BONHAM, Texas––Following a year of restoration, the Sam Rayburn House Museum is now open for tours of “Mr. Sam’s” home. The 1916 house, one of the Texas Historical Commission’s (THC) 20 historic sites, closed in March 2011 for an extensive restoration project.
The official reopening of the site on Saturday, March 17 included a ceremony featuring Sen. Robert F. “Bob” Deuell (R-Greenville), who took part in the celebration along with other dignitaries.
“The Sam Rayburn House Museum is a significant heritage tourism attraction in Texas, and we’re very proud to be reopening this site for the public to experience all the important improvements that were completed here,” said Mark Wolfe, executive director of the THC. “We encourage visitors to come see the impressive upgrades at this real place that tells the real stories of Texas history.”
The museum also opened its newest exhibit, “Bringing Order to the House: The Restoration of the Sam Rayburn House Museum,” on March 17. The exhibit details the multi-faceted elements of the museum restoration. Historic photos of the house interspersed with views of the construction work are showcased within the display along with artifacts uncovered during the work.
Architects from the THC’s Historic Sites Division worked with Quimby McCoy Preservation Architecture LLP and contractor Phoenix I Restoration and Construction, Ltd to complete the project. The endeavor included the repair of the exterior of the historic house and tractor shed. Historical accuracy was enhanced with the restoration of the front and back porches. In addition, the construction crew updated the museum’s visitor center.
The Sam Rayburn House Museum tells the story of Rayburn, one of the most powerful and influential politicians of the 20th century. Rayburn served in the Texas House of Representatives and the U.S. Congress, eventually becoming speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for 17 non-consecutive terms between 1940 and his death in 1961.Preserved as a period time capsule, his two-story house contains original Rayburn furnishings.
The THC’s 20 historic sites represent compelling examples of the Texas mystique throughout the Lone Star State.Rehabilitation projects and interpretive plans are currently being completed at many of the sites, offering heritage travelers an opportunity to experience these real places where Texas history occurred. To learn more, visit www.visitsamrayburnhouse.com and www.texashistoricsites.com.