PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES

As the only state with three presidential libraries, Texas offers a unique opportunity to show how U.S. history can benefit a state's economy. The Lyndon B. Johnson, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush presidential libraries each showcase and preserve historical documents and artifacts that highlight the lives, political careers and legacies of three American presidents.

Lyndon B. Johnson, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush

In 2023, Texas' Presidential Libraries contributed the following to the economy.

3,162

TOTAL EMPLOYMENT

$329.1 Million

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

$557.8 Million

OUTPUT

$190.8 Million

DISPOSABLE PERSONAL INCOME

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; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Presidential Library Museum Attendance Fiscal Years 2014 to 2023

Attendance data

Fiscal Year	Johnson	Bush (41)	Bush (43)
2014	139,026	136,101	490,887
2015	173,815	146,815	300,333
2016	154,238	149,489	210,989
2017	152,583	149,614	218,879
2018	152,475	186,782	185,735
2019	145,202	232,902	174,450
2020*	70,225	80,714	61,656
2021*	3,373	0	22,843
2022	84,354	101,920	75,838
2023	118,885	101,960	97,500

Note: The federal government’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.
*Closed during most of fiscal year due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Presidential Libraries History

The U.S. presidential library system was established in 1939 when President Roosevelt announced plans to build a library on his Hyde Park, New York, estate to house the personal and presidential documents he had accumulated during his four terms as president.

Congress later passed a joint resolution making the facility part of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which maintains historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as well as other governmental documents including military, citizenship and land records.

Following President Roosevelt’s initiative, subsequent presidents also decided to build libraries as a way to preserve the documents of their administration, which prompted the U.S. Congress to pass the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955. This act established a system of libraries that were privately owned but federally maintained and served to encourage other presidents to establish libraries following their terms in office.

LBJ LIBRARY

The 143,836-square-foot Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum holds:
Media	Quantity
TEXTUAL RECORDS	45 million pages
PHOTOGRAPHY	650,000 photos
FILM AND VIDEO	7,500 films / tapes
LIBRARY ARTIFACTS	53,853 artifacts
AUDIO	12,000 hours

The Lyndon B. Johnson Library in Austin showcases documents and other artifacts from the 36th president’s administration and the legacy of both he and First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson.

George H.W. Bush PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

The George H. W. Bush Library in College Station honors the 41st president and offers a place for visitors to learn about his presidency and life in government.

The 81,706-square-foot George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum holds:
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

George W. Bush

PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

The collections include:
Media	Quantity
TEXTUAL RECORDS	70 million pages
PHOTOGRAPHY	3.8 million still photos
AUDIO-VISUAL RECORDINGS	30,000 recordings
ELECTRONIC DATA	80 terabytes
AUDIO	800 hours

The George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas is housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, along with the museum and Bush Institute. The 140,941-usable-square-foot center holds documents and mementos that are important to the life and political career of the 43rd president.

Glenn Hegar

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

THIS IS ONE IN A SERIES OF REPORTS THE COMPTROLLER HAS PREPARED ON TEXAS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES.

SEE MORE INFORMATION ON TEXAS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES.

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