We focus on the formative years of our 36th President of the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson, as a young student at Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now Texas State University-San Marcos) and his teaching experiences in the South Texas environment and how they impacted his subsequent leadership role in his Great Society legislation, especially Civil Rights and Education.
Started in 1997 as an economic development initiative to help attract tourists to downtown San Marcos and to provide a cultural museum for local citizens, students, historians, and the lay public. We spent several years planning the museum, raising capital funds, and renovating what used to be a movie theatre. We had our gala and grand opening in late 2006 and we are now fully operating with a permanent exhibit, growing collections, internships, and school programs.
LBJ-related campaign memorabilia, LBJ-style hats, presidential buttons and commemorative medals, pens used by President Johnson, miniature bronze statue, sample voting machine, and lots more.
Manuscript papers of J.R. Thorton, local banker and friend of Johnson family; photographs given by friend and White House aid Liz Carpenter; published books; photographs from all periods and subjects; newspapers and magazines about Johnson and Kennedy; a DVD of classic Johnson films.
Docent program for interns, group tours, private tours at special events and presentations, outreach to schools with a small traveling exhibit and field trip invitations.
Board of Directors
Access: General Public, Students, Scholars
Appointment required: True