The family lived here from 1951 to 1955, during the post-World War II era.
MIDLAND, Texas — Located at the corner of H Street and Ohio Avenue, this modest home offers a unique look into the early lives of two U.S. presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. The family lived here from 1951 to 1955, during the post-World War II era.
“This is where two of our presidents got their start,” said Erin Frigo, educator and interpreter at the Bush Family Home.”
Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the home gives visitors a glimpse into daily life during the early 1950s. The home is complete with exhibits and original furnishings; all tied to a unique story.
“In the living room sits a 1949 television, the same make and model gifted to the family by Barbara Bush’s father,” said Frigo.
“In the kitchen, you’ll find uranium glassware, collectible items from the late 1800s through the 1950s. They glow under black light,” Frigo said. “You can still find them in antique stores today.”
“A landline phone in the hallway demonstrates how households once shared a ‘party line.’” Frigo explained. “If your neighbor was on the phone, you could hear their conversation. That’s how all the small-town gossip got started.”
“The tour ends in George W. Bush’s childhood bedroom, where one original dresser still stands,” she said.
Since opening the home to the public in 2006, the Bush Family Home has welcomed around 5,000 visitors each year, and big changes are coming.
The site will soon feature a new 9/11 memorial journal, where visitors can write and reflect on their memories of the day. In the next five years, a new learning center is planned, which will include expanded programming, an exhibit room, and a gift shop.