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Exhibit 1
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 3 George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Attendance, Fiscals 2014-2023
Good for Texas Tour: Presidential Libraries Edition George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Overview
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Introduction
The George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum (Bush Library), one of three presidential libraries in Texas, is in College Station at Texas A&M University (TAMU). The Bush Library is dedicated to the legacy of the 41st President, offering a comprehensive exploration of his leadership during pivotal moments in history such as Operation Desert Storm, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War.
History
Completed in 1997, the Bush Library honors the 41st president by preserving records and artifacts from his presidency and promoting civic literacy, volunteerism and public service. The site 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.
The Bush Library also features rotating exhibits. This summer, it will feature a rotating exhibit, “The Spirit of the Place,” in conjunction with the George & Barbara Bush Foundation’s 41@100: A Celebration of George H.W. Bush, a year-long celebration of the former president’s life and achievements that culminates in a celebration of his 100th birthday on June 12. The centennial celebration will include the official opening of a 29,000 square-foot building housing a retired Marine One helicopter and the Union Pacific Locomotive, which carried President Bush to his final resting place in College Station.
The Bush Library’s archives holds 44 million pages of textual records and personal papers as well as an extensive audiovisual collection containing more than 2 million photographs and 10,000 videotapes (Exhibit 1).
| Size | Textual Records | Photography | Video Recordings | Library Artifacts | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81,706 square feet | 44 million pages | 2 million still photos | 10,000 VNH/BETA tapes | 61,271 artifacts | 800 hours |
Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Economic Impact
The Bush Library opened in 1997, with a construction cost of $43 million ($81.7 million in 2023 dollars). In 2007, the exhibit space received a $8.7 million renovation ($12.7 million in 2023 dollars).
Construction costs currently underway for the 29,000 square-foot building that will house the Union Pacific 4141 locomotive, the Marine One helicopter and a new restaurant are estimated at $38 million. Considering this construction activity and ongoing maintenance, combined with retail sales, the Bush Library is estimated to have contributed $113.2 million to the Texas economy in 2023, with total employment — direct and indirect — of about 1,100 (Exhibit 2).
| Contribution | Value |
|---|---|
| Total employment | 1,102 |
| Gross domestic product | $113,182,000 |
| Output | $196,925,000 |
| Disposable personal income | $62,147,000 |
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.
Sources: REMI Model for Texas and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Attendance
The Bush Library is open year-round, excluding Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. In fiscal 2023, the Bush Library welcomed nearly 102,000 visitors (Exhibit 3).
Exhibit 3 data
| Fiscal Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 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
During fiscal 2020 and 2021, the Bush Library experienced a decline in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, in fiscal 2019, the Bush Library ranked second in attendance across all presidential libraries, behind only the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in California. This influx of visitors was largely due to the passing of both President Bush and his wife, former First Lady Barbara Bush, in 2018. After their deaths, the couple was buried behind the presidential pond on the library grounds. The gravesite is open to visitors during the library's regular business hours.
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 is headquartered at TAMU, with additional field offices in Houston and Washington, D.C. The Bush Foundation is chaired by the Bushes’ second son and former governor of Florida, Jeb Bush. As George and Barbara dedicated their lives to public service, the Bush Foundation seeks to provide resources to those passionate in community service and advocacy.
The foundation offers several scholarship programs including the George H.W. Bush High School Public Service Scholarship, which provides educational funding to high school senior students dedicated to community service in the Bryan-College Station area. Additionally, the foundation provides grant funding to TAMU students conducting research in philanthropy and Asian studies, among other areas.
In collaboration with the Bush Library and the Bush School of Government and Public Service (Bush School) at TAMU (see below), the foundation actively organizes and sponsors educational programs and speaker series that serve to connect students and the public with experts in various levels of government. Notable past speakers include former U.S. Vice President under George H.W. Bush, Dan Quayle, and 43rd U.S. President and son of George H.W. and Barbara Bush, George W. Bush. One speaker series that the Bush Foundation hosts annually is the ConocoPhillips White House Lecture Series, featuring individuals with experience working in the White House such as former ambassadors, trade representatives and more. The series most recently featured former mayor of San Antonio and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros, who discussed the role of modernized infrastructure in the nation’s economic and national security future.
Bush School of Government and Public Service
The Bush School was founded in 1997, supporting 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 people have enrolled in the school, and more than 95 percent of these students have graduated within four years.
The Bush School provides students with an array of educational resources, such as four graduate programs, access to the archival holdings in the Bush Library, and invitations to exclusive events and speaking engagements hosted by the George and Barbara Bush Foundation. In 2022, the addition of the Department of International Studies brought a new program track option — international politics and diplomacy — for undergraduate students to gain an understanding of foreign relations. With a rigorous curriculum and acclaimed faculty, the Bush School ranks at 28th for best public affairs program, according to the 2023 U.S. News & World Report.