Our day started in the rain and ended with some sun. Our drive from Leander (campground) to College Station took a little over two hours. Leaving in the pouring rain, we traveled primarily across two-lane highways. In between swipes of the wipers we saw a lot of Texas countryside due to the lack of interstate connecting the Austin area with College Station. The museum and library are located on the campus of Texas A&M campus. This was our eighth Presidential Library and Museum. It is something we highly recommend for every American.
When we arrived at College Station, we had run from the rain.
But, as you can tell, the sky was still ominous looking.
The skies looked threatening so the first thing we did was
see all we could that was outside. That included pausing
to look at “The Day the Wall Fell” sculpture of
one stallion and four mares jumping over a replica
of the Berlin Wall.
This is the Presidential Pond with surrounding walkway. To the
back and left is a gazebo at the Barbara Bush Rose Garden.
secluded gravesite. George is in the center,
Barbara to the right, and the couple’s young daughter (who died
from leukemia before her fourth birthday) is to the left.
The museum building sits adjacent to the library. Though not
pictured, in front of the library is new construction for the
Marine One and UP4141 locomotive exhibit.
Union Pacific 4141 was painted in honor of Pres. Bush in 2005
and placed into service by Union Pacific. After the death ofBush, the locomotive pulled Bush’s funeral train on December 6, 2018
running from Spring to College Station, Texas. A year later
it was donated to the museum. It will go on display in
2024, the 100th year since his birth. The paint scheme is similar
to that of Air Force One.
Like any good museum, the displays are arranged in a flowing and cohesive order. The main galleries for the George H. W. Bush museum is as follows.
- Welcome Area and Symbols of the Presidency
- Family Traditions
- World War II - Duty, Honor, Country
- Political Itch
- Domestic Leadership
- First Lady Contributions
- Crisis Management - Situation Room
- A Life of Service
- Gallery of American History (temporary exhibits)
"My mother couldn't make up her mind which of her
father’s names (George, Herbert, Walker) she wanted me to have.
When christening time came she decided not to decide."
George Herbert Walker Bush
Lieutenant Junior Grade George Bush was a pilot with
Torpedo Squadron Fifty-One (VT-51 ) aboard the
aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto. He piloted a General Motors
TBM Avenger which carried a crew of three.
He was one of the youngest pilots in the
US Navy during World War II. He was the
sole survivor after being shot down.
At 17, the young Bush attempted to enlist in the Navy. Of course, he wasn’t accepted. At 18 he was accepted and was trained as a pilot. After his lone survival from being shot down by the Japanese and being rescued by a submarine on patrol, he felt very firmly that God has spared him so that he could do something else more meaningful with his life.
After World War II, Bush went to Andover. The school motto, non sibs (not for self), sought to teach a sense of responsibility toward the global community and natural world. Of the experience at Andover, Bush said: “I loved those years. They did, indeed, teach me the great and real business of living. And even now it's lessons of honesty, selflessness, faith in god – well, they enrich our lives.”
The museums all have an Oval Office decorated as it was
during the term of office of the various presidents. This one
was no different although the Reagan version is behind a protective wall.
One Thousand Points of Light
“Any definition of a successful life must include serving others”
– President Bush
This painting hangs in the gallery Life of Service gallery
to be seen as visitors exit the display area. It serves
as a reminder for One Thousand Points of Light.
A Life of Service … Well Lived … Mission Complete
Of the museums, we both think the Lincoln museum in Springfield, Illinois is the most immersive and best done. Martha thought this one was second. Byron will call it a tie for second with Nixon. Both are different in their own ways and, for the same reasons, outstanding. Again, so much information was presented and so well put assembled. The curators are to be appreciated for the work they do. Credit also goes to the National Archives for protecting out national interest in the material developed during any presidency.
As we discussed when coming away from our visit, each of the presidents, though not perfect, gave of themselves because they had hearts for service and heart for people; admirable qualities. Also, they were not self-serving or only looking out for themselves.
After our library visit, we met up with some friends Martha has known since her junior college days and before, Bill and Peggy Coleman. We had a delightful visit at a nearby Cheddar’st. As we did with other friends we met in Arizona, we were so busy catching up on each other’s lives and enjoying visiting that we forgot to get a picture.
We made it back to the campground just before dark. Another good day!
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