The LBJ Ranch

Since we were in the area, we decided to drive through the LBJ Ranch.  For those too young to remember, Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), was President of the US after John F. Kennedy was assassinated, back in 1963.  It was like a walk (or drive) back in history.

LBJ Birthplace

Let’s start at the beginning.  August 27, 1908 – that was the date that LBJ was born.   This house is a replica of the house in which he spent his first five years.  He had it rebuilt, and per tour info that I got several years ago, it’s as close to the original house as his memory could provide!  I love the welcoming front porch, as well as the oak trees that gentle shade the front area of the house.

Around the LBJ Birthplace

These scenes are from the back area of the birthplace home.  I like to think that the bell on the left called people in for meals – out of the field and in for meals.  The image on the right has an outside hand pump, and looks in and thru a window into the home.

Junction School

Just outside the LBJ Ranch is the last of the country schoolhouses that we saw on this trip.  I’m mentioning it in this blog, because even tho it’s technically not on the ranch, it’s certainly a part of ranch history.  The Junction School was the first school that LBJ attended, beginning at age 4 and for the next 4 years (until the family moved into Austin).  Here are some views of the school from both the inside and outside.  Altho it’s technically only about a mile from LBJ’s birthplace, I’m sure it sure felt like a long walk to a 4-year old!

LBJ Family Cemetery

Almost directly across the road from the birthplace of LBJ lies the family cemetery – sort of a cycle of life right at the beginning of the tour.  The image on the left is of the entire cemetery – the peaceful feeling with oak branches overhead.  I love the feel of this image.  The image on the right is of LBJ and Lady Bird Johnson.  He died in 1973, about 5 years after he left the presidency.  Lady Bird died in 2007, at age 94.  Her legacy is wildflowers – in Texas, the sides of the roadways are not mowed, so that wildflowers may continue to bloom year after year.  That’s a legacy I wouldn’t mind having.

Runway on LBJ Ranch

There’s a runway on LBJ Ranch, and altho it’s a decent size, it seems small in comparison to the overall land mass of the ranch.  The runway was originally dirt, but later paved so that the President’s jet could land there when he visited the ranch.  One of the things I noticed was that the runway wasn’t level – it had gentle rolling hills on it – made for some interesting take-offs and landings!  The image on the lower right is of the windsock along the runway – a different shape, that’s for sure!!

Air Force One Half

Air Force One was too large to land at the runway on the ranch, so a smaller jet was used to fly the President from Dallas to the ranch – he jokingly referred to it as “Air Force One Half”!

The Texas White House

LBJ spent most of the time in Washington, DC, but always considered this his home.  The large oak tree in front of the house was where he held meetings with his cabinet staff while he was here.  I remember when I was a child, I thought this house was a mansion – now, as I looked at it, I think that our home in New Mexico isn’t that much smaller than this home.  And, that’s what it is – a home, not a mansion.

The Road on LBJ Ranch

And, after a lovely driving tour, we found ourselves driving under the oak boughs out of the ranch.  Can you image this as your front driveway to your home?

Enjoy!

Schools and Scenes Around LBJ Ranch

Before we got to the LBJ Ranch, Jeff & I drove around and visited one of the last country schoolhouses in the area.  In addition, we saw some cool sites both outside and inside the ranch grounds.  Take a look….

Williams Creek Schoolhouse

The original schoolhouse was built in 1890-1891.  In 1897, the building of a stone structure was approved.  A frame addition was built in 1922, and the schoolhouse was expanded to 2 school rooms.  Former President, Lyndon Baines Johnson, attended this school for one year.  In the present day, this building serves as a community gathering area, for the town of Albert, Texas.

Old Texas Farmhouse

As we drove to the Williams Creek Schoolhouse, we came across this old farmhouse.  I took a few images, and picked my favorite to convert to a vintage piece.  I love the windmill next to the house.

Church Near LBJ Ranch

This church sits across the river from the LBJ Ranch.  In fact, I stood on the land of the ranch, when I took this image.  It truly seems like a little country church, very quiet and peaceful.

Animals on the Ranch

While on the LBJ Ranch, we found out the ranch is still a working ranch, in addition to being a National Historic Site. Horses seem the quintessential ranch animals, and the horses in this collage seem to be enjoying the perfect life for a horse.  The cattle are Herefords, the same type of cattle that were on the ranch when LBJ was President.  In fact, these cattle are descendants of the same cattle that LBJ had.

Wide Open LBJ Ranch

I don’t know how large the LBJ Ranch is, but this image conveys the expanse that LBJ and his family must have relished when they were there.  There are historical structures that we saw on the ranch, but these scenes are, to me, as important as those structures.

Soaring

When we were driving around, leaving the ranch, there was a bird that flew by our Jeep.  The long tail was what made it stand out for me.  I have since found out, thanks to friends, that it’s a Scissortail Flycatcher.  I thought the original image had a botanical drawing type of feel to it, and so I converted it to a pencil sketch. 

Enjoy!