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Episode Five: Historic Preservation
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Transcript
[Ranger Carole]: Welcome to the fifth installment of Texas White House: Past, Present, and Future. I'm Ranger Carole. In the last video, we discovered what it was like to open the Texas White House to visitors. Today, we're going to dive into the importance of historic preservation. What does it take to protect history in the present day and in the future? Let's find out. After hosting thousands of visitors on tours inside the Texas White House, park staff began noticing signs of structural damage between 2016 and 2018. Let's hear more from Facilities Manager Rebecca Renaud about the decision to close the house.
[Rebecca Renaud]: "During the centennial in 2016, we started noticing cracks on the ceiling of the living room, as well as the second floor on the walls. Also during that time, we noticed the bowing of what we perceived were four structural beams in the living room. At that point, we closed down the living room and redirected tours. So, knowing about all these projects that were coming up, we did some preliminary work, which included the structural investigation, hazardous materials investigation, and some mold abatement mitigation. Eventually, the musty smell in the house got worse. We had some HVAC issues due to the seven different additions to the house. So, we had to deal with seven different units, seven different zones. And at that point, we decided that the interior climate just wasn't conducive to visitation as well as employees, so we shut down the house."
[Narrator]: Starting in 2008, the National Park Service took many actions to address these issues, including replacing roofing, gutters, electrical system improvements, and installing environmental monitoring systems. However, by the time the house closed to the public in 2018, it was clear that a more comprehensive solution was needed. In 2018, the National Park Service brought in an outside architecture and engineering firm to assess the issues throughout the Texas White House Complex. This led to the creation of a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the Texas White House, aides and communications buildings, the historic airplane hangar, as well as utilities and paving throughout the site. Luckily for the park, the completion of this assessment coincided with the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act on August 4, 2020. The Great American Outdoors Act, or GAOA, is a significant investment that helps reduce the burden of backlogged maintenance in national parks, public lands, and tribal schools. Additionally, it funds critical infrastructure projects to support continued preservation, accessibility, and enjoyment of our national parks. Thanks to support from the National Park Service and beyond, the Texas White House project was included on the list of Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund projects for fiscal year 2022. This funding has allowed the park to continue with more detailed planning and design for this major rehabilitation effort. Over the last year, the National Park Service worked closely with the Denver Service Center, Anderson Hallas Architects, and representatives from the National Park Service regional office serving Interior Regions 6, 7, and 8 to complete a schematic design for the project. This high-level design paves the way for more detailed design development and the production of construction drawings through 2023. Once these plans are complete and construction begins, it is expected that the Texas White House Complex will be closed to visitors for roughly two years.
[Justin Bates]: "Hi everyone, I'm Justin Bates, the superintendent here at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. The mission of the National Park Service is to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. As you've heard, preserving resources like these takes particular care, study, and work. Here at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, we are working every day to advance the rehabilitation and restoration of the Texas White House and Texas White House Complex. We encourage you to visit our website or follow us on social media for project updates. We will continue to post information about the Texas White House, this major rehabilitation project, and the work and care that goes into preserving and protecting special places like these. We also encourage you to visit us and experience the places and landscapes that shaped our 36th president, Lyndon B. Johnson. From the Birthplace to the Boyhood Home, to the working landscape of the LBJ Ranch, there's something here for everyone, and so many stories to share."
Description
Episode five highlights the importance of historic preservation and what it takes to preserve and protect special places such as the Texas White House for present and future generations.
Duration
7 minutes, 16 seconds
Date Created
08/25/2022
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