What We Do
National Parks depend on the involvement and support of the public. The Friends of the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park work in partnership with the National Park Service to support the park in three key areas: education, preservation, and restoration.
We support educational and interpretive programs.
We serve as advocates for the park promoting care, research, and conservation.
We support improvement projects.
We support programs and activities that will broaden the public's knowledge of the park, fostering partnerships locally and nationally.
Achievements
Over a span of more than a decade, the Friends have supported these projects and many others, including:
- The preservation of President Johnson’s beloved Hereford cattle. Descendants of the original herd can be seen at the Show Barn at the LBJ Ranch.
- The restoration of the porch at the Johnson ancestral cabin in Johnson City. The Friends funded historic techniques to restore the porch, which dates back to an era when Blanco County was part of the Texas frontier.
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The restoration of the Johnson Settlement landscape to its 1860s appearance with the assistance of volunteers in celebration of Earth Day and National Public Lands Day.
- A new foundation for the Secret Service Command Post at the LBJ Ranch.
- Securing Pedernales Electric Cooperative funding for Dark-Sky-friendly lighting at the Visitors’ Parking Lot in Johnson City.
- Funding for the Texas White House film shown at the Hangar Visitors’ Center at the LBJ Ranch.
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Returned one of President Johnson's JetStar aircraft to the park.
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Funded wallpaper replacement in President Johnson's boyhood home.
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Funded construction of accessibility ramp to the President's office at the Texas White House.
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Sponsored Youth Presidential Leadership Council enabling high school students to learn about President Johnson, the National Park Service and the Texas Hill Country.
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Provided educational materials for the park's distance learning programs.
On April 2, 2022, our long-standing fundraiser, the LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour: A Ride to Preserve History, returned! We were excited to welcome more than 1000 of our supporters back to the LBJ Ranch for this historic ride.
2023 Ride Update
As many of you know, the Friends of LBJ National Historical Park is run by a volunteer board. This year, the board’s efforts are focused on the Cabinet Oak Project, a unique fundraiser that will culminate in a celebration and art auction on May 6, 2023 at Garrison Brothers Distillery in the Texas Hill Country. Proceeds from this project will support our partners at the National Park Service in the restoration of the Texas White House at the LBJ Ranch and in the establishment of an artist-in-residence program at the park.
Putting this project together takes an enormous amount of time and resources, and as such, the board has opted not to host the LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour in the spring of 2023. We understand that this may disappoint the many cycling enthusiasts and park supporters who have attended the ride in past years.
We know you share our appreciation of the LBJ Ranch and our mission to support the park in the areas of education, preservation, and restoration. Cyclists are always welcome at the LBJ Ranch during operating hours. Reconnect with this historic and beautiful property if you can! We also invite you to learn more about the Cabinet Oak Project here. To stay up-to-date on the May 6 event and art auction, please join our email list here and follow us on social media at @friends_of_lbj.
If you’d like more information on sponsoring this event, please contact us.
We appreciate your continued support of the Friends of LBJ National Historical Park!
Keep up-to-date on our ride website lbj100.bike and our Facebook page
For more information on the Cabinet Oak Project, head to cabinetoak.art
