Place

Frontier Legacy

Two, large longhorns stand along a wooden, pioneer fence with trees in the background.
Impressive Texas longhorns in the Johnson Settlement

NPS Photo / Jack Burton

Quick Facts

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Because of his love for this land, respect for his pioneer ancestors, and his devotion to both, Lyndon Johnson has been called the "last of the frontier presidents."

Confederate veteran Samuel Ealy Johnson, Sr., and his wife Eliza Bunton Johnson—Lyndon Johnson's grandparents—settled here in 1867. From this 960-acre ranch, Sam and his brother Tom drove cattle north on the Chisholm Trail, amassing in the process a large but fleeting fortune. In 1870 alone they returned with $100,000 in gold coins. The Johnsons remained here until 1872, when collapse of the cattle market left them bankrupt.

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

Last updated: April 5, 2024