Who we are
The Sam Rayburn Museum documents the life and career of Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn (1882–1961). Rayburn’s tenure as a Congressman, from 1913 to 1961, spanned 48 years, nearly 25 terms, and 8 presidents. He remains the longest-serving House Speaker in American history. Rayburn played a key role in the passage of New Deal legislation and was instrumental in the World War II military effort and era-defining postwar foreign aid programs.
Mr. Sam, as he was affectionately called, used a gift for his distinguished service as seed money to build this museum. Designed to invoke the aesthetic of our nation’s capital, the museum is a gathering place for students, families, and visitors to learn about the early- to mid-twentieth century Congress.
Look forward to our monthly #OnThisDate and Collection Spotlight posts as well as information on the museum’s current and upcoming projects, exhibitions, and events.
Quarterly webinar: Presented in collaboration with the Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site, the webinars are hosted by the Texas Historical Commission and delve into various facets of Sam Rayburn’s personal life and political career with topics ranging from Mr. Sam’s family to historic pieces of legislation he was instrumental in passing.
Our annual events include:
- February: Rayburn Treasures exhibit featuring selections from the Rayburn collection
- July: Exhibition featuring selections from the Briscoe Center’s Winedale Quilt Collection
