Up on the Roof: Protecting the Texas White House for Years to Come

A comparison of the new shingles to a 1967 photo demonstrates how closely the National Park Service was able to match the roofing materials.

Main photo: LBJ Library, Inset photo: NPS Photo/Ginger Tracy

As part of the rehabilitation project at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, the Texas White House was in dire need of a new roof. Aging and deteriorating materials; inefficient ventilation and insulation; and chronic leaking all needed to be resolved. Adding to the complexity, this historic home is a collection of roof lines due to multiple construction and expansion projects from 1895 through 1967.

Three views of the Texas White House roof work in progress.

NPS/Ginger Tracy

The Texas White House roof was replaced by the National Park Service (NPS) in 2003 and 2011. Still, leakage problems persisted. For the current replacement, Park staff and project managers worked closely with the NPS Denver Service Center (DSC) and the Texas State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). This ensured compliance in maintaining the character of the Texas White House as it appeared in the 1960s. One success was finding roofing materials that closely match the shingle color, texture, and finish seen in historic photos of the home.

Funding for the roof replacement came though the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Contract work started in November 2024 and was completed in March 2025. The new roof greatly improves weather protection and structural integrity, which in turn will help protect the Texas White House artifacts and legacy for years to come.

An architect's drawing of the Texas White House labels the exterior materials in use.