George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center facts for kids
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George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center
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| Location | 1165 Angelina St Austin, Texas, USA |
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| Built | 1926 |
| MPS | East Austin MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000241 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 30, 2005 |
The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center is a special place in Austin, Texas. It's a museum and a cultural center all in one! This amazing center is located in what used to be a library branch. It's named after the famous scientist and inventor, George Washington Carver. Since 2005, it has been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
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History of the Carver Center
The building that houses the center was first built in 1926. It was a small, wooden building located at Ninth and Guadalupe Streets. In 1933, a bigger stone library was built. So, the original wooden building was moved to Angelina Street.
This move allowed it to serve the African-American community in East Austin. For many years, it was known as the "Colored Branch" library. In 1947, it was renamed the George Washington Carver Library. This honored the famous inventor and scientist.
The library continued to serve the community until 1979. A new, modern library building was then completed right next door. After that, work began to change the old library into a cultural center.
The museum officially opened its doors on October 24, 1980. It was later expanded with a new facility in 2001. The original building, which has a colonial revival style, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Understanding Juneteenth
The Juneteenth Exhibit is a very important part of the George Washington Carver Museum. It helps visitors understand what freedom meant to formerly enslaved African Americans. The displays and information teach everyone about this special day.
Multimedia presentations help students learn about early Juneteenth celebrations. They also show how the holiday is celebrated today. You can also learn about Texas's role in the Civil War. This exhibit explains why Juneteenth is important for all Americans.
The Juneteenth Memorial Sculpture Monument
The Juneteenth Memorial Sculpture Monument opened on June 27, 2015. It features five bronze figures that tell the story of Juneteenth. There is also a paved timeline of Black history in the Americas. This timeline leads to the "Bell of Freedom."
The Juneteenth Sculptures were created by two artists. Adrienne Rison Isom, who is from Austin, made three of the sculptures. These are the Freed Man, Freed Woman, and the Child figure. Eddie Dixon created the other two sculptures. These are the Law Maker and the Pastor.
How the News of Freedom Spread
The sculptures show how the news of freedom traveled. Juneteenth began on June 19, 1865. On this day, General Gordon Granger read an order. This order meant the Emancipation Proclamation was now enforced in Texas.
First, the lawmakers learned about freedom. Then, the news reached the Pastor. The Pastor represents the faith leaders in the African American community. The Pastor then told the enslaved people. These are shown by the Freed Man and Freed Woman figures. They, in turn, shared the news with the youth, represented by the Child figure.
There is a blank pedestal in the monument. Visitors can stand on it and become part of the artwork. This reminds us to remember, reflect, and share the story of emancipation with others.
See also
