Presidential Sneak Peek

Step inside the new George W. Bush Presidential Center at SMU

Presidential Sneak Peek

Step inside the new George W. Bush Presidential Center at SMU

Statues of George W. Bush and his father, George H.W. Bush, welcome visitors to the museum.Photo by Jerry McClure
The George W. Bush Presidential Center at SMU opens to the public May 1.Photo by Peter Aaron
Former First Lady Laura Bush addresses the media during a guided tour April 24 with Alan Lowe, director of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.Photo by Jerry McClure
A replica of the Oval Office at the new George W. Bush Presidential Center.Photo by Jerry McClure
Interactive portions educate visitors on a variety of topics.Photo by Jerry McClure
No Child Left Behind was a staple of the Bush presidency's education policy.Photo by Jerry McClure
African nations donated jewelry to be displayed at the center.Photo by Jerry McClure
International issues take center stage at the George W. Bush Presidential Center at SMU.Photo by Jerry McClure
Memorabilia from Bush's campaign.Photo by Jerry McClure
Laura Bush told reporters that donating her lavish gowns was any easy choice because her husband isn't a big fan of black tie events.Photo by Jerry McClure
Bush quotes such as this one are found throughout the center.Photo by Jerry McClure
Brad Cheves, SMU vice president of development and external affairs; David Langdale, president of Bush Foundation board of directors; and SMU's Gail and Gerald Turner pose in front of George W. Bush's new official portrait.Photo by Jerry McClure
The events of 9 11 play a large role in the museum, including this structural beam from the twin towers.Photo by Jerry McClure
Huge video screens welcome visitors as they enter the museum's Freedom Hall.Photo by Jerry McClure
George W. Bush's official portrait portrays him with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.Photo courtesy of Mark Balma

The George W. Bush Presidential Center at SMU opens to the public May 1, but those wishing to get a sneak peek of the 43rd presidential library needn't wait. The property has already been toured by the media, and the center will live-stream its April 25 dedication, which will be attended by five living presidents, including Barack Obama.

The center encompasses more than 225,000 square feet and is surrounded by a 15-acre nature park replete with prairie landscaping and a wildflower meadow.

"George did not want this to be a monument to himself," said First Lady Laura Bush.

Former First Lady Laura Bush made a surprise appearance at the media preview of the center on April 24. She briefly spoke to reporters in the Rose Garden, which was modeled after the one at the White House.

"I hope people really learn and re-learn the history of the first decade of our new century," she said. "I think people will be very moved by the 9/11 exhibit, and I think that's important because we still, obviously, live with the effects of 9/11."

The University Park facilities are located near SMU's entrance and include a library, museum, presidential archives and public policy institute. In addition to the Oval Office replica, the center boasts the actual Bush White House "Situation Room," which was reconstructed piece-by-piece for the museum. The room is set up to connect Texas schoolchildren with students in California at the Ronald Regan Presidential Library.

Although it bears his name, Laura Bush said that her husband didn't want the center to just be about him. "George did not want this to be a monument to himself," she said. "He said that from the very beginning."

Bush's official portrait for the center is at least one example of sharing the spotlight. He appears alongside former British prime minister Tony Blair in the 7-by-9-foot oil painting.

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Power News

Power company with built-in backup battery service expands to Dallas

Base Power battery in the backyard. Base Power

Austin energy company Base Power has expanded into Dallas-Fort Worth, with service available in Dallas, Irving, North Richland Hills, Coppell, and beyond.

Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Austin, Base Power is an energy provider that offers a home backup power system as part of its plan — providing battery-powered home energy that keeps the lights on during power failures.

When the grid goes down, the battery automatically powers the home.

Comparable "whole house" backup systems start at $15,000 and most need gasoline to run.

Base's goal is to provide backup power during outages more cheaply than a generator or comparable battery — keeping homes powered for 24 hours if/when the grid fails.

They send energy from their batteries back to the grid when demand surges, which can earn money back, which keep their prices down. Batteries may power your home to support the grid, even if there’s no outage. The battery charges at times when energy is cheap, such as overnight, and may share some power back when the grid is stressed.

Customers don’t actually buy the battery: They pay a $695 installation fee and a monthly fee of $19. They also make Base Power their electricity supplier, paying an 8.5 cents-per-kilowatt-hour.

In addition to Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Base also serves parts of Houston such as Harris County, Katy, Sugar Land, and Magnolia; and cities around Austin like Round Rock, Pflugerville, Temple, and Killeen.

They've also partnered with homebuilders like Lennar and forward-thinking utilities including GVEC and Bandera Electric Cooperative.

To support its DFW expansion, Base has opened an office and warehouse in Grapevine. The company now has 200-plus employees across Austin, its Bay Area engineering hub, and statewide field operations.

“Expanding into Dallas is a major milestone for Base—one we’ve been building towards since day one,” said Zach Dell, CEO and co-founder of Base Power. “This city reflects the scale and ambition behind our mission, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally serve the thousands of households that have been waiting for a better energy solution.”

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