In 2022, the foundation received more than $3.6 MILLION in contributions.
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TEXAS
GEORGE H.W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
The George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum (Bush Library), one of the three presidential libraries in Texas, is located on the campus of Texas A&M University (TAMU) in College Station. The Bush Library is dedicated to the legacy of the 41st President, offering a comprehensive exploration of his leadership.
GEORGE H. W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY, IMPACT TO THE TEXAS ECONOMY, 2023
TOTAL EMPLOYMENT 1,102
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT $113.2 Million
OUTPUT $196.9 Million
DISPOSABLE PERSONAL INCOME $62.1 Million
HISTORY
Completed in 1997, the Bush Library honors the 41st president by preserving records and artifacts from his presidency and by promoting civic literacy, volunteerism and public service. The Bush Library and Museum showcases permanent exhibits that explore the president’s major influences and challenges that shaped his life, including his service as a fighter pilot in World War II and his many roles in public service: congressman, ambassador to the United Nations, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, vice president and, ultimately, president.
| Media | Quantity |
|---|---|
| TEXTUAL RECORDS | 44 million pages |
| PHOTOGRAPHY | 2 million still photos |
| VIDEO RECORDINGS | 10,000 VHS/BETA tapes |
| LIBRARY ARTIFACTS | 61,271 artifacts |
| AUDIO | 800 hours |
Notes: “Total employment” refers to direct and indirect employment; “gross domestic product” refers to the total value of all final goods and services produced in Texas; “output” refers to the total value of all goods and services (final and intermediate) produced in Texas; “disposable personal income” refers to post-tax incomes. Data include direct and indirect economic impacts for the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
Sources: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration; REMI Model for Texas; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
The Bush Library and Museum opened in 1997, with a construction cost of $43 million.
($81.7 million in 2023 dollars)
ATTENDANCE
During fiscal 2020 and 2021, the library and museum experienced a decline in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal 2019, the Bush Library ranked second in attendance across all presidential libraries, only behind the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in California.
GEORGE H. W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM ATTENDANCE, FISCAL 2014 – 2023
View Attendance Data
| Fiscal Year | Attendance |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 136,101 |
| 2015 | 146,815 |
| 2016 | 149,489 |
| 2017 | 149,614 |
| 2018 | 186,782 |
| 2019 | 232,902 |
| 2020* | 80,714 |
| 2021* | 0 |
| 2022 | 101,920 |
| 2023 | 101,960 |
*Museum was closed to the public for most of the fiscal year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Note: The federal government’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
GEORGE & BARBARA BUSH FOUNDATION
The George & Barbara Bush Foundation preserves the historic legacies of the former president and first lady through the support of education and service-oriented programs. The foundation offers several scholarship programs, including the George H. W. Bush High School Public Service Scholarship for high school seniors dedicated to community service in the Bryan-College Station area. The foundation also provides grant funding to TAMU students conducting research in a variety of areas including philanthropy and Asian studies.
BUSH SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE
The Bush School of Government and Public Service (Bush School) was founded in 1997 and supports President George H. W. Bush’s philosophy that “public service is a noble calling.” The Bush School offers multiple graduate programs, including master’s degrees in public service and administration, international affairs, and international policy. Since 2013, 750 students have enrolled in the Bush School with at least 95 percent graduating within four years.
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL SINCE 2013
750
RANKING AMONG PUBLIC AFFAIRS GRADUATE SCHOOLS
Top 10%
TEXAS’ THREE PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES
Texas is home to three presidential libraries at sites chosen by the presidents to preserve their records, stories and legacies. Part archive and part museum, these landmarks are local treasures with global impact, spurring curiosity, dialogue and healthy debate. Each site is a time capsule, providing glimpses of past conflicts and solutions — even shedding light on future opportunities.
TEXAS’ PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES SHOW OUR STATE’S OUTSIZED IMPACT ON THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY AND HISTORY, SUPPORT THE TEXAS ECONOMY AND SERVE AS MAGNETS FOR CIVIC MINDED VISITORS, SCHOLARS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
And that’s good for Texas.
THIS IS ONE IN A SERIES OF REPORTS THE COMPTROLLER HAS PREPARED ON TEXAS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES. SEE MORE INFORMATION ON TEXAS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES.