Fulton Mansion State Historic Site [TX]

Description

George and Harriet Fulton began construction in 1874 on their spacious and extravagant home overlooking the Aransas Bay. Completed in 1877, the house featured ornate trim work and furnishings and the latest technological conveniences including modern plumbing, central heating, and a gas lighting system. Restored in the early 1980s, the architectural landmark is open for visitors.

The site offers tours.

Heritage Society of Austin [TX]

Description

The Heritage Society of Austin is dedicated to preserving important historic structures in the greater Austin area. The society has worked over the years to preserve many of Austin's most important structures, and also aids local attractions such as the Pioneer Farms, a living history farm which showcases life in early Texas.

The society offers tours of local historic homes and structures. Pioneer farms offers guided tours, interpretive events, and workshops. The website offers visitor information and a calendar of events.

Fort Bend Museum Complex [TX]

Description

The Fort Bend Museum Complex presents the local history of the Brazos River and Fort Bend County, Texas. The complex includes the Long-Smith Cottage, the 1883 John M. Moore Home, the McFarlane House, and a history museum. The 1840 Greek Revival Long-Smith Cottage was once the residence of Jane Long (1798-1880), known as the "Mother of Texas." She is thought to be the first English-speaking woman to give birth to a baby in Texas. Today, the cottage is styled to depict 1840s and 1860's middle-class life in Richmond, Texas. The neoclassical 1883 John M. Moore Home belonged to a prominent area rancher and politician, John M. Moore. The house holds period rooms, meeting rooms, and exhibits. The museum offers dioramas of key historical periods, including the 1821 settlement, the Texas Revolution (1835-1836), the plantation period, and the Civil War.

The museum offers period rooms, exhibits, tours, school tours, school walking tours, school outreach programs, a traveling trunk, Scout programs, junior docent positions, and summer activities. The website offers activities, extra information, and suggested reading lists for teachers.

Fort Griffin State Historic Site [TX]

Description

Fort Griffin State Historic Site is located on 506.2 acres with 1,500 feet of river area. The site is home to the partially restored ruins of Old Fort Griffin located on a bluff overlooking the town site of Fort Griffin and the Clear Fork of the Brazos River Valley. The fort was constructed in 1867 and deactivated in 1881. The ruins include a hand-dug well, a mess hall, barracks, a library, a rock chimney, a store, an administration building, a cistern, a hospital, a powder magazine, the foundation of the officers' quarters, the first sergeant's quarters, a restored bakery, and replicas of enlisted men's huts.

The site offers occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Pioneer Farms [TX]

Description

Pioneer Farms is a living history farm museum, located on the site of an 1844 homestead, in what is now Austin, Texas. The site includes several 19th-century structures furnished in the style of different time periods—between 1860 and 1899.

The museum offers living history demonstrations, period rooms, historic skill classes, exhibits, and Scout programs. The website offers a trivia quiz, a scavenger hunt for use on site, a blank family tree, and paper dolls.

The Heritage Society [TX]

Description

The Heritage Society is a 10-acre museum consisting of nine historic structures. These structures date from 1823 to 1905, and were selected to present the history of Houston settlement and daily life. The 1847 Kellum-Noble House; circa 1850 Greek Revival Nichols-Rice-Cherry House; the 1868 San Felipe Cottage, built by German immigrants; 1868 mid-Victorian Pillot House; 1891 St. John Church, an Evangelical Lutheran place of worship; circa 1823 cabin, known as The Old Place; 1905 Staiti House; 1870 Yates House; and the circa 1860 Fourth Ward Cottage, a working class home, are located on site. The Yates House was built by Reverend Jack Yates, a freed African American man, religious leader, and advocate for African American education, only five years after emancipation.

The museum offers exhibits, 75-minute guided house tours, cell phone tours, group-rate guided tours for six or more students and/or Scouts, hands-on activities, outreach presentations, and library and archives access. School tours are curriculum-based. Access to the library and archival materials is by appointment only.

Sterne-Hoya House Museum and Library [TX]

Description

The Sterne-Hoya Museum and Library is located in the historic Adolphus Sterne home. The home now serves as a historic house museum, but also offers exhibits on local history, with a special interest in the Sterne and von der Hoya families. The home is furnished with period antiques and is located on the National Register of Historic Places.

The museum offers guided tours and exhibits on the history of rural, eastern Texas. The website offers visitor information.