Museum of Regional History (Texarkana) facts for kids
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Exterior of the Museum of Regional History
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| Established | 1971 |
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| Location | State Line Ave. and 3rd St., Texarkana, Texas |
| Type | Local history museum |
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Offenhauser Insurance Building
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1901 |
| Architectural style | Commercial style |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000922 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 25, 1971 |
The Museum of Regional History is a cool place in Texarkana, Texas, where you can learn all about the local past. It was first called the Texarkana Historical Museum. This museum opened in 1971, making it the very first and oldest museum in the Texarkana metropolitan area. You can find it inside the Offenhauser Insurance Building, which was built way back in 1879. This makes the building the oldest brick building in the whole city!
Contents
Discover Texarkana's Past
The Museum of Regional History tells the story of the Texarkana area. It covers a long time, from the very first people who lived there to important events in recent history.
Early People and Explorers
The museum shows how the Caddo people, who were the original inhabitants, lived. You can see their jewelry, pottery, and tools. There are also rare pictures that show what their lives were like. Later, Spanish and French explorers came to the area. The museum shares their stories too.
Farming and Factories
You can learn about how people used to farm the land and how early factories started up. This shows how the region grew from a quiet place to a busy one.
Trains and Big Events
Trains played a huge part in Texarkana's history. The museum explains how railroads helped the city grow. It also covers how World War II affected the area and its people. You can also learn about the civil rights movement and how it changed things for everyone in Texarkana.
Music History of the Region
One of the most exciting parts of the museum is its collection about the region's music. This area has been home to some very famous musicians!
- Scott Joplin: He is known as the "Father of Ragtime" music. The museum has one of his pianos!
- Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter: A famous folk and blues musician.
- Conlon Nancarrow: A unique composer.
This collection really highlights jazz and folk music, showing how important music has been to the region.
Research and Learning
The Museum of Regional History also has a special place called the Wilbur Smith Research Library and Archives. This is like a giant library for history buffs!
- It has lots of old photographs.
- You can find many research materials, including rare books and documents.
- The archives also keep old Texarkana city directories and files about the area's early settlers.
This library is a great resource for anyone wanting to dig deeper into Texarkana's past.
Important Building Status
The museum building is very old and important. It is recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special building that helps tell America's story. The museum is also designed to be easy for everyone to visit, following the rules of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
See also
