Texas White House: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, National Park Service

Degutis, Erin; Foster, Lance

The Texas White House component landscape is located in the LBJ Ranch District, part of the Jyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park near Austin, Texas. The landscape contains the Texas White House and its associated structures and yard, the area along the Pedernales River, and the LBJ Airstrip. The site served as a residence for the Johnsons and as his Texas headquarters during his tenure as 36th President of the United States. The Texas White House is surrounded by the Agricultural Complex, one of the other two component landscapes within the Ranch District. The landscape period of significance is identified as 1869 to 1973, reflecting the period of settlement and development of the ranch landscape and including the years that Lyndon B. Johnson spent there. In particular, the Texas White House represents the height of LBJ’s political career and his years serving as president. The distinctive formal landscaping, many aspects of which are still evident, was designed by Dallas landscape architect Richard Myrick to provide variety, privacy, and four-season interest. The central focus of the Texas White House is the house, which has gone through various stages of development. At its core is the Wilhelm Meier two-story rock house, which was added to by the Martins (ca. 1912) after they purchased the property. The Martins also built the Old Martin Barn. After the Johnsons acquired the house in 1951, they remodeled it to suit their needs. The LBJ Airstrip was built in stages beginning in April 1953, with a grass strip for small airplane takeoffs and landings. Sometime later, the grass landing strip was replaced with a gravel strip. The first asphalt-surfaced strip was built around 1960/61, and the present configuration was designed in 1964 to allow use by larger aircraft. A pool was installed in 1955, viewed as an important part of domestic life, entertaining, and essential to LBJ’s recovery after his 1965 heart attack. Several more periods of remodeling occurred, most notably in 1964 in support of infrastructure for communication and security purposes. The addition of these structures included the military trailer cluster behind the house, security gates, and Secret Service facilities, all of which are associated with LBJ’s Presidency (1963-1969). This was also the period when the agricultural operations, such as the show barn, were relocated to their present location in the Agricultural Complex. The picnic grove and the area along the Pedernales River were used as a showplace for social functions during Johnson’s Presidency. The dams on the Pedernales were also built under LBJ’s direction. The landscape of the yard and house gardens has undergone several transformations, and it continued to evolve for the time that Mrs. Johnson remained in the house. This evolution of design is in keeping with the historical character of the house and its historical use. As Mrs. Johnson is also a primary contributor to the property’s significance, the evolution of the landscape does not threaten the historic significance of the house, but instead adds another layer of meaning for future interpretation. “Ladybird” Johnson died in 2007. In summary, the landscape of the Texas White House is not a snapshot frozen in time, but a continual layering of history and land use that connects President Johnson’s political and domestic life to the present day. The Texas White House continues to characterize LBJ’s concern that the area functioned as an operable ranch and spiritual wellspring, as well as characterizing Mrs. Johnson's ethic of outdoor beautification and gracious living.

Texas White House: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, National Park Service

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