BONHAM, TX -- In the early 1990s a branch of the University of Texas at Austin took over control of the Sam Rayburn Library. Since then, they've made several minor improvements to the building in Bonham. Now, some very major changes are in store.

Over the last 15 years or so, that group out of U.T. Austin, known as the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, has poured roughly $1 million into the Sam Rayburn Library. Most of those dollars went to improving the infrastructure of the existing building.

Today, they unveiled plans that will both expand and restore a Fannin Co. landmark.

"This is a great day for Bonham. I'm really excited, and I think you're gonna be excited, when you see what they have in store for Bonham, TX, and the Sam Rayburn Library," said Bonham Mayor, Roy Floyd.

Fannin Co. is proud of Sam Rayburn, and they're proud of his library. But, the group from U.T. that runs the library says they're ready to expand its amenities.

"The whole point of this is to enhance this museum, and allow us to bring more programming in here," said Dr. Don Carleton, Executive Director of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

They unveiled plans today on roughly $1.5 million worth of new additions to the library. Most of that will go toward tearing down the old annex behind the building, and putting up a brand new one.

It features a channel glass facade, a 100 seat auditorium as well as a courtyard linking the two buildings.

"When students come in here, kids from public schools to see the museum, it will be a great place to take them there first, and have someone explain about Mr. Rayburn's career before coming over here to the museum. So, it gives us a lot more flexibility," said Dr. Carleton.

And while today's proposal would add many new features here to the Sam Rayburn Library site, it would also take things away. Things like this unused fountain which sits directly between the street and the library, and just doesn't match up with the original plan.

Old photos show a circular drive leading up to the library's front door. The new proposal would reincorporate that drive while also making the statue of Rayburn himself more of a focal point.

"People come from across the world to visit this museum in Bonham, TX. It's become quite a mainstay not only from our heritage, but also for our tourism and what the city is trying to accomplish now in bringing people in," said Curtis Smith, President of the Friends of Sam Rayburn.

The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History says that they hope to begin construction within the next two years. And, they say they would like to have the project complete by 2015.