Thanks for following us and we hope you enjoy our ongoing efforts to bring you more content about the everyday work we do to preserve Texas history.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Follow the New Real Places, Real Stories Blog
The See the Sites blog has moved! Please visit our new Texas Historical Commission (THC) blog, Real Places, Real Stories (http://www.thc.state.tx.us/blog), to continue following posts about the THC’s state historic sites. We’ll also be blogging about other programs and projects of the THC, such as Architecture and Heritage Travel, and featuring articles from The Medallion and Main Street Matters.
Thanks for following us and we hope you enjoy our ongoing efforts to bring you more content about the everyday work we do to preserve Texas history.
Thanks for following us and we hope you enjoy our ongoing efforts to bring you more content about the everyday work we do to preserve Texas history.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Sam Rayburn House Museum Celebrates Holidays and “Mr. Sam’s” Birthday
By Anne Ruppert, Sam Rayburn House Museum
Visitors recently celebrated the holidays along with Sam Rayburn’s birthday at the Sam Rayburn House Museum in Bonham. The theme for the museum’s annual Holiday Open House was “Mr. Sam Comes Home for the Holidays.” The house was festooned with evergreen, mistletoe, poinsettias, candles, and a Christmas tree. The ornaments on the tree and the other holiday trimmings mimicked the traditional décor employed by the Rayburn family.
Other parts of the house appeared as if Rayburn had just arrived home from his hectic life in Washington, D.C. Files were scattered in Rayburn’s bedroom and sitting room, which often served as his office while visiting Bonham.
Rayburn’s bedroom included a multitude of suitcases, hatboxes, and clothing laid upon the bed as if being unpacked and ready to put away into the drawers and chests throughout the room. As guides toured visitors throughout the home, they spoke about the activities at the house surrounding Christmas preparations and Rayburn’s arrival home for the holidays.
Weeks after the holiday open house, the museum marked another special occasion: Sam Rayburn’s 131st birthday on January 6. The day also marked Sam Rayburn Day in Texas. Initially decreed in 1976 by the late Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe, the day was set aside to commemorate the life of one of Texas’ most revered and powerful political figures.
In honor of the late Speaker’s birthday, the museum celebrated with free admission and refreshments. One of Rayburn’s favorite foods, chili, was on the menu for the occasion, along with punch and birthday cake.
The Sam Rayburn House Museum is located at 890 W. State Hwy. 56, two miles west of Bonham, in the Texas Lakes Trail Region. It tells the real story of Sam Rayburn, one of the most powerful and influential politicians of the 20th century, in his authentic 1916 home. The site is open for tours Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Visitors recently celebrated the holidays along with Sam Rayburn’s birthday at the Sam Rayburn House Museum in Bonham. The theme for the museum’s annual Holiday Open House was “Mr. Sam Comes Home for the Holidays.” The house was festooned with evergreen, mistletoe, poinsettias, candles, and a Christmas tree. The ornaments on the tree and the other holiday trimmings mimicked the traditional décor employed by the Rayburn family.
Rayburn’s bedroom included a multitude of suitcases, hatboxes, and clothing laid upon the bed as if being unpacked and ready to put away into the drawers and chests throughout the room. As guides toured visitors throughout the home, they spoke about the activities at the house surrounding Christmas preparations and Rayburn’s arrival home for the holidays.
Weeks after the holiday open house, the museum marked another special occasion: Sam Rayburn’s 131st birthday on January 6. The day also marked Sam Rayburn Day in Texas. Initially decreed in 1976 by the late Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe, the day was set aside to commemorate the life of one of Texas’ most revered and powerful political figures.
In honor of the late Speaker’s birthday, the museum celebrated with free admission and refreshments. One of Rayburn’s favorite foods, chili, was on the menu for the occasion, along with punch and birthday cake.
The Sam Rayburn House Museum is located at 890 W. State Hwy. 56, two miles west of Bonham, in the Texas Lakes Trail Region. It tells the real story of Sam Rayburn, one of the most powerful and influential politicians of the 20th century, in his authentic 1916 home. The site is open for tours Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Candlelight Christmas at Varner-Hogg Plantation
By Amanda McVay, Varner-Hogg Plantation Educator
Last month, Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site celebrated its annual “Candlelight Christmas” event. The night was very balmy, not exactly winter weather even for Texas, but it set the stage beautifully for our event.
