TCHCC Hosts Exhibit and Program on Cotton’s Impact in Rural Texas and Czech Communities

From the 1870s to the 1950s cotton was everywhere around central Texas. As of 1925, according to the U.S. Agricultural Census, Texas had 16,658,356 acres in cotton and produced 4,856,142 bales. What did that mean for the actual communities themselves? The impact of cotton in rural Texas can be seen through the specific histories of the communities and their successes and failures. We will look into two of these as they relate to all of Texas’ communities and see the part that cotton played in their stories. More stories will be told on how cotton is woven into Czech-Texas history migration, integration and the impact to Czech music.

The TCHCC museum features the “When Cotton was King” Exhibit. The exhibit begins with planting the seeds and ends with the sale of and beginning of the cotton’s journey to textiles. Come early or stay after to view the exhibit and take part in the “Find A Gin” interactive map. The exhibit will run through November.

Join us in welcoming presenters Steph Jarvis and Ronnie Stanley from the Texas Cotton Gin Museum and Gary McKee, Fayette Co. Historian and Texas Polka News Editor. The program will be on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center’s Hanslik Hall and Museum located at 250 West Fairgrounds Road in La Grange. TCHCC is partnering with the Texas Cotton Gin Museum from Burton on the exhibit and program. There is no admission. Donations are welcomed.

For more information, contact TCHCC at (979) 968-9399 or email info@ czechtexas.org.