Financed with an $80 million bond issue authorized by the Texas Legislature, the museum is the legacy of Bob Bullock, one of the state’s foremost politicians of the 20th century. Though he never served as governor of Texas, Bullock was elected to two terms as lieutenant governor, a position generally regarded as more powerful than the governor in influencing the Legislature. Before running for lieutenant governor, Bullock served 16 years as the state’s comptroller of public accounts, and he’s credited with modernizing the comptroller’s office and continuously working to make it more efficient.
During his first campaign for lieutenant governor, Bullock visited the Seguin Gazette-Enterprise, the newspaper where I was working as news editor and political reporter. He was en route to a campaign reception at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, and he arrived at the newspaper about an hour before he needed to move on to the reception. Though I had met Bullock before, this was my first opportunity for a one-on-one interview with him. With his aides waiting in the newspaper’s lobby, he spent the hour seated in a chair beside my desk while talking about a wide range of subjects. His knowledge of the issues, of Texas politics, of the state’s leaders and its people was superb. Before his visit, I probably would have been inclined to vote for his opponent, but the visit made me a convert.
During that visit, Bullock didn’t mention his wish that there was a museum in the capital city to tell the story of the history of Texas. The wish was expressed later, during his second term as lieutenant governor, and with his political skill and leadership ability, it wasn’t difficult to get the Texas Legislature to endorse the wish and put up $80 million in bonds to turn it into reality. Bullock died on June 18, 1999 at age 69. He didn’t live to see the museum open. But it carries his name, and its exhibits include one on his life and his 40-year career in state government.
As mentioned earlier, this museum is no stale collection of artifacts. In fact, it’s described as a “non-collecting institution.” Historical items used in exhibits are borrowed from other institutions and individuals. They’re not permanently borrowed, and as exhibits close and are replaced by new ones, the items will be returned to their owners. While there are not a lot of trinkets gathering dust in glass cases, the museum’s contents are impressive. Displayed in the rotunda are a full-scale windmill, a 1940 AT-6 “Texan” airplane and the original Goddess of Liberty statue from atop the State Capitol.
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