Staff greeted visitors as they walked through the gates and saw the historic site decorated for the holidays. Among greenery, twinkling white lights, candles, and lanterns, guests listened to traditional Christmas carols performed by the Brazosport Choral Union and visited with a Victorian Santa Claus.
Guests stepped back in time and toured the plantation house, where Varner-Hogg Plantation’s Friends and Volunteers dressed in period costume and explained the holiday decorations in each room and how they reflected an 1800s Texas Christmas. The decorations ranged from a beautiful feather tree to children’s toys to a dining room table set for a special holiday feast.
This event would not have been possible without the support of our Friends and Volunteers. Special thanks to our amazing staff who worked above and beyond to make this event a success!
Donations raised during the “Candlelight Christmas” will go toward the purchase of a new sugar kettle. For more than 50 years, the rose garden between the plantation house and the kitchen building featured a small black kettle pond. With the donations, the Varner-Hogg Friends and Volunteers will purchase a new cast iron kettle to return the pond to its original appearance.
Varner-Hogg Plantation is located approximately 60 miles south of Houston and is part of the Texas Independence Trail Region.
Last month, Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site celebrated its annual “Candlelight Christmas” event. The night was very balmy, not exactly winter weather even for Texas, but it set the stage beautifully for our event.
Staff greeted visitors as they walked through the gates and saw the historic site decorated for the holidays. Among greenery, twinkling white lights, candles, and lanterns, guests listened to traditional Christmas carols performed by the Brazosport Choral Union and visited with a Victorian Santa Claus.
Donations raised during the “Candlelight Christmas” will go toward the purchase of a new sugar kettle. For more than 50 years, the rose garden between the plantation house and the kitchen building featured a small black kettle pond. With the donations, the Varner-Hogg Friends and Volunteers will purchase a new cast iron kettle to return the pond to its original appearance.
Varner-Hogg Plantation is located approximately 60 miles south of Houston and is part of the Texas Independence Trail Region.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Going Green & Keeping Fit with Historic Downtown San Antonio Tour
By Mo Brown, Casa Navarro Site Manager
Last month, Casa Navarro State Historic Site hosted the San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation’s Go! Historic SA Guided Running & Walking Tour. The tour started and ended at the Texas Historical Commission’s Casa Navarro, and highlighted San Antonio's historic downtown, including Main Plaza and the beautifully lit Bexar County Courthouse, historic Houston Street, La Villita, the River Walk, the Alamo, and more.
The tour featured new energy-efficient and festive holiday lighting downtown, including the City’s newly-installed LED lights on the River Walk and the downtown buildings participating in the Mayor’s Light Up Downtown Holiday Contest (which included Casa Navarro). All provided an alluring backdrop for the guided tours of our historic downtown.
Casa Navarro staff hung 100 percent LED holiday lights, decorated the exteriors and interiors, provided open house self-guided tours, and donated refreshments for the occasion. Historic preservation staff and volunteers guided small groups of 92 walkers and runners, who chose to walk, run, or jog along the 2.25-mile tour.
This family-friendly tour was the perfect way for locals to enjoy their city, learn more about historic downtown, see holiday lights, and exercise all in one. Go green with historic preservation!
Last month, Casa Navarro State Historic Site hosted the San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation’s Go! Historic SA Guided Running & Walking Tour. The tour started and ended at the Texas Historical Commission’s Casa Navarro, and highlighted San Antonio's historic downtown, including Main Plaza and the beautifully lit Bexar County Courthouse, historic Houston Street, La Villita, the River Walk, the Alamo, and more.
Casa Navarro staff hung 100 percent LED holiday lights, decorated the exteriors and interiors, provided open house self-guided tours, and donated refreshments for the occasion. Historic preservation staff and volunteers guided small groups of 92 walkers and runners, who chose to walk, run, or jog along the 2.25-mile tour.
This family-friendly tour was the perfect way for locals to enjoy their city, learn more about historic downtown, see holiday lights, and exercise all in one. Go green with historic preservation!
