Bonham, Texas -- The Sam Rayburn Museum is pleased to announce that a capital improvement project is scheduled to begin on September 21, 2026. Planned improvements include repairs to the foundation and drainage system, landscaping upgrades, and enhancements to the main and accessible entrances.

Due to scheduled repairs to the accessible ramp and concerns for visitor safety, the Sam Rayburn Museum will close on October 5, 2026, and remain closed for the duration of the exterior construction project.

“Although the museum will be temporarily closed, we are excited that the repairs necessary for ensuring a better experience for patrons now and in the future are finally underway,” said Emma Trent, site manager of the Sam Rayburn Museum.

Visitors are encouraged to check the museum's website for project updates and related announcements.

The Sam Rayburn Museum, located in Bonham, Texas, documents the life and career of Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn (1882–1961). Rayburn’s tenure as a US Congressman (from 1913 to 1961) spanned 48 years and eight presidents. Rayburn played a key role in the passage of New Deal legislation and was instrumental in the World War II military effort and era-defining postwar foreign aid programs. He remains the longest-serving House Speaker in American history.

The Rayburn Museum is a division of the Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.