Sam Rayburn House Museum
{{short description|Historic house in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Samuel T. Rayburn House
| nrhp_type = nhl
| image = Sam Rayburn House Museum in 2009.jpg
| caption = Sam Rayburn House Museum in 2009
| location = 890 W. SH 56, Bonham, Texas
| coordinates = {{coord|33|34|11|N|96|12|26|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Texas#USA
| map_label = Samuel T. Rayburn House
| locmap_relief = yes
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-marker = building
| mapframe-zoom = 12
|mapframe-caption = Interactive map showing the location of Samuel T. Rayburn House Museum
| area = {{convert|2.5|acre}}
| built = {{start date|1916}}
| architect = W.B. Yarborough
| architecture =
| designated_nrhp_type = May 11, 1976{{Cite web|author=Staff|date=June 2011|title=National Historic Landmarks Survey: List of National Historic Landmarks by State (Texas)|url=https://www.nps.gov/nhl/find/statelists/tx/TX.pdf|publisher=National Park Service|format=PDF|access-date=April 30, 2018}}
| added = June 5, 1972
| refnum = 72001361{{NRISref|version=2013a}}
| designated_other1_name=Texas State Historic Site
| designated_other1_abbr=TSHS
| designated_other1_color=#CDE5B2
| designated_other1_link=List of Texas State Historic Sites
| designated_other1_date=1975{{Cite web|title=History, Sam Rayburn House|url=http://www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/%E2%80%8Bsam-rayburn-house/history|publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department|access-date=April 30, 2018}}
| designated_other2 = TSAL
| designated_other2_date = January 1, 2000
| designated_other2_number = [http://atlas.thc.texas.gov/Details/8200000738 8200000738]
| designated_other2_num_position = bottom
| designated_other3 = RTHL
| designated_other3_date = 1965
| designated_other3_number = [http://atlas.thc.texas.gov/Details/5147008923 8923]
| designated_other3_num_position = bottom
}}
The Sam Rayburn House Museum is a historic house museum at 890 West Texas State Highway 56 in Bonham, Fannin, Texas. Built in 1916, it was home to Sam Rayburn (1882-1961), a famously effective Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.{{Cite journal|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Samuel "Sam" T. Rayburn House; "The Home Place" / Sam Rayburn House Museum|url={{NHLS url|id=72001361}} |format=pdf|date=January 1976 |author1=Cathy A. Alexander |author2=Ralph Christian |author3=George R. Adams |name-list-style=amp |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url|id=72001361|title=Accompanying four photos, ca. 1933, 1975, and undated|photos=y}} {{small|(32 KB)}} Since 1972, it has been operated as a museum and state historic site by the Texas Historical Commission.
Description and history
The Sam Rayburn House is located on about {{convert|2|acre|ha}} on the south side of Texas Highway 56, on the western outskirts of Bonham. The property includes the main house, a storage building, shed, garage, wellhouse, and barn. The main house is a {{frac|2|1|2}}-story wood-frame structure, with a gabled roof and clapboarded exterior. Its main facade is protected by a shed-roof portico with two-story Tuscan columns, and there are three gabled dormers projecting from the roof. The facade is three bays wide, with a center entrance framed by sidelight and transom windows, topped by a projecting cornice.
The house was originally thought to be built around 1904, before the Rayburn family purchased the property. Subsequent research later determined the date to be 1916, since Sam Rayburn's brother Tom took a lien on the property without the house on it. As originally built, the house was smaller and had a hip roof; its present configuration is the result of a major expansion commissioned by Rayburn from Dallas architect W.B. Yarborough. Rayburn occupied the house until his death in 1961. Since he died divorced and childless, his sister lived there until her death in 1969, after which it was taken over by the Sam Rayburn Foundation. In 1972, the foundation turned most of the property (excepting only the barn) to the state for preservation. All the furnishings are original and remain as they were when the Rayburns lived there. Rayburn's 1947 Cadillac is also on site.[http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1167863 MuseumsUSA: Sam Rayburn House Museum]
Rayburn was one of the most influential Congressmen of the first half of the 20th century, serving for 17 years as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He was an important force in maintaining harmony between the northern and southern wings of the Democratic Party, and served as a mentor to future president Lyndon B. Johnson. Of three residences known to be associated with Rayburn, this one is the best preserved and most evocative of his life.
Gallery
File:Sam Rayburn House Museum June 2017 05 (dining area).jpg|Dining area
File:Sam Rayburn House Museum June 2017 08 (family room).jpg|Family room
File:Sam Rayburn House Museum June 2017 13 (Sam Rayburn's bedroom).jpg|Sam Rayburn's bedroom
See also
{{Portal|National Register of Historic Places|Texas}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Sam Rayburn House Museum}}
- [http://www.visitsamrayburnhouse.com Sam Rayburn House Museum website]
- [http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ggs07 Sam Rayburn House] Handbook of Texas Online
{{National Register of Historic Places in Texas}}
{{Protected areas of Texas}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rayburn, Samuel House}}
Category:National Historic Landmarks in Texas
Category:Museums in Fannin County, Texas
Category:Historic house museums in Texas
Category:Texas State Historic Sites
Category:Biographical museums in Texas
Category:Houses completed in 1916
Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas
Category:Houses in Fannin County, Texas
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Fannin County, Texas