Casa Navarro is located at the corner of S. Laredo and W. Nueva streets in downtown San Antonio, in the Texas Independence and Hill Country Trail Regions.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Caroling at the Mansion
By Marsha Hendrix, Fulton Mansion Site Manager
The sounds of traditional carols rang out over the lawn at Fulton Mansion State Historic Site on December 8, 2012, when a record number of visitors attended the annual candlelight event. More than 350 people enjoyed temperate coastal weather as they sang along with the Rockport-Fulton Middle School Choir. For the past eight years, the award-winning choir has led the crowd in singing Christmas carols. With guidance by choir director Linda Foster and accompaniment by pianist Merlene Flourinoy, the students helped bring yuletide spirit to all in attendance.
After enjoying the caroling, volunteers treated guests to gingerbread and wassail, and the mansion’s gardens were bright and festive with luminarias and Christmas lights.
In addition, the mansion was open for visitors to see the period rooms decorated in Christmas finery. An enthusiastic group of volunteers eagerly shared stories of Victorian holiday traditions.
Fulton Mansion is located in the resort area of Rockport-Fulton, 30 miles north of Corpus Christi. The site is part of the Texas Tropical Trail Region.
The sounds of traditional carols rang out over the lawn at Fulton Mansion State Historic Site on December 8, 2012, when a record number of visitors attended the annual candlelight event. More than 350 people enjoyed temperate coastal weather as they sang along with the Rockport-Fulton Middle School Choir. For the past eight years, the award-winning choir has led the crowd in singing Christmas carols. With guidance by choir director Linda Foster and accompaniment by pianist Merlene Flourinoy, the students helped bring yuletide spirit to all in attendance.
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| Rockport-Fulton Middle School Choir boys |
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| Rockport-Fulton Middle School Choir girls |
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| Visitors wait in line for gingerbread cookies |
In addition, the mansion was open for visitors to see the period rooms decorated in Christmas finery. An enthusiastic group of volunteers eagerly shared stories of Victorian holiday traditions.
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| Visitors experience the mansion's period rooms and holiday decor |
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| Christmas tree in the parlor |
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| George Fulton (aka Chuck Shamel) reads “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (which today we call “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”) to the youngest children on the steps of the mansion. |
Fulton Mansion is located in the resort area of Rockport-Fulton, 30 miles north of Corpus Christi. The site is part of the Texas Tropical Trail Region.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Fort McKavett, ca. 1853
By Cody Mobley, Fort McKavett State Historic Site
Last month, living historians traveled from as far away as Colorado to help transform Fort McKavett State Historic Site into a military outpost in 1853. Using the Inspector General’s report on the 8th Military District in 1853, these living historians were able to accurately represent the soldiers of Company H of the 8th Infantry as they appeared at the fort that year.
During the course of the program, the living historians carried out everyday tasks of the soldiers—drilling on the parade grounds, performing fatigue details (hauling water and splitting wood for the commissary), policing the grounds (picking up trash and cleaning the barracks and parade grounds), and keeping themselves entertained on the frontier.
Several of the participants were musicians who served as the drum and fife corps for the event, and provided period music at night and between fatigue details.
The sutler’s store allowed site visitors to see some of the items that would have been on hand in 1853, including popular song broadsides, blank books, dime novels, stationery, clay pipes, chocolates, tin ware, and sewing supplies. The post sutler also provided supplementary foodstuffs for the soldiers (including bread, cheese, and eggs), as well as the catalyst that landed many soldiers in the post guardhouse due to drunkenness.
During the event, the commissary cooked the rations for the soldiers and provided extra fatigue details for the officer to dole out. The cook and his assistant provided coffee for the garrison throughout the day.
That night, participants were treated to a nice short shower and lightning show as storms blew in from the north and surrounded the site.
Fort McKavett State Historic Site is located west of Menard on FM 864 in the Texas Forts Trail Region.
Last month, living historians traveled from as far away as Colorado to help transform Fort McKavett State Historic Site into a military outpost in 1853. Using the Inspector General’s report on the 8th Military District in 1853, these living historians were able to accurately represent the soldiers of Company H of the 8th Infantry as they appeared at the fort that year.
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| Living historians representing Company H of the 8th Infantry |
During the course of the program, the living historians carried out everyday tasks of the soldiers—drilling on the parade grounds, performing fatigue details (hauling water and splitting wood for the commissary), policing the grounds (picking up trash and cleaning the barracks and parade grounds), and keeping themselves entertained on the frontier.
