Freedom Colonies Exhibit Opens at Brenham Heritage Museum

Brenham Heritage Museum opened a new exhibit in its Bus Depot Gallery on Saturday, Feb. 12. Entitled Freedom Colonies: Tracing Historic Black Settlements of Washington County, this wonderful exhibit explores the remarkable stories of former slaves and their descendants who established entire local communities following their Emancipation. Much of the African-American experience in those post-Civil War years remains little known, and the museum looks forward to introducing that history to a new audience.

As renovations of the old post office building are underway, you’ll find exhibits in the Bus Depot Gallery at 313 E. Alamo. Hours are 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. every Saturday. Other times are available by appointment. The Freedom Colonies exhibit will run through March 26.

In conjunction with this exhibit will be the first installment of the Seth McMeans Lecture Series. That event will be held on Monday, Feb. 28 at noon in the Bus Depot Gallery. It will be delivered by Dr. Andrea Roberts of Texas A&M University who will explore a half dozen of the largest Freedom Colonies in Washington County. Often times, the Freedom Colonies centered around a church and school, and residents might work in the city or may have started an African-American farming community. The people of the Freedom Colonies were not only free for the first time in generations, they were trying to forge a new life entirely from scratch. Dr. Roberts will provide both overall background and specifics about the local communities. Her lecture will accompany an exhibit that will be in place in the building at that time.

The Brenham Heritage Museum retained the Texas Freedom Colonies Project, founded and operated by Dr. Roberts, to partner in content development for the new museum, and that work has informed this exhibit. BHM’s African-American Content Committee has worked hard to put together this exhibit for the Bus Depot Gallery.

The Seth McMeans Lecture Series is free to all BHM members and only $5 for all others. Since museum memberships are very affordable, that provides the lowest cost option. The museum’s website at www.brenhamheritagemuseum.org and their social media will provide more information and updates. A boxed lunch from Must Be Heaven may be reserved in advance for lecture days by calling the Brenham Heritage Museum office.

The capital campaign for the renovation project continues in full force, and the museum is seeking both corporate and individual partners. Naming rights are available.

For more information, or to donate to the Brenham Heritage Museum, visit the website at www.brenhamheritagemuseum.org.