About Fort bend county museum association
Fort Bend County Museum Association: Preserving the Rich History of Texas
The Fort Bend County Museum Association is a non-profit organization that aims to preserve and promote the rich history of Fort Bend County, Texas. The association operates several museums and historic sites in the county, including the Fort Bend Museum, George Ranch Historical Park, and DeWalt Heritage Center.
The Fort Bend Museum is one of the most popular attractions in the county. It offers visitors a chance to experience nearly 200 years of life on the Brazos River. The museum features exhibits that showcase various aspects of life in Fort Bend County from its early days as a frontier settlement to its present-day status as a thriving community.
One of the highlights of the museum is its collection of historic buildings. These include an 1850s-era log cabin, a one-room schoolhouse from 1896, and an early 20th-century church. Visitors can explore these buildings and get a sense of what life was like for early settlers in Texas.
Another popular attraction at the museum is its collection of artifacts related to sugar cane farming. Sugar cane was once one of the most important crops grown in Fort Bend County, and many families made their living by working on sugar plantations. The museum's exhibits include tools used for planting and harvesting sugar cane as well as displays about how sugar was processed into molasses and other products.
In addition to its permanent exhibits, the Fort Bend Museum also hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year. These exhibitions cover a wide range of topics related to local history and culture.
The George Ranch Historical Park is another must-visit destination for anyone interested in Texas history. This living history park covers over 23 square miles and includes four historic homes dating back to different periods in Texas history: an 1830s log cabin, an 1860s Victorian mansion, an 1890s cattleman's house, and a mid-20th-century ranch house.
Visitors to the George Ranch can take guided tours of these homes and learn about the families who lived in them. They can also see demonstrations of traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, woodworking, and weaving. The park also features a working cattle ranch where visitors can see cowboys at work and learn about the history of ranching in Texas.
The DeWalt Heritage Center is another important site operated by the Fort Bend County Museum Association. This center is located in Richmond, Texas, and houses exhibits related to local African American history. The center is named after Walter Moses Burton DeWalt, a prominent African American businessman who owned several businesses in Richmond during the early 20th century.
The exhibits at the DeWalt Heritage Center cover a wide range of topics related to African American life in Fort Bend County. They include displays about slavery, Reconstruction-era politics, civil rights activism, and more recent events such as Hurricane Harvey.
In addition to its museums and historic sites, the Fort Bend County Museum Association also offers educational programs for schools and other groups. These programs cover a wide range of topics related to local history and culture and are designed to be engaging for students of all ages.
Overall, the Fort Bend County Museum Association plays an important role in preserving and promoting the rich history of Texas. Its museums and historic sites offer visitors a chance to step back in time and experience life as it was lived by early settlers on the Brazos River. Whether you're a lifelong Texan or just visiting for a short time, be sure to check out these amazing attractions!