Sam Rayburn House Museum Explained

Samuel T. Rayburn House
Nrhp Type:nhl
Location:890 W. SH 56, Bonham, Texas
Coordinates:33.5697°N -96.2072°W
Map Label:Samuel T. Rayburn House
Locmap Relief:yes
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Marker:building
Mapframe-Zoom:12
Mapframe-Caption:Interactive map showing the location of Samuel T. Rayburn House Museum
Architect:W.B. Yarborough
Designated Nrhp Type:May 11, 1976[1]
Added:June 5, 1972
Refnum:72001361
Designated Other1 Name:Texas State Historic Site
Designated Other1 Abbr:TSHS
Designated Other1 Color:
  1. CDE5B2
Designated Other1 Link:List of Texas State Historic Sites
Designated Other1 Date:1975[2]
Designated Other2:TSAL
Designated Other2 Date:January 1, 2000
Designated Other2 Number:8200000738
Designated Other2 Num Position:bottom
Designated Other3:RTHL
Designated Other3 Date:1965
Designated Other3 Number:8923
Designated Other3 Num Position:bottom

The Sam Rayburn House Museum is a historic house museum at 890 West Texas State Highway 56 in Bonham, Fannin, Texas. Built in 1916, it was home to Sam Rayburn (1882-1961), a famously effective Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.[1] [3] Since 1972, it has been operated as a museum and state historic site by the Texas Historical Commission.

Description and history

The Sam Rayburn House is located on about 2acres on the south side of Texas Highway 56, on the western outskirts of Bonham. The property includes the main house, a storage building, shed, garage, wellhouse, and barn. The main house is a -story wood-frame structure, with a gabled roof and clapboarded exterior. Its main facade is protected by a shed-roof portico with two-story Tuscan columns, and there are three gabled dormers projecting from the roof. The facade is three bays wide, with a center entrance framed by sidelight and transom windows, topped by a projecting cornice.[3]

The house was originally thought to be built around 1904, before the Rayburn family purchased the property. Subsequent research later determined the date to be 1916, since Sam Rayburn's brother Tom took a lien on the property without the house on it. As originally built, the house was smaller and had a hip roof; its present configuration is the result of a major expansion commissioned by Rayburn from Dallas architect W.B. Yarborough. Rayburn occupied the house until his death in 1961. Since he died divorced and childless, his sister lived there until her death in 1969, after which it was taken over by the Sam Rayburn Foundation. In 1972, the foundation turned most of the property (excepting only the barn) to the state for preservation.[3] All the furnishings are original and remain as they were when the Rayburns lived there. Rayburn's 1947 Cadillac is also on site.[4]

Rayburn was one of the most influential Congressmen of the first half of the 20th century, serving for 17 years as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He was an important force in maintaining harmony between the northern and southern wings of the Democratic Party, and served as a mentor to future president Lyndon B. Johnson. Of three residences known to be associated with Rayburn, this one is the best preserved and most evocative of his life.[3]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Staff. June 2011. National Historic Landmarks Survey: List of National Historic Landmarks by State (Texas). National Park Service. PDF. April 30, 2018.
  2. Web site: History, Sam Rayburn House. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. April 30, 2018.
  3. [{{NHLS url|id=72001361}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Samuel "Sam" T. Rayburn House; "The Home Place" / Sam Rayburn House Museum]. pdf. January 1976 . Cathy A. Alexander . Ralph Christian . George R. Adams . amp . National Park Service. and  
  4. http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1167863 MuseumsUSA: Sam Rayburn House Museum