Four past presidents and the current president of the United States all
have connections with Texas. Their influence and accomplishments
stretch across the Lone Star state. They include: George Bush, the 41st
president; his son, George W. Bush, the 43rd president; Lyndon B.
Johnson, the 36th U.S. president (born and raised in Texas and assumed
the office when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas);
and Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th U.S. president (born in Denison,
Texas).
Below are locations showcasing U.S. leaders:
Eisenhower's Birthplace State Historical Park
On the morning of October 14, 1890, Dwight David Eisenhower was born in
a modest two-story frame house in Denison, a small town in North Texas
that served as a rail stop in the late 1800s. Ike, as he was later
known, was the only one of David and Ida Eisenhower's seven children
born in Texas. Commemorating Eisenhower's Texas birth, a six-acre state
historical park was created in Denison. Visitors are invited to take a
guided tour, known as the "Ike Hike."
Dealey Plaza and The Sixth Floor Museum
Each year, visitors come to Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas to visit
the National Historic Landmark District where President John F. Kennedy
was assassinated. Some come to reflect, while others seek information
about this dramatic event in American history.
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza contains a permanent historical
exhibition on the life, times, death, and legacy of John F. Kennedy
with a focus on the impact of his death on the nation and the world.
The presentation features nearly 400 photographs, 45 minutes of
documentary films, artifacts, graphs, charts, and interpretive
materials. Two evidentiary areas associated with the president's
alleged assassin are preserved including the alleged sniper's perch.
Artifacts include the Zapruder camera and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (F.B.I.) model of Dealey Plaza, used by the Warren
Commission. The Sixth Floor Museum and Seventh Floor Expansion are open
daily.
Lyndon B. Johnson State Historical Park and LBJ Ranch and National Park
The Lyndon B. Johnson State Historical Park is located in Central Texas
Hill Country between Fredericksburg and Johnson City. Visitors to this
day-use park can find places to picnic and fish. The abundant wildlife
of the Hill Country is highlighted by enclosures containing buffalo,
Texas longhorn cattle, and white-tailed deer, all a part of the park's
history. The site is also famous for its spring wildflower display. The
visitor center is the focal point and contains memorabilia from
President Johnson's boyhood. Other popular features are photos from his
presidential years and famous guests at the nearby LBJ Ranch.
At both the LBJ Ranch in Stonewall and the LBJ National Park in Johnson
City, see how LBJ influenced his hometown by bringing the resources of
the U.S. government to improve areas in Central Texas. The park also
affords a special opportunity to visit a working cattle ranch,
preserved in the late 1960s time period. The former president is buried
at LBJ Ranch.
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is located in Austin and
is one of two presidential museums in Texas. The library houses
40-million pages of historical documents and papers from his public
career, as well as those from close associates. The facility provides
year-round public viewing of its permanent exhibits; traveling
exhibitions relate to American history. The library is free and open
daily.
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