PAST EXHIBITIONS

THE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CENTER ANNOUNCES A SPECIAL EXHIBIT AT SMU’S MEADOWS MUSEUM
Key Bush Administration Artifacts, Papers featured from October 23, 2010, to February 6, 2011

DALLAS—The George W. Bush Presidential Center and SMU announced a special exhibition that will preview some of the historic holdings eventually to be featured at the museum of the Bush Center. The exhibit, Breaking New Ground: Presenting the George W. Bush Presidential Center, casts the vision for the Center and gives visitors a peek into its current and future activities. The exhibit, which will be held at the Meadows Museum on SMU’s campus, will describe in detail the building project which will break ground in November, and showcase ongoing initiatives at The Bush Institute and key artifacts and papers of the Bush Administration.

“Even before we break ground on the George W. Bush Presidential Center, we want to involve the public in what has already become a dynamic hub of ideas, innovation and action,” said The Honorable Mark Langdale, president of the George W. Bush Foundation. “The exhibit will enable visitors to learn what the Bush Center is offering through action-oriented initiatives at the Institute, as well as gain insight into significant moments of our nation’s past through these historic treasures.”

Visitors will be introduced to the planned features of the Bush Center through renderings, floor plans and an architectural model of the building. The building is designed to achieve LEED platinum certification and includes numerous sustainable design strategies. Visitors will also learn about key elements of the Presidential Library, including the archives and museum, as well as the work of the Bush Institute. The exhibit will invite visitors to share their questions and comments via text and on the Center’s website.

The exhibit, which opens on Saturday, October 23, 2010, and runs through Sunday, February 6, 2011, will feature a number of prominent artifacts that capture defining moments of the George W. Bush Administration including:

• The bullhorn President Bush used when he visited Ground Zero on September 14, 2001
• The silk dress and bolero jacket designed by Oscar de la Renta and worn by Mrs. Bush at the White House dinner with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
• The pistol retrieved from Saddam Hussein upon his capture in Iraq A letter from Bono to President Bush regarding AIDS relief in Africa
• A framed print of a painting by Senator Ted Kennedy given to Mrs. Bush on September 11, 2001
• A bronzed football commemorating the University of Texas Longhorns 2005 National Championship win, given as a gift to President Bush
• A pair of woven sashes presented to President and Mrs. Bush by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, president of the Republic of Liberia
• An award given to Mrs. Bush by the National Teachers Hall of Fame

“The artifacts chosen for the exhibit portray important moments in our nation’s history and provide a glimpse into life in the White House,” said Alan Lowe, director of the George W. Bush Presidential Library. “The National Archives is pleased to provide this unique opportunity to ‘preview’ the museum and archives and engage the public in an early discussion on the development of the Bush Center.”

About the George W. Bush Presidential Center:
The George W. Bush Presidential Center invites visitors to reflect on the lessons of the past, focuses attention on the problems of the present and inspires solutions for a better future. Located in Dallas on the campus of SMU, the Bush Center includes the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the action-oriented George W. Bush Institute. To view a virtual tour of the exhibit, visit www.georgewbushcenter.com. To visit the George W. Bush library online, please visit this link: https://www.georgewbushlibrary.gov/.