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| Preparing to drill |
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| Guard on duty |
Several of the participants were musicians who served as the drum and fife corps for the event, and provided period music at night and between fatigue details.
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| Music provides entertainment on the post |
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| Playing checkers with a visitor |
The sutler’s store allowed site visitors to see some of the items that would have been on hand in 1853, including popular song broadsides, blank books, dime novels, stationery, clay pipes, chocolates, tin ware, and sewing supplies. The post sutler also provided supplementary foodstuffs for the soldiers (including bread, cheese, and eggs), as well as the catalyst that landed many soldiers in the post guardhouse due to drunkenness.
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| Sutler's store |
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| Sutler's store |
During the event, the commissary cooked the rations for the soldiers and provided extra fatigue details for the officer to dole out. The cook and his assistant provided coffee for the garrison throughout the day.
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| Food is prepared |
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| Rations are served |
That night, participants were treated to a nice short shower and lightning show as storms blew in from the north and surrounded the site.
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| Storm approaching |
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| Lightning illuminates the ruins |
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| Lightning illuminates the ruins |
Fort McKavett State Historic Site is located west of Menard on FM 864 in the Texas Forts Trail Region.
Friday, November 30, 2012
President Eisenhower’s Victorious Birthday Bash
By Carole Stanton, Eisenhower Birthplace Interim Site Manager, and Johnny Pairsh, Eisenhower Birthplace Maintenance Specialist
This year, Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site celebrated Dwight D. Eisenhower’s birthday (October 14, 1890) in style, with a World War II military reenactment event befitting the president-general. Reenactors representing both German and American soldiers took part in the action. Here’s how it went down:
On the afternoon of October 12, a German military troop “invaded” the site grounds and set up camp north of the crossroads of two streets that dissect the site. The Germans arrived with standard gear and equipment including three BMW motorcycles with sidecars. Later that day, the members of the U.S. 82nd Airborne arrived and set up camp south of the crossroads. The Americans were equipped with a jeep, military transport trucks, and a half-track military vehicle (a vehicle with an endless chain-track drive system and wheels in the front).
On his way to a top-secret military briefing the next morning, General Eisenhower arrived and spoke with the troops. That afternoon, the battle of the crossroads began. The Americans attacked with superior numbers and firepower, eventually defeating the enemy troops. The Germans suffered several casualties and many soldiers were wounded before they finally surrendered. Only one American soldier was wounded in the battle that secured the strategic crossroads for Allied troops.
The German and American reenactment camps were open to visitors all day, and more than 200 people enjoyed experiencing first-hand what the lives of German and American soldiers in the field were like during World War II. Following the battle, reenactors from both camps held weapons demonstrations for visitors. Tours throughout the day of Eisenhower’s first home allowed visitors to fully experience the site, enjoy cake, and sing Happy Birthday to the president-general.
Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site is located in Denison, approximately 75 miles north of Dallas. The site is part of the Texas Lakes Trail Region.
This year, Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site celebrated Dwight D. Eisenhower’s birthday (October 14, 1890) in style, with a World War II military reenactment event befitting the president-general. Reenactors representing both German and American soldiers took part in the action. Here’s how it went down:
On the afternoon of October 12, a German military troop “invaded” the site grounds and set up camp north of the crossroads of two streets that dissect the site. The Germans arrived with standard gear and equipment including three BMW motorcycles with sidecars. Later that day, the members of the U.S. 82nd Airborne arrived and set up camp south of the crossroads. The Americans were equipped with a jeep, military transport trucks, and a half-track military vehicle (a vehicle with an endless chain-track drive system and wheels in the front).
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| Reenactors at camp |
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| Soldier reenactors |
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| Motorcycle with sidecar |
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| A view to a kill |
On his way to a top-secret military briefing the next morning, General Eisenhower arrived and spoke with the troops. That afternoon, the battle of the crossroads began. The Americans attacked with superior numbers and firepower, eventually defeating the enemy troops. The Germans suffered several casualties and many soldiers were wounded before they finally surrendered. Only one American soldier was wounded in the battle that secured the strategic crossroads for Allied troops.
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| Doing battle |
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| The battle rages |
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| Still going... |
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| A man and his statue |
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| Reenactors gather at Eisenhower's statue |
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| It's really all about the cake |
Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site is located in Denison, approximately 75 miles north of Dallas. The site is part of the Texas Lakes Trail Region.
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