LBJ Ranch

We arrived in Fredericksburg, TX on Thursday and because the weather man promised a nice sunny, warm day on Friday, decided to stay two nights. The weather man was right - today was a wonderful sunny warm day - just what I needed to help me get over this lingering cold.

We drove to the LBJ State/National Park this morning for a tour. I was never a big fan of his, but still interested to see where my tax $$'s were going. The welcome center and gift shop was nice. They showed a movie about LBJ - from childhood to death. Very interesting - some facts that I didn't know came to light. One was how when he met Lady Bird, he knew that she was the one and told her basically that this was her chance with him, take it or leave it. From the narration, I got the feeling that is how he lived his life. He wanted it done - NOW! I also think he was very paranoid - they mentioned how afraid he was of becoming incapacitated during his presidency. He was also a womanizer - no surprise!

We took the tour bus, you can't drive the park yourself - no private vehicles allowed, which took us by the one room school house where he went to school, the house he was born in, and the Texas White House. Also visited the family cemetery. Unfortunately, the bus only makes two stops where you can get off and take pictures - where he was born and the show barn where he would sell his prized cattle and horses. I was very disappointed overall in the tour.

While at the cemetery, someone asked about Lady Bird - she is still alive at the age of 94! I forget where they said she stays, I think it was in Austin. She does sometime visit the ranch.

Ok, here are some pictures from the ranch....

First the one room school house - sorry about the reflection - we couldn't get off the bus!



This is the refurbished homestead where LBJ was born...



The family cemetery just down the road from the house - that's LBJ's marker, but again, we couldn't get close and I don't have a great zoom lens - sure need to get one!



The Texas White House



One of the cattle in the show barn - notice the branding.... the property was donated to the Natl Park service on the provision that they continue raising cattle - our tax $$ at work!




LBJ was a man of little patience - this was the road he had installed to the house so that he wouldn't have to drive a half mile to the bridge and back - the entrance (the guard shack isn't in the picture, but is off to the left, then the shallow water road to cross the river.





During the drive to the park we spotted this sculpture along Hwy 290. I thought it was neat. There was a sign that said Sculpture Gardens, 5 1/2 mile. Maybe next time that we are in the
area.



Tomorrow we are back on the road westbound. Till next time......