Sam Rayburn House Museum facts for kids
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Samuel T. Rayburn House
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Sam Rayburn House Museum in 2009
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 Samuel T. Rayburn House
Location in Texas
Samuel T. Rayburn House
Location in the United States
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| Location | 890 W. SH 56, Bonham, Texas |
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| Area | 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) |
| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | W.B. Yarborough |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001361 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 5, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | May 11, 1976 |
The Sam Rayburn House Museum is a special place in Bonham, Texas, where you can learn about a very important person named Sam Rayburn. He lived in this house from 1916 until he passed away in 1961. Sam Rayburn was a powerful leader in the United States government. He was known as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, which is a big job!
This house became a National Historic Landmark in 1976. Since 1972, it has been a museum. The Texas Historical Commission now takes care of it. They make sure visitors can see how Sam Rayburn lived.
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About the Sam Rayburn House
The Sam Rayburn House is located in Bonham, Texas, on a piece of land about 2 acres in size. The property has the main house and other buildings. These include a storage building, a shed, a garage, a wellhouse, and a barn.
The House's Design
The main house is a two-and-a-half-story building. It is made of wood and has a pointed roof. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards. The front of the house has a porch with tall, round columns. Three windows stick out from the roof, each with its own small roof. The front door is in the middle, with windows on the sides and above it.
How the House Changed Over Time
The house was built in 1916. When it was first built, it was smaller and had a different kind of roof. Sam Rayburn hired an architect named W.B. Yarborough to make the house bigger. This is why it looks the way it does today.
Sam Rayburn lived in the house until he died in 1961. He did not have children. After his death, his sister lived there until she passed away in 1969. Then, the Sam Rayburn Foundation took over the house. In 1972, the foundation gave most of the property to the state of Texas. This was done to preserve it as a historic site.
All the furniture and items inside the house are original. They are just as they were when the Rayburn family lived there. You can even see Sam Rayburn's 1947 Cadillac car on the property!
Who Was Sam Rayburn?
Sam Rayburn was one of the most important politicians in the first half of the 1900s. He served for 17 years as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. This means he was the leader of the House of Representatives. He helped keep different groups within the Democratic Party working together. He also helped guide future president Lyndon B. Johnson.
Of all the places Sam Rayburn lived, this house is the best preserved. It helps us understand what his life was like.
Gallery
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Dining area
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Family room
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Sam Rayburn's bedroom
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See also
