The artifacts and voluminous documents on exhibit here provide some insight into the 36th president's mind and motivations, and though his foibles are downplayed, a clear sense of the man—earthy, conniving, sensitive, and wry—emerges. That he was able to function at all may surprise visitors born during the high-tech era. In an age when the average car is loaded with digital gadgets and 12-year-olds with cell phones are commonplace, Johnson's black Lincoln limousine and clunky, command-central telephone seem quaintly archaic, though they were state-of-the-art during his presidency. If you schedule your visit to the reading room in advance of your arrival, you can listen to recordings of conversations Johnson had using that telephone. The 30-plus hours of tape recordings include ruminations on Vietnam, economic inflation, and a New York City transit strike. Gordon Bunshaft designed the monolithic travertine building that houses the library; like the limo and the phone, it's a bit of a period piece. There are rotating temporary exhibits on the ground floor. Be sure to check out the second floor, where a life-size audio-animatronic figure of LBJ spins humorous anecdotes; it's a hoot.

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, also known as the LBJ Presidential Library, is one of 13 Presidential Libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The Library houses 45 million pages of historical documents, including the papers of Lyndon Baines Johnson and those of his close associates and others. The Library was dedicated on May 22, 1971, with Johnson and then-President Richard Nixon in attendance. The current director is Presidential historian Mark K. Updegrove. President Johnson is buried at his ranch, near Johnson City, Texas, at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. After her death in July, 2007, the body of Lady Bird Johnson lay in repose in the Library and Museum, just as her husband's had after his death, 34 years earlier. In 2012, the LBJ Library underwent a multi-million dollar redesign, during which most of the exhibits were closed. On December 22, the Library reopened to the public. In 2013, the Library began charging admission for the first time since its dedication in 1971.

Get a good sense of President Johnson's character, intellect, and impact on the country at LBJ Presidential Library. The library houses millions of pages of historical documents. As you enter the lobby, the first thing you see is the President's limousine. Start from the top floor by walking through a replica of the Oval Office arranged as it was during Johnson's presidency. See a portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt, LBJ's three television sets, and his many books. Look for the desk on which the president signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. You can also see significant artifacts from the days surrounding the assassination of JFK. Look for a telephone in a corner to listen to conversations concerning this historic event. Ask Inspirock to suggest an itinerary and make planning a trip to Austin fast, fun, and easy.

What’s so special about a library full of the 36th POTUS’s things? It’s not just any hodgepodge collection; the 30-acre site and its 10-story building located next to the football stadium on UT Campus houses and displays more than 54,000 objects from all over the world—ranging from Middle Eastern antiquities to Oval Office furniture—donated by the President and Mrs. Johnson, their friends and associates. Alongside an additional 45 million pages of documents, 650,000 photos and 5,000 recordings, the collection doesn’t just portray a presidency, it provides a detailed snapshot of U.S. culture and politics in the 1960s. If you’re planning a visit, make sure to check the website for special exhibitions—the recent “Ladies and Gentlemen … the Beatles!” run was a blast for history and music buffs alike!

This impressive modernist building, designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft, houses the legacy of the 36th president of the United States of America. Central Texas native Lyndon Baines Johnson was one of the most colorful and powerful men in the history of the state of Texas. This 10-story library was dedicated in 1971 and contains 45 million pages of historical documents, 650,000 photos, and 5,000 hours of recordings from President Johnson's long political career, during which he was involved in highs and lows including landmark achievements in civil rights as well as U.S. military action in Southeast Asia. The library also features exhibits in collaboration with other institutions that touch on other parts of Texas and U.S. history. By Matthew Odam, AFAR Local Expert

Even if you're not interested in the history of the 1964 Civil Rights Act or the Vietnam War, President Lyndon Baines Johnson is still a fascinating character. The audio collection is particularly entertaining: for example, you can hear LBJ describe to his tailor, in excruciating detail, how much space he needs in his pants between the zipper and his 'bunghole'.