Discussions for a presidential library for President Johnson began soon after his 1964 election victory. In February 1965, the chairman of the Board of Regents at the
University of Texas at Austin, William H. Heath, proposed building the library on the university campus, along with funds to construct the building and the establishment of the Johnson School of Public Affairs on the campus. The agreement was formally reached on September 6, 1966. While past presidential libraries were funded by private donations, the publicly-funded University of Texas paid $15 million of the $18 million needed to construct the complex and donated the land for the library, which was formerly a low-income neighborhood acquired by the university using
eminent domain. First Lady
Lady Bird Johnson toured existing presidential libraries and university campuses to consult the design of the library. Lady Bird presented three potential architects to President Johnson;
Gordon Bunshaft of
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill was chosen. her only opportunity to meet him was when
Winston Churchill was buried in 1965. But Johnson had the flu and bronchitis and was hospitalized at the time of Churchill's
passing. He was prohibited by his physicians from leading the U.S. delegation at the funeral. wanted to attend the funeral, and the queen had arranged a private meeting with him at Buckingham Palace after the funeral before his doctors barred him from going. In 2012, the LBJ Library underwent a multimillion-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. The LBJ Library's main exhibit temporarily closed in October 2025 to allow for a "refresh" directed at younger generations and past visitors. Changes will include interactive elements and an updated look. Work is expected to finish in Spring 2026. ==Features==