This is an unusual NPS site in that there are two distinct parts to the park, thirteen miles apart. In addition, the LBJ ranch area is under the control of both the NPS and the Texas State Park.
At the present time, I am working in Johnson City. One of my jobs is working in the visitor center.
Much of my time is spent behind this desk giving information to people visiting the area for the first time.
This large facility also serves as the NPS headquarters. It was originally built as the LBJ Memorial Hospital with thirty beds serving the elderly and other low-income people of the area. Health care legislation passed during the Johnson presidency provided Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for those unable to purchase health insurance. Unfortunately, during the Reagan presidency in the 80's, Congress voted to set a low payment cap on payouts for these programs forcing small hospitals to close their doors. The building sat empty for years until the NPS was able to secure funds to purchase and renovate the building. The new Headquarters and Visitor Center opened about six years ago.
In addition to general information about the two areas of the park, the center has a wonderful time line of LBJ's life and career accompanied by events elsewhere in the nation and world. Vintage television clips are shown throughout the exhibit.
There is also a display of the hundreds of initiatives that were established during the Johnson years.
President Johnson signed the bill to improve education for all school children in front of his childhood school. The lady at his side was his first teacher.
The War on Poverty
Medicare and Medicaid
Support for the Arts and Humanities
Much of this legislation has continued to improve the lives of all Americans
We visited here and thought it was very well done. Enjoyed the LBJ Ranch also. It was April so all the Texas hill country wildflowers were in bloom.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Thanks for the update.