LBJ National Park (and State Park)

Since Tim had the day off today and Maya's day care was closed, we decided to do a little sightseeing here in central Texas. We drove out to Johnson City and Stonewall to see a variety of (mostly LBJ-themed) historical sites. We started in Johnson City (not, in fact named for president Johnson but for his forebears instead), where there's a restored settlement.






We also toured Johnson's boyhood home, where he lived from the ages of 5-15 and from where he announced his candidacy for president.

We then drove another 15 miles up the road to the LBJ State Park and National Park (a joint venture that includes the LBJ Ranch). We stopped first to have a picnic.

During the picnic, Maya leaned under the table and said "what's that?" We assumed it was the chip that she'd dropped, but when we looked, it turns out that she'd discovered a beautiful caterpillar (that she was subsequently petrified of).


After lunch, we headed to a working historical farm, complete with all kinds of livestock (pigs, cows, mules, chickens, turkeys, among others) and people dressed in costumes "living" on the farm the way they lived 100 years ago. We tried to get an egg from the chicken coop (but Maya was skittish when the chickens started clucking), saw butter and whey being made, and many other things.


From the farm, we headed to the visitors center and prepared for our visit to the LBJ ranch. They have a very nice setup; for free, you get some paper guides and a CD to use during your drive. You play the CD, and it gives you step by step directions and tons of stories told about times on the ranch by LBJ himself, Ladybird Johnson, and friends and staff members. We saw the house where LBJ's parents originally settled (where he was born), the show barn, a "stampede" of cattle (as much as I imagine cattle can stampede in 100 degree weather), and lots of other buildings.



The tour ended at the "Texas White House" where LBJ ran much of his white house operations (it has its own landing strip, so Air Force One could practically pull right up to the house). The Johnsons retired here when Johnson's term finished; they've only recently opened up four rooms in the house (including his office), but are returning all of the rest of the house to the condition and furnishing it was in when he lived there for the 5 years between the end of his term and his death.

For this trip in EveryTrail, click here.