Witness 250 Years of History at the LBJ Presidential Library
As the United States observes its 250th anniversary, the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin has gathered a collection of significant historical treasures, inviting visitors to look back and consider where the country goes next. For a limited time, some of the nation's most consequential documents will be on display under one roof, offering a rare opportunity to encounter history not as just words in a textbook, but as artifacts that shaped the American experience.
The Library has launched The American Experiment: Pursuing Our Promise, a series of exhibitions and programs that explore the nation’s ideals, challenges and turning points. The special displays arrive alongside the completion of a months-long, multimillion-dollar renovation of the Library's permanent exhibit area, creating new opportunities for visitors to appreciate history in meaningful ways. The installations are designed to be more than a display of records, prompting visitors to consider the people, ideas and debates behind the original documents that helped define the American story.
Up-Close Look at America’s Story
For The American Experiment, the LBJ Presidential Library is hosting a two-part rotating exhibition of archival documents from the National Archives and Records Administration. For the first experience, visitors stand inches away from the Statue of Liberty Deed of Gift, the Wright brothers’ Flying Machine Patent and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. A second collection of documents features the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, the 14th Amendment and the Louisiana Purchase.
Following the National Archives showcases, Evidence of our Past will draw from the Briscoe Center for American History’s collections. Beginning in mid-August, visitors can explore pivotal moments in both American and Texas history through mid-January 2027.
“As one of the nation's leading history research centers, the Briscoe Center is excited to share some of our most treasured and significant documents related to Texas and U.S. history in these special exhibitions," said Dr. Don Carleton, executive director of the Briscoe Center. "We are pleased to continue our longstanding partnership with the LBJ Library in celebration of our country's 250th anniversary."
Throughout the Library, the experience is designed to connect the past to the present. The Library stores more than 45 million pages of documents, 650,000 photos and 5,000 hours of recordings. Permanent exhibits on the renovated fourth-floor space bring a modern touch, with immersive technology and interactive experiences.
“We’re inviting audiences to better understand and engage with LBJ’s legacy, using artifacts to link past political and policy debates to present-day questions about belonging, civic participation and responsibility,” said Mark Updegrove, chairman and CEO of the LBJ Foundation. “While his presidency took place 60 years ago, those questions have never been more relevant.”
Before You Go
The LBJ Presidential Library is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free for children younger than 12, $6 for ages 13-18 and $16 for adults. Discounts are available for seniors, retired and active military, teachers, college students and people named Lyndon or Claudia. Plan your visit to the LBJ Presidential Library.
Article & images courtesy of the LBJ Presidential Library.