On August 2, 2018 the Texas White House was closed due to health and safety concerns arising from structural issues.Since the Texas White House closure, the park has coordinated numerous environmental and structural investigations, mold remediation, conservation of historical artifacts, as well as a value analysis to confirm optimal solutions for the home's rehabilitation. A year-and-a-half long design process, coordinated with the Texas Historical Commission to ensure compliance with all historical regulatory requirements, also took place. The construction phase of the Texas White House Rehabilitation Project began January 2, 2024
Shortly after the Johnsons married in 1934, Lyndon Johnson took his bride Lady Bird to visit his Aunt Frank and Uncle Clarence Martin at their “big house on the river,” a home that held many family memories for him. By the time the Johnsons next saw the home in 1950, Frank Martin was a widow and having a difficult time maintaining the large home and acreage. Lady Bird Johnson said it appeared to have become “a Charles Addams cartoon of a haunted house.” Consequently, when the Johnsons acquired the house on March 5, 1951, they were faced with the daunting task of repairing it. The Johnson’s comprehensive renovation involved every room. Finally, on July 12, 1952, the Johnsons moved into the refurbished house that would become their home until President Johnson’s death on January 22, 1973, and Mrs. Johnson’s death on July 11, 2007.
Although the current process has been a long one, the ultimate goal is to rehabilitate and restore the Texas White House and neighboring Hangar so these historic structures will be preserved and can be enjoyed for many future generations of visitors. This project is being funded in part by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) passed by Congress in 2020 as part of a concerted effort to address the large maintenance backlog in national parks. Supported by revenue from energy development, GAOA's Legacy Restoration Fund provides up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to make significant enhancements in national parks to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors. Frequently Asked Questions about the Texas White House RehabilitationThe Texas White House was built over generations as a family home. It was not constructed to withstand extreme visitation to include hundreds of thousands of visitors who flocked to enter the home during the ten years it was open to the public (2008 – 2018). On August 2, 2018, the Texas White House was closed to the public due to health and safety concerns arising from structural issues. Since the Texas White House closure, the park has coordinated numerous environmental and structural investigations, mold remediation, conservation of historical artifacts, as well as a value analysis to confirm optimal solutions for the home's rehabilitation. A year-and-a-half long design process, coordinated with the Texas Historical Commission to ensure compliance with all historical regulatory requirements, also took place. Historic preservation projects are notoriously complex. The Texas White House reflects decades of different construction techniques requiring distinct interventions with the goal of maintaining the unique historic character of the structure while ensuring the site can be enjoyed for future generations of visitors to the site. Although the initial target date for re-opening the Texas White House complex was late 2025, late 2026 may be more realistic due to the complexity of the historic preservation work needed. The National Park Service will expand virtual tour opportunities and education outreach programming, coupled with a reduction in the number of visitors able to tour the Texas White House at one time consistent with the capacity of the historic structure. New exhibits in the nearby Hangar and tours of the grounds will provide a more holistic, diversified visitor experience at the site. Although the Texas White House Complex is closed, including the Texas White House, Hangar Visitor Center, Klein Shop, and JetStar, the remainder of the LBJ Ranch is open to visitors. Visitors can pick up a free driving permit at the LBJ State Park and Historic Site that will enable them to take a self-guided driving tour of the LBJ Ranch. Ranch sites that are open to visit are the Junction School, Reconstructed Birthplace, Johnson Family Cemetery, and Showbarn. Fourteen miles east of the LBJ Ranch, in Johnson City, the National Park Visitor Center, Boyhood Home, and Johnson Settlement are also open. Although the LBJ Ranch driving tour route takes visitors past the Texas White House Complex, for the safety of staff and visitors, the area is clearly fenced and designated as an active construction site. It is not possible to park and walk the grounds of the Texas White House during the construction. Visitors are invited to take a virtual tour of the exterior and first floor of the Texas White House. Although the LBJ Ranch driving tour route takes visitors past the JetStar, it is located within the Texas White House Complex. For the safety of staff and visitors, the area is clearly fenced and designated as an active construction site. It is possible to view the JetStar from the road, but parking is not available, and for safety reasons, visitors are not permitted to stop on the road to take photographs. Texas White House Rehabilitation Timeline
2025-2026
The Texas White House Complex is anticipated to reopen to the public in late 2025 or 2026, after construction is completed and the buildings can be restaged. An updated interpretive experience and new exhibits for the Hangar are also being planned for the future.
April 23, 2024
Previous Texas White House Rehabilitation Milestones An archive of important activities that have taken place at the Texas White House beginning with the 2018 closure.
The construction phase of the Texas White House Rehabilitation Project began January 2, 2024. Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park welcomed National Park Service leaders, the Friends of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, and Johnson family friends to celebrate the groundbreaking for the highly anticipated Texas White House Rehabilitation Project, funded by the Great American Outdoors Act. Rehabilitation work on the Texas White House will now begin this January. The base contract for the Texas White House and Hangar Rehabilitation was awarded for construction on September 26 to KOMAN Sustainable Solutions, LLC, in the amount of $11,408,153. The work will also include improvements in accessibility, site drainage and stabilization of the historic aides and communications trailers and switchboard building once all options are awarded. Rehabilitation of the historic Hangar, which serves as the LBJ Ranch Visitor Center, is being paid for with National Park Service repair and rehabilitation funds and cyclic maintenance funds The Hanger Visitor Center at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park closes in preparation for the construction phase of the Texas White House Rehabilitation Project. The driving tour of the LBJ Ranch and other points of interest remain open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and rangers will be at the ranch to provide visitor information. Rehabilitation was finished on the adjacent Cabana/Pool House building. The exterior retains its historic look while allowing the interior to be used as office space. Health and safety issues that forced the closure of the building have been corrected, and the completed building meets all modern accessibility requirements.
Rehabilitation began on the adjacent Cabana/Pool House building. Originally built in 1955 when the Johnsons installed the outdoor swimming pool, the Cabana/Pool House went through a series of modifications over the years. This included an expansion and addition of an indoor pool which allowed the family to enjoy swimming even during winter months. When the current improvements are finished, the exterior will retain its historic look while allowing the interior to be used as office space. Health and safety issues that forced the closure of the building will have been corrected, and the completed building will meet all modern accessibility requirements In May, a team of engineers and architects on contract with the NPS’ Intermountain Region and Denver Service Center conducted an on-site assessment of the Texas White House, Hangar Visitor Center, sanitary waste/septic systems, data/communication infrastructure, and site drainage throughout the Texas White House Complex. Park staff received the consultant's preliminary report in July and reviewed the document and provided feedback. Ultimately, the final report will be used to create an extensive rehabilitation project proposal and to solicit funding. Additionally, the park awarded a design/build contract for renovations to the Pool House. The contract seeks to mitigate environmental issues, increase building accessibility, and make improvements to the office space in the building. Work will be ongoing through winter 2019-2020 The National Park Service closed the Texas White House and the adjacent Pool House due to health and safety concerns arising from structural issues.
The NPS is took immediate action to investigate the safety concerns, which include closing both facilities. Both buildings remained closed until the NPS can confirm that the facilities do not pose safety concerns. All other park facilities remained open to the public. These include the Johnson settlement, President Johnson's boyhood home, and the park visitor center in Johnson City. The LBJ Ranch driving tour was not affected, and the LBJ Ranch hangar visitor center was open as normal. |
Last updated: November 23, 2024