Bonham -- After extensive planning, exhaustive academic research and more than a month of construction, The Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas in Austin unveiled a renovated Sam Rayburn Museum Sunday, November 11. It was the first major renovation since the facility opened as the Sam Rayburn Library 55 years ago.
Fittingly enough, the ribbon cutting was performed by Luke Langford, the great-great nephew of Sam Rayburn and all this comes on the 100th anniversary of Mr. Rayburn's election to Congress.
The upgrades include many digital interactive features, most notably a massive Archive Explorer that functions similarly to an iPad. While the extensive renovation brings the Sam Rayburn Museum into the modern era, it continues to document Mr. Rayburn's prominent leadership role during one of the most formative periods in the nation's history. Rayburn visualized his personal library as not only a gift to Bonham, but also as a regional resource. The Sam Rayburn Museum is one of the few places, outside of the LBJ Library in Austin and now the George W. Bush Library in Dallas, to access artifacts of political life in Washington, D.C. In a very unique way, for members of Rayburn's beloved 4th U.S. Congressional District, the museum is a place where local and national history comes together.
"This is a treasure for Bonham, a treasure for Texas and our nation," stated Bonham Mayor Roy Floyd. "It is always an honor to welcome guests to the Sam Rayburn Museum."
"Mr. Sam never forgot that his allegiance was to his constituents in North Texas," remarked Don Carleton, executive director of The University of Texas at Austin's Dolph Briscoe Center for American History since its creation in 1991. "This museum could have been in Austin or Washington, D.C., but he wanted it in Bonham."
Mr. Carleton thanked Fort Worth attorney and former Rayburn aid Dee Kelly, curator Lynn Bell, as well as museum staff members Kim Burpo and Emma Trent for unwavering support during the first extensive renovation of the Rayburn Collection in more than half a century, but a special debt of gratitude was acknowledged to the man who currently represents the 4th District in Washington, Congressman Ralph Hall.
"When I say we could not have done this without Ralph Hall, I'm not just being polite," said Carleton. "The end result, I hope you will all agree, is remarkable."
Hall and Rayburn are two of only four men who have represented the 4th District since it was redistricted out of the 5th District well over 100 years ago.
Fannin County Judge Spanky Carter relayed a message from Congressman Hall.
"He wanted you to know how proud he is of the renovation and how proud he was to be a part of this," Judge Carter stated. "You can tell Congressman Hall looked up to Mr. Sam. We are so lucky to live here in Fannin County where Mr. Rayburn lived. He was proud to be from Fannin County."
Judge Carter added that Congressman Hall's portrait will soon hang in the Rayburn Building in Washington D.C., a fact that is a "source of great pride" to Hall.
The Richmond, Virginia design firm of Riggs Ward was responsible for the renovation. Bob Riggs attended the ceremony Sunday.
"The renovation will allow the staff to showcase more artifacts while also enhancing the space available," explained Mr. Riggs. "It is dramatic to approach the Speaker's Rostrum now and the renovation encourages circulation between exhibits."
The interactive displays add a new level of sophistication and are brimming with facts certain to educate even the most knowledgeable students of Sam Rayburn's service to his country. For example, it is widely known that Mr. Rayburn served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for 17 years, two months and two days, which is longer than any Speaker in U.S. history. But do you know which Speaker served for the shortest duration? That would be Theodore Pomeroy of New York, who served for only one day on March 3, 1869.
Countless facts associated with the life of Sam Rayburn now leap to life on touchscreens at the renovated Sam Rayburn Museum.
