Behind the Scenes: Why Compliance Matters

Archeological work involved checking the area north of the Texas White House with a metal detector as well as digging test pits and examining the soil for artifacts.

NPS Photos / D. Smith

Through every stage of the rehabilitation project at the Texas White House Complex,
the keys to success hang with interdisciplinary teamwork. The team—comprised of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park staff, project managers, contractors, partners, and technical assistants—bring their perspectives and expertise to identify and address challenges.

Beginning in November 2021, a team from University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeological Research came to the LBJ Ranch. They conducted archaeological surveys North of the Texas White House in an area slated to expand and improve the septic leach field. This was the first phase of an ongoing archaeological monitoring project associated with the rehabilitation project.

The archeology testing yielded a few items including the pull ring from a soda can. These types of rings were used until the 1970s when manufacturers replaced them with the non-removeable tabs that are still used today.

NPS Photos

The latest phase of monitoring occurred in August 2024, when a National Park Service (NPS) archaeology team from the regional Cultural Resources division tested areas where additional ground disturbance was planned. The NPS archaeologists dug five test pits in the vicinity of the historic Hangar where a new septic system would be installed. These tests helped determine whether the project would impact any significant cultural resources.

The two teams did not locate anything significant so far. When project utility work begins, archaeologists will continue monitoring to ensure resources are protected. The testing and monitoring of ground disturbance ensures compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106) which requires park staff to consider the effects of actions on historic properties.

For example, the ranch and surroundings were used by nomadic tribes for thousands of years and the land has been cultivated for agriculture and ranching for more than 130 years. If potential impacts were detected during testing, such as discovering artifacts, then the Park would work with state agencies like the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and their State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to find alternative solutions that would help protect the resources.

Close to home, some compliance laws the park must adhere to were put in place by Lyndon Johnson, along with Congress and the National Park Service. President Johnson signed the National Historic Preservation Act on October 15, 1966—considered landmark legislation for the protection of historic sites. Thanks to Johnson’s foresight, this law plays a vital role in ensuring projects like the rehabilitation of the Texas White House are carried out responsibly to protect the historical, cultural, and natural resources of the LBJ Ranch.

There is a history of finding artifacts on the LBJ Ranch. The Johnsons had a framed set of stone points and tools hanging in the living room of the Texas White House.  The collection, ranging from 1000–5000 years old, was started when the Johnsons moved to the LBJ Ranch in 1952.

NPS Photo and LBJ Library Photo by Yoichi Okamoto