Decisions and Diplomacy

by

The George W. Bush Presidential Center and Library

Take your patriotic summer activities to abrnew educational level by visiting the brand-new George W. Bush PresidentialbrCenter and Library, the first facility of its kind in North Texas. The $250brmillion center, located on the picturesque SMU campus in Dallas, houses abrmonumental collection of 40,000 artifacts and 70 million documents from formerbrPresident Bush's time in office. The library and center, which includes a publicbrpolicy institute, also boasts a museum where visitors can view displays ofbrgifts from heads of state, like the sapphire and diamond necklace given tobrformer First Lady Laura Bush from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

The tour offersbrvisitors a better understanding of the history of our country around the firstbreight years of the 21st century, showcasing landmark legislationbrsuch as the No Child Left Behind Act, demonstrated by a school bus youngerbrvisitors can wander through. The museum touches on the most trying challengesbrthat faced President Bush and the United States, including the events of 9/11 —bra charred and twisted beam from the World Trade Center is on display — thebrglobal threat of terrorism and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the tourbrwinds through the more difficult subjects, younger tourists can take a break inbrthe children’s reading section. Visitors are also invited to examine the crisesbrwe faced in an interactive Decision Point Theater, where groups are presentedbrwith the same information given to the president regarding important decisions,brsuch as the war in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina, and encouraged to make real-timebrdecisions. Kids will love the opportunity to explore a full-scale replica ofbrthe Oval Office without any ropes impeding their curiosity — they can even sitbrbehind the desk. Wind down from the tour with a walk through the center’sbr15-acre campus, proudly landscaped as a Texas prairie with native vegetationbrand grass.  

Photo Credit: The Bush Center