A Day in History

Today was rich in history and photography. We traveled outside the city 15 miles to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. The tour first began inside the "State" Park. Within this area, we did a walking tour of the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. It seems these people were neighbors to LBJ's family out there. In fact, one of the children of this family was the midwife at LBJ's birth. The farm is complete with people who really work the farm as it would have been done from 1915-1918. People are hired to be on site everyday in costume and doing the work.The farmhouse, stables, and storage areas are completely stocked with authentic equipment, living animals, and furniture true to the day. Work includes growing their food, canning and processing food, raising animals, cooking, cleaning, and just going through the day as it was done during that era. Keep in mind they had no running water or electricity.

When I finally consented to leave here, we entered the LBJ "National" Park adjacent to the State area. The National area is the massive ranch that President and Mrs. Johnson donated to the National Park Service in 1972. LBJ stipulated that it would always remain a working ranch and not a "sterile relic of the past." Points of interest included a one-room schoolhouse, his birthplace house, and the family cemetery. Then we got to see the Texas White House--home to President and Lady Bird for many years. So many pictures and stories of our 36th President of the United States of America who just happened to be a Texan!