Looking to go beyond our standard tour? Book an immersive classroom experience!
Each experience takes place in the Lady Bird Education Center, located on the second floor of the library. Experiences are hands-on, giving students the opportunity to work with primary resources from our archives or with artifacts from our museum collection. Tours are included with each immersive classroom experience.
We have included recommended ages for each activity, however, these activities are also open to college and university groups.
Guidelines
Scheduling
- Availability: Immersive classroom experiences are available year-round. If you choose to take a guided tour, they are only available September through May. Self-guided tours are available year-round.
- Notice: For a guided tour, reservations must be made at least six weeks before your visit. For a self-guided tour, we require at least three weeks advance notice.
- Start Times: 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Pricing
- Students, faculty, and staff: Free
- Additional chaperones: $5 per person
Supervision
- Chaperones: While on the tour, one adult (18 or older) is required per eight students.
Your Classroom Experience Options
The Spy's Dilemma/LBJ and the Cold War Program and Tour
During this experience, students will take on the role of a Soviet spy and select the most important documents from President Johnson's secret files to bring back to their leaders. Students work together to analyze primary sources from the library's archives. Following the classroom experience, students will tour our exhibits and view the presidency through the lens of the Cold War.
Age Level: 10 and older
Timing: 2.5-3 hours
Group Size: 12 minimum, 35 students maximum
Tour: Docent-led or self-guided
Exhibits: Oval Office, Life in the White House, The First Ladies Gallery, LBJ's Presidency, A Legacy of Liberty
Vietnam: A Presidential Decision Program and Tour
Become part of the Johnson administration and learn what it takes to advise the president. In this Vietnam-focused experience, students will advise President Johnson during a meeting with his National Security Council on whether he should escalate the bombing in Vietnam. Following the classroom experience, students will tour our exhibits and discover other decisions the president had to make during his time in office.
Age Level: 15 and older
Timing: 3-4 hours
Group size: 10 minimum, 40 students maximum
Tour: Docent-led or self-guided
Exhibits: Oval Office, Life in the White House, The First Ladies Gallery, LBJ's Presidency, A Legacy of Liberty
A Civil Rights Investigation: Mississippi Burning Program and Tour
During this guided discussion, participants will investigate the disappearance of three civil rights workers in Mississippi during the Freedom Summer of 1964 using telephone conversations, oral histories, and documents from the library's archives. Following the classroom experience, students will tour the exhibits and analyze the struggle for social justice in the 1960s and make connections to today.
Age Level: 15 and older
Timing: 2.5-3 hours
Group size: 9 minimum, 36 students maximum
Tour: Docent-led or self-guided
Exhibits: Oval Office, Life in the White House, The First Ladies Gallery, LBJ's Presidency, A Legacy of Liberty
A Matter of Civil Rights Program and Tour
Become part of the Johnson administration and learn what it takes to advise the president. This simulation activity allows participants to take the role of a member of the president's Civil Rights Advisory Group to recommend the next civil rights legislation he will send to Congress in 1968. Following the classroom experience, students will tour the exhibits and analyze the struggle for social justice in the 1960s and make connections to today.
Age Level: 15 and older
Timing: 3.5 hours
Group size: 9 minimum, 36 students maximum
Tour: Docent-led or self-guided
Exhibits: Oval Office, Life in the White House, The First Ladies Gallery, LBJ's Presidency, A Legacy of Liberty
Great Society Program and Tour
The Great Society provided the framework for President Johnson's domestic policy in the 1960s. Students will analyze documents from the library's archives, make connections to current events, and discuss the future of Great Society programs in their lifetime. Following the classroom experience, students will tour the exhibits and witness how President Johnson's Great Society programs were passed and how they influenced his leadership and decision-making.
Age Level: 12 and older
Timing: 2-3 hours
Group size: 12 minimum, 35 students maximum
Tour: Docent-led or self-guided
Exhibits: Oval Office, Life in the White House, The First Ladies Gallery, LBJ's Presidency, A Legacy of Liberty
Election Collection Program and Tour
Presidential elections are an important piece of history and civic participation. Students will handle and analyze election memorabilia from the 1964 election between Lyndon B. Johnson and Barry Goldwater. Following the classroom experience, students will tour the exhibits and make connections to the issues raised during the election.
Age Level: All ages
Timing: 2-2.5 hours
Group size: 10 minimum, 35 students maximum
Tour: Docent-led or self-guided
Exhibits: Oval Office, Life in the White House, The First Ladies Gallery, LBJ's Presidency, A Legacy of Liberty
Bus Scholarships
Let us cover your field trip transportation costs! Made possible through the generous support of our Amplify Austin donors, bus scholarships are available for economically disadvantaged Pre-K-12 grade schools through the school year. Transportation costs up to $250 may be reimbursed.
