George W. Bush Presidential Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George W. Bush Presidential Center |
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Official logo of the George W. Bush Presidential Center
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Policy Institute at George W. Bush Presidential Center
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | New Classical |
| Location | 2943 SMU Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75205, United States - Southern Methodist University |
| Coordinates | 32°50′27″N 96°46′41″W / 32.8409°N 96.7781°W |
| Named for | George W. Bush |
| Construction started | November 16, 2010 |
| Completed | April 25, 2013 |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 207,000 square feet (19,200 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Robert A.M. Stern Architects |
The George W. Bush Presidential Center is a special place that opened on April 25, 2013. It holds the presidential library and museum for former United States President George W. Bush. It also has the George W. Bush Policy Institute and offices for the George W. Bush Foundation.
This center is located on the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in University Park, Texas, which is close to Dallas. It will also be the final resting place for George W. Bush, who was the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009, and his wife Laura Bush.
History of the Center
Choosing the Location
Early Ideas for the Library
Even before George W. Bush became president, some universities wanted to host his presidential library. Baylor University in Waco, Texas, was one of the first to show interest. They thought their location near Bush's ranch and major cities was a good spot.
After Bush became president, Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas also started working on a plan to host the library.
Bids from Universities and Cities
In 2005, the White House asked six colleges and one city to suggest locations for the library. These included Baylor, SMU, the University of Texas System, Texas Tech University, the University of Dallas, and Midland College. The city of Arlington, Texas, also made a bid.
Midland College later joined with Texas Tech to form a "West Texas Coalition." Their idea was to have a Laura Bush reading center at Midland College. The main library and museum would be at Texas Tech's campus in Lubbock.
Looking at Each Location's Pros and Cons
Each place had good and bad points. Arlington had land near sports stadiums, which already attract many visitors. But it didn't have a strong university connection.
Baylor University offered a lot of land by the Brazos River. However, Waco is not a very big city. It might not attract as many visitors as a location in Dallas.
The University of Texas System had some challenges. Some students and faculty at the University of Texas at Austin didn't want the library there. But UT Austin already had the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. This meant they knew how to manage such a project. Their idea was to spread the library across several UT campuses.
The UT System also suggested a downtown Dallas property. This spot was near the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which is a popular tourist spot. It was also away from homes, so there would be fewer complaints about traffic. But the idea of the UT System running the museum itself was not favored.
Texas Tech University had plenty of land and support from its staff and students. But like Baylor, it was in Lubbock, which is not a major city.
The University of Dallas (UD) is a private Catholic school near Dallas. It owned a lot of undeveloped land near highways and a future train station. Their plans were big and even included using some land from the City of Dallas.
SMU's bid was a bit mysterious at first. SMU bought many homes and businesses near its campus to get enough land. Some people living nearby were worried about the extra traffic. Despite this, the University Park town council agreed to sell parkland to SMU for the library.
The Final Choices
In late 2005, SMU, Baylor, UD, and Texas Tech were chosen as finalists. They presented their plans to a special committee in Washington. A few weeks later, Texas Tech was no longer considered. This left SMU, Baylor, and UD as the final three.
In December 2006, a judge ruled in favor of SMU in a land dispute. The next day, SMU announced it was moving closer to being chosen.
On January 22, 2007, UD decided to withdraw its bid. They shared their big plans, which included a large park and waterfalls.
Baylor also shared parts of its proposal online. But no new information came out, and Baylor said it would wait until the final decision to publish everything.
SMU is Chosen
On February 22, 2008, Southern Methodist University announced that the George W. Bush Library would be built on its campus. The university officially confirmed the agreement soon after.
Some people at SMU had concerns about the project. A group of faculty members worried the library might become a "conservative think tank." They were also concerned about not being asked for their opinion on the decision. However, SMU officials said that most faculty members supported the plan.
Some Methodists also started a petition against the library at SMU. They felt it was not right to connect Bush's presidency with a Methodist university. An article in The Guardian mentioned that this petition gathered 12,500 signatures.
Raising Money for the Center
In early 2009, the George W. Bush Foundation aimed to raise $300 million. This money was for building the library and for its ongoing operations.
Building the Center Sustainably
The famous architect Robert A.M. Stern was chosen to design the library. He is known for his traditional and classical designs.
Construction began on November 16, 2010. The Manhattan Construction Company was the builder. This company also built the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library for George W. Bush's father.
The building cost about $250 million to construct. In April 2013, it received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification. This is the highest award for green buildings.
The center has many eco-friendly features. It used soil from its own digging for construction. It also has a special system to manage rainwater. Over 90 types of native Texan plants were used. More than 900 native trees were planted. The lawn uses 75% less water for watering than a typical lawn.
Opening Ceremony
The George W. Bush Presidential Center officially opened on April 25, 2013. A special ceremony was held with all living former U.S. Presidents attending. These included Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
This was a rare event. The last time all five presidents met was in January 2009. That was just before Barack Obama became president.
Many other important people also attended the dedication. There were current and former U.S. politicians. Over 10,000 invited guests came. Dignitaries and ambassadors from about fifty countries were there. Some notable guests included:
- Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen from NATO
- Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia
- Prince Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain
- President Mikheil Saakashvili from Georgia
- Former Prime Minister José María Aznar from Spain
- Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert from Israel
- Former Prime Minister John Howard from Australia
- Former President Lee Myung-bak from South Korea
- Former Prime Minister Tony Blair from United Kingdom
- Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from Italy
- Former President John Kufuor from Ghana
- Former President Francisco Guillermo Flores Pérez from El Salvador
Who Manages the Center?
The library and museum parts of the center are managed by the National Archives and Records Administration. This is a government agency. However, the university has a say in the institute's board. The project raised over $500 million for building and running the center.
In November 2022, the National Archives transferred some museum operations to the George W. Bush Foundation. This change started on January 1, 2023. The foundation must get input from the National Archives and historians. The National Archives still owns all presidential items. These items are loaned to the foundation for display.
Presidential Library and Museum
The George W. Bush Presidential Center is very large, covering 207,000 square feet (19,200 m2). It is the second-largest presidential library. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California is the biggest.
Inside, you can see a full-size copy of the Oval Office. This is the president's main office in the White House. It includes a replica of the Resolute desk. Visitors can take pictures there.
A major part of the museum focuses on Bush's decisions after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It includes items from that event. Other exhibits are interactive. They let you explore key moments from his presidency. These are called "Decision Points," like the title of Bush's book.
You can also learn about Hurricane Katrina and the 2008 global financial crisis. There is a collection of items from First Ladies of the United States. A special hall has changing exhibits about American history. Bush's own paintings are also shown in the museum.
Outside, there is a 14-acre garden with plants native to Texas. This garden is dedicated to Laura Bush. There is also a restaurant called Café 43. It serves fresh, local food.
Policy Institute
The George W. Bush Institute is part of the center. It is a "think tank" that works on important issues. It is separate from SMU.
The institute aims to promote four main goals that George W. Bush focused on as president. These are:
- Human freedom around the world
- Improving global health
- Encouraging economic growth
- Reforming education
Laura Bush leads a special program for women's rights. There is also a program to help U.S. military veterans. George W. Bush has said that while he is not involved in current politics, he still wants to work on important policy issues. Laura Bush has spoken about the importance of fighting for women's rights globally.
In 2018, the Bush Institute received two large donations of $10 million each. These came from Boeing and Highland Capital Management. These gifts help support the institute's programs.
See also
In Spanish: Centro Presidencial George W. Bush para niños
- Presidential Records Act
- George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
- Presidential memorials in the United States
