Sam Rayburn Museum - Dolph Briscoe Center for American History

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.

The Sam Rayburn Museum is open Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1 p.m.–4 p.m.

Contact Information:

Phone: (903) 583-2455
Fax: (903) 583-7394
Email: send message
Online Form: Contact Us

Physical Address:

Sam Rayburn Museum
800 West Sam Rayburn Drive
(State Highway 56)
Bonham, TX 75418

Mailing Address:

Sam Rayburn Museum
P.O. Box 309
Bonham, TX 75418

On-site parking is free for museum visitors. The parking lot is on the west side of the museum.

Directions to the Sam Rayburn Museum

Public spaces are ADA compliant, including touch screen interactives. There is no ADA restroom.

For large groups of ten or more people, please call us at (903) 583-2455 or email us to schedule tours.

Galleries, classrooms, and public spaces:

Admission is free.
All exhibitions are open to the public.
All children under age 11 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Food and beverages, including bottled water and gum, are not allowed in the galleries.
Please be considerate of other visitors and silence cell phones and electronic devices while visiting the Sam Rayburn Museum.

Personal Photography and Notice of Filming:

The use of flash photography, tripods, monopods, or selfie sticks are not permitted at any time. Photography for personal use is allowed unless posted otherwise.
Patrons may request reproductions of collection materials by visiting our duplication services page.
Please be aware that events and tours at the Rayburn Museum may be photographed and/or filmed. Your attendance constitutes your authorization for the Rayburn Museum and/or the Briscoe Center to use your photograph, voice, or other likeness for purposes related to the mission of the Rayburn Museum and/or the Briscoe Center, including but not limited to marketing and promotion in both print and electronic forms.

Archival Collections:

Collections relating to Sam Rayburn are accessible to registered academic and public researchers through the Reading Room at the Briscoe Center’s Research and Collections division located in Austin, Texas. Please visit our Research page for information about how to register as a researcher.

We are part of The University of Texas of Austin. While on campus:

The University of Texas at Austin is a tobacco-free campus. Smoking is not allowed inside buildings, on walkways, sidewalks, or parking areas. For detailed information provided by The University of Texas at Austin please visit: https://tobaccofree.utexas.edu/.
Campus Carry (S.B.11), individuals licensed to carry a concealed handgun must carry it on or about their person at all times. For detailed information provided by The University of Texas at Austin please visit: https://campuscarry.utexas.edu/.