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Exploring birthplace of the Republic of Texas and Washington County living history

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Buggy on display at Brenham TX Heritage Museum
Tom Wilmer
Buggy on display at Brenham TX Heritage Museum

Discover Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic site, an operational historic cotton-gin in Burton, TX and a visit at the Brenham Heritage Museum in Brenham, TX.

Join correspondent Tom Wilmer reporting from Washington County, Texas—the birthplace of the Republic of Texas way back in 1836.

After the outbreak of the Texas Revolution, General Sam Houston made his headquarters at the town of Washington in December 1835.[3]

Today, Washington-on-the-Brazos is fondly known as "the birthplace of Texas" because, on March 1, 1836, Texas delegates met here to formally announce Texas' intention to separate from Mexico. The delegates adopted the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836.

Following the defeat of the Mexican Army at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, town leaders lobbied for Washington's designation as the permanent capital of the Republic of Texas, but leaders of the Republic favored Waterloo, later renamed Austin.

Washington-on-the-Brazos historic structure from founding days of creation of Republic of Texas
Tom Wilmer
Washington-on-the-Brazos historic structure from founding days of creation of Republic of Texas

Washington County was established in 1836 but eventually the county seat moved to Brenham in 1844, the town of Washington continued to thrive as a center for the cotton trade until the mid-1850s, but the construction of railroads bypassed the town and by the turn of the 20th century, the historic town of Washington was virtually abandoned.

Back of the house archival artifacts at Star of the Republic Museum
Tom Wilmer
Back of the house archival artifacts at Star of the Republic Museum

Today the historic townsite is home to the Washington-on-the-Brazos Historical Site, with three main attractions: The Star of the Republic Museum, a replica of Independence Hall (where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed), and Barrington Plantation (home of last Texas Republic President Anson Jones).

Star of the Republic Museum at Washington-on-the-Brazos
Courtesy Texas Heritage Commission
Star of the Republic Museum at Washington-on-the-Brazos

Come along and join Jonathan Failor, Site Manager at Washington-on-the-Brazos Star of the Republic Museum, Texas Historical Commission.

Historic circa-1914 Burton TX Cotton Gin
Tom Wilmer
Historic circa-1914 Burton TX Cotton Gin

Afterwards will head over to the village of Burton, Texas for a visit with Steph Jarvis the Museum Director at the historic Burton Farmers’ Gin—the last operational cotton gin in America.

Circa-1926 Bessemer engine at Burton TX Cotton Gin
Tom Wilmer
Circa-1926 Bessemer engine at Burton TX Cotton Gin

Back in the 1920s more than 4,000 cotton gins operated across Texas. Today, the gin in Burton stands as the lone remaining, fully operational example of the once ubiquitous cotton gin. Gins served as the hub of community life in cotton towns across Texas with the state leading the nation as the number one cotton-producing state.

Jarvis says that the Burton Gin is the finest example of an early, automated gin still in its original historic setting.

Historic Plaque at Burton Cotton Gin
Historic Plaque at Burton Cotton Gin

Built in 1914, the gin upgraded from steam power to a 125-HP Bessemer engine in 1926 and continued producing an average of 60 bales of cotton per day, or one bale every 12 minutes in its hayday. Sadly overseas competition forced the gin to cease operations in 1974.

Jarvis noted that the gin and its artifacts are largely in their last-used condition and comprise one of only a few such intact rural industrial sites in the country. The bonus today is that the gin is periodically still fired up on special occasions to produce cotton, employing the old Bessimer engine.

Brenham Heritage Museum, Brenham TX
Courtesy Brenham Heritage Museum
Brenham Heritage Museum, Brenham TX

We’ll then we’ll head over to the historic town of Brenham—the home of Blue Bell Ice Cream—for a visit with David Thomas the Director at the Brenham Heritage Museum.

David Thomas Director Brenham Heritage museum
David Thomas Director Brenham Heritage museum
Brenham Heritage Museum features fascinating displays of African-American local photographer
Brenham Heritage Museum
Brenham Heritage Museum features fascinating displays of African-American local photographer
1932 Parade float in Brenham TX on display at Brenham Heritage Museum
1932 Parade float in Brenham TX on display at Brenham Heritage Museum

Exhibits and collections reflect a focus on the history and culture of Washington County. Originally serving as the United States Post Office, the elegant building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was eventually repurposed as the Brenham Heritage Museum, with some of historic post-office architectural motifs left intact.

The music at the tail-end of this show was performed by Texas Hill Country, Marble Falls musician, songwriter, John Arthur Martinez

Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer is a featured podcast on the NPR.ORG Podcast Directory
NPR.ORG
Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer is a featured podcast on the NPR.ORG Podcast Directory

You are invited to subscribe to the seven-time Lowell Thomas Award-winning travel podcast, Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, featured on the NPR Podcast DirectoryApple Podcastand more than twenty other podcast hosting sites including iHeartRadio and Spotify

Tom Wilmer produces on-air content for Issues & Ideas airing over KCBX and is producer and host of the six-time Lowell Thomas award-winning NPR podcast Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer. Recorded live on-location across America and around the world, the podcasts feature the arts, culture, music, nature, history, science, wine & spirits, brewpubs, and the culinary arts--everything from baseball to exploring South Pacific atolls to interviewing the real Santa Claus in the Arctic.
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