districts: Johnson City District in Johnson City and LBJ Ranch District near Stonewall. Both cities are located in the Texas Hill Country, where the Texas White House location is in LBJ Ranch District.

From Fredericksburg it takes about 17 miles (24 min) drive on US-290 W to the LBJ Ranch.

If you come from Austin, you will arrive after driving about 62 miles (1 h 15 min) on US-290 E.

From San Antonio it takes about 72 miles (1 h 30 min) to get here.

We came from Dallas Fort Worth area, and it took about 4 hour (245 miles) drive to get here. But we love Fredericksburg and other towns in the Texas Hill Country, so the drive never felt long. Our favorite is to take the backroad, that way we can make quick stops at roadside attractions between Fort Worth and Fredericksburg.

Address: 199 State Park Road 52, Stonewall, TX 78671. Phone: (830) 644-2252.

Visiting the Texas White House in Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

Your visit will start at the LBJ State Park Visitor Center. This is where you will get your driving permit to the LBJ National Historical Park and a map indicating the tour route. You can also purchase a CD containing narrative audio for the tour in the bookstore. It comes with a bonus DVD filled with videos and photos.

Also, you will see memorabilia from President Johnson’s time in the office and learn about the land and people that shaped his world view. Don’t forget to watch a short video on LBJ and the park.

After you taped the driving permit to your window, you can start your self-guided ranch tour of the LBJ National Historical Park that will end at the Texas White House. The permit is free and it’s good only for the day of issue.

First stop when you arrive at the park is Junction School, a typical one-room school where the President started school at the age of 4. He only attended school for several months in 1912, since the school closed early due to a whooping-cough epidemic. Here you will find a piece of information that said the president learned how to read from his mother before he started school. I remember I pointed it out to our son and he thanked me for doing the same thing. Take pictures at the picnic table where LBJ signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act on April 11, 1965 with Miss Katie Deadrich, his first teacher at his side.

Then you will stop at the family cemetery under the big live oak trees. It owns by the Johnson family privately and they request visitors to not enter the cemetery.

From the parking, cross the street to visit LBJ’s reconstructed birthplace. Just like a typical house at the time, it separated into two wings: the bedrooms and the activities rooms (kitchen/dining room).

Not too far from here is the President’s grandparents’ farmhouse. Their first house was in what is now called the Johnson Settlement in Johnson City.

As you follow the street to the ranger station (where the Texas White House is located), expect to stop several times to let the cattle raised in the park crossing the street. I asked a ranger what they do with the cattle. He said they sell them but they don’t really make a lot of money because they’re just regular kind.

At the ranger station you will see more of history of the president as well as his private jet and cars collection, including his white Lincoln convertible and Amphicar. There are several important documentation from his presidential on display, including phone conversations between LBJ and his cabinets and famous world leaders at that time. An hour will go by easily without you realize it here.

The Texas White House

The Texas White House where LBJ did his political activity during his presidential is located just next door. The President and Mrs. Johnson donated their private home to the National Park Service but retained lifetime rights to use the house. On August 27, 2008 the Texas White House was officially opened to the public.

What can I see during the tour?

The entire ground floor of the house is available for public tours. Rooms on the tour include the President’s Office, living room, dining room, and the Johnson’s bedroom suites. The majority of rooms have been restored to their appearance during the presidential years (1963-1968) while the bedroom suites retain their appearance at the time of President and Mrs. Johnson’s deaths.

Do I have to pay for the tour?

Yes! If you are 18 or older, the fee is $3 per person. For the younger members in your family (17 and younger), they can join the tour for free.

Can I buy the ticket in advance?

As of today, tickets for house tours will be given on a first-come first-serve basis.

How long is the tour and how big is the group tour?

The house tours are 30 minutes in length and there is a limit of 12 people per house tour.

Can I take my pet on a house tour?

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on the house tour. In addition to that, photography, food, drinks, and smoking are not permitted inside the Texas White House as well.

What is the hours of operation?

The house tours open seven days a week with the exception on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. It is offer every half hour, between 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Does the tours fill quickly?

Yes, they do. Especially in the spring, on holidays, and weekends.

When we went there on Spring Break, we didn’t do the house tour because the wait line was long. Just recently, we revisited the LBJ National Historical Park and the Texas White House is closed due to safety concerns arising from structural issues. But, you still get to see it from outside.

Of course, we sat on the swing by the Pedernales River. Picturing how the First Family spent their time here on those days.

Our son also got his Junior Ranger badge here. It’s a good program that you might encourage your children to do it whenever you visit the Texas White House or any other state parks in Texas, as well as National Parks around the country. By doing it, they learn more about places they visited.

Tips for visiting the LBJ Ranch:

– It’s free.

– Obtain a free driving permit at the Visitor Center to visit the LBJ Ranch (the one in Stonewall).

– You can easily spend an hour at this park to learn about our 36^th president.

– Encourage your child to do the Junior Ranger program.

– Driving permits are given out starting at 9 a.m.. No permits are given out after 4 p.m.

– Ranch entrance gate open from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

– Ranch exit gate closes at 5.30 p.m.

Have you been to Texas White House? Tell me what you think about the place. If you haven’t been there, now it’s the time to take your family for a historical visit. While there, don’t forget to visit the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm next door.