The Hofreiters

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George H.W. Bush Presidential Library

This month we visited the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. This is our fourth presidential library & museum visit, only nine left!

I really liked these short dog house stations for kids. They were the perfect height for kids to peer in the window to see the artifacts inside. 

The foreign gift collections are my favorite part of presidential libraries. It’s so cool to see the pieces that other countries gift to American Presidents. They are all significant to the country of origin and it gives a peak into the relationships each President made with other heads of state. 

My second favorite part of a presidential library is the First Lady section. The Barbara Bush section had a model of the White House, low shelves with books for kids, a couch, and family mementos. I also liked the display of her shoes, they remind me of when my mom was an avid Keds wearer. Barbara Bush founded The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy which has provided over $110 million for literacy programs across the country over the last 30 years. As a book lover, I appreciate any organization that helps people read.  

Next was the obligatory chunk of the Berlin Wall.

I love election and campaign ephemera! I am trying to collect campaign pins from each Presidential Library we visit. The Bush Library only had multipacks of big pins, so I am going to look for one online because I just want a small or medium-sized one. 

The last but most important part of the entire library is Sully. Sully was President Bush’s service dog at the end of his life, and in my opinion, dogs are always the most important part of any museum. 

These are just my personal favorites in the museum, but there are displays about Bush’s early life and career, elections, policy during his presidency, and retirement. All of that information is important, but doesn’t make for very interesting pictures. If you’re ever in College Station, TX, this it’s worth a visit to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum.