Published: November 29, 2008 06:06 pm      

LBJ Museum reception, tree lighting Dec. 3

San Marcos — The Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum of San Marcos will celebrate its second anniversary with a public reception, tree-lighting and holiday serenade at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3.

After more than nine years of facility renovation, preparation and fundraising, the museum opened its doors on Dec. 6, 2006 and Scott Jordan was hired as the museum's first director in April 2007.

For the second year in a row, the public is invited to join San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz and members of the non-profit's board of directors for a reception from 5 to 6 p.m.

Mayor Narvaiz will flip the switch to light up the museum's Christmas tree and a group of youngsters from San Marcos' Bonham Pre-Kindergarten School will sing a few Christmas carols. Christmas cookies and punch will be served.

The pre-kindergarten students were invited to participate at the anniversary reception because of the role that President Lyndon Johnson played in launching such early educational programs as Head Start.

Looking back over the past year, the museum board takes pride in the role the museum has played in the national celebration of President Johnson's 100th birthday.

A collaborative Humanities Texas grant that Texas State University-San Marcos received allowed the museum to mount an exhibit titled “Remembering LBJ and His Legacy: Local Recollections - An Oral History Project.” This exhibit will remain on display until May 2009, following the university's year-long Common Experience focus on the legacy of the 36th President.

The Oral History Project Exhibit is interactive.

Thanks to the Humanities Texas grant funds, a computerized kiosk was purchased that lets visitors select and listen to oral history interview clips while viewing photographs of the interviewees.

Museum officials say the LBJ Museum of San Marcos fills a special niche in the Johnson legacy by celebrating not only the President's days in San Marcos while attending what is now Texas State University but also his days as a public school teacher in Cotulla and Houston. It has what they say is a unique perspective to share with the public about the man known as “The Education President.”

Except for a handful of holidays, the museum is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Special tours can be arranged on other days.