Two men who held the nation’s highest job were born right here on Texas soil — Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson — while George H.W. Bush and a toddler-aged George W. Bush moved here from Connecticut in 1948.
Exploring the many significant locations in the early lives and presidencies of these four men will take you from far North Texas to the Texas Hill Country and beyond. On this presidential tour, in addition to learning significant American history, you’ll see great examples of what Texas has to offer. Among the 11 current sites, this state boasts the most presidential libraries (three) of any in the union, a National Historic Park, and a museum dedicated to the legacy (and conspiracies) surrounding John F. Kennedy and his assassination in Dallas.
You’ll have a chance to enjoy all the culinary and entertainment delights Dallas and Austin have to offer. You’ll see the famed Texas Hill Country and two of the most beloved college towns in Texas. Make it out to Midland to see West Texas, and you’ll really stamp your Texas passport with style.
Denison, Texas
North Texas offers four opportunities to grab a front-row seat to pivotal moments in our nation’s past. Starting in Denison, stroll around the Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site including the modest house where the 34th president was born in 1890. The visitors center includes several exhibits highlighting his military career as a war hero and his two terms in office.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas, meanwhile, has three dedicated sites within a few miles of each other. Downtown, the Sixth Floor Museum overlooks Dealey Plaza, the site of national tragedy in 1963 when JFK, the 35th president, was shot as his motorcade drove through the city. He later died at a nearby hospital. Located in the former Book Depository building, where Lee Harvey Oswald holed up, the museum dives deep into the assassination and includes several special exhibits dedicated to Kennedy’s legacy. One block over on Main Street, John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza is a Philip Johnson-designed cenotaph (open tomb) that exists as a place where people can reflect and remember.
While in downtown Dallas, keep the museum viewing going in the Arts District. When you’re ready to take a break, there are many world class restaurants and performance venues. You can truly be entertained for days.
Five miles away on the campus of Southern Methodist University, the George W. Bush Presidential Library provides an in-depth look at the eight years in office of the 43rd president of the United States, including a stirring 9/11 exhibit. Pose for photos in a replica Oval Office, browse various artifacts and gifts to the First Family, and wander the 15-acre Native Texas Park, featuring a network of trails through a variety of natural Texas landscapes.
San Marcos, Texas
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum of San Marcos offers a glimpse into the 36th president’s early life with memorabilia, photographs, and a second-floor exhibit on Lady Bird Johnson’s role in the civil rights movement. Located in historic downtown San Marcos, it’s surrounded by charming shops, local eateries, and the scenic San Marcos River, making it a great stop for history buffs and travelers alike.
Midland, Texas
And to the west in Midland, the Bush Family Home State Historic Site captures the 1950s era when George H.W., Barbara, and George W. lived in the modest, 1,400-square-foot home. Take a tour of the house and surrounding property and learn about the early years of this American political family.
College Station, Texas
The farthest-east site can be found in College Station. There, the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum at Texas A&M University promotes civic literacy while encouraging a community of volunteerism and public service. The permanent collection includes one of his presidential limousines, a restored 1944 TBM Avenger like the one Bush flew as a Navy pilot, and a replica Oval Office representative of his time behind the famous desk. After your museum tour, stroll the storied grounds of A&M and visit the home of the 12th man at the huge Aggie football stadium. Right off campus you’ll find excellent dining and entertainment options at Century Square.
Austin, Texas
Among the rolling terrain of the Texas Hill Country, four sites await, each dedicated to various points in the life of the 36th president. Austin’s LBJ Presidential Library at the University of Texas in Austin brings Lyndon B. Johnson to life via animatronics, while replicas of the First Lady’s (Lady Bird Johnson) office and the Oval Office, and nearly 8,000 square feet of glass-enclosed archives are part of the permanent exhibits. Near Austin’s East Side, you could eat for days at the many BBQ joints, taco trucks, and other tasty fare. Before you leave Austin be sure to visit the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center to see a stunning variety of native flora.
Johnson City, Texas
In Johnson City, the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park includes his boyhood home, as well as the unique opportunity to stick around after sundown. Designated in 2021 as an International Dark Sky Park, you can marvel at the universe without the light pollution that often keeps us from seeing the maximum number of twinkling stars.
Stonewall, Texas
Only two miles away in Stonewall, the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site gives you the chance to go on a self-guided tour of LBJ Ranch, which includes the “Texas White House,” where LBJ spent more than a quarter of his presidency, and an actual Air Force One, dwarfed in comparison to today’s jumbo jets serving the president.
