Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center facts for kids

The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center is a special place in rural Liberty County, Texas. It's about 3 miles (5 km) north of Liberty. This center helps keep the history of Southeast Texas safe.

It's run by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The center has many old things like government papers, books, maps, and photos. These items tell the story of the Atascosito region. This area includes ten counties: Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, and Tyler. People can visit to learn about their family history or local events.

The center also has a museum. It reopened in 2018 after being updated. The museum's main exhibit is called Atascosito: The History of Southeast Texas. It shows the region's past using old objects, pictures, and documents. You can learn about how the area grew. This includes its river trade, logging, rice farming, and oil fields. The museum also shares stories of people who lived there for thousands of years.

On the same campus, you'll find the Jean and Price Daniel Home and Archives. This building keeps the library, old papers, and belongings of Jean and Price Daniel. Price Daniel was a governor of Texas. The home looks like the Texas Governor's Mansion.

Historic Buildings to Explore

The Sam Houston Center has four other old buildings. They were moved to the center's grounds to be preserved. You can visit these buildings to see what life was like long ago.

Gillard-Duncan House: A Glimpse into Early Texas Homes

The Gillard-Duncan House was built in 1848. It was made by Dr. Edward J. and Emma DeBlanc Gillard. This house is one of the oldest homes still standing in Southeast Texas. It shows how people lived almost 200 years ago.

Norman House: Daily Life in the Past

The Norman House was built around 1883. It has exhibits that show what daily life was like in a historic home. You can imagine how families cooked, cleaned, and spent their time.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church: A Place of Worship

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church was built in 1898. This church was used for worship for almost 100 years. It's a quiet place to see how communities gathered.

Hull-Daisetta Rotary Building: A Unique Club House

The Hull-Daisetta Rotary Building was built around 1930. It was made by the Rotary Club of Hull-Daisetta. This building is special because it's one of the first and only buildings ever built and owned by a Rotary club.

Visiting the Historic Buildings

As of fall 2023, you can explore the Hull-Daisetta Rotary Building on your own. You don't need to make an appointment for it. If you want to see the other historic buildings, you need to book a tour ahead of time. It's a good idea to book at least two weeks in advance. Sometimes, tours with shorter notice can be arranged if staff are available.

History of the Sam Houston Center

The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center started thanks to Governor Price Daniel and his wife. On September 27, 1973, they gave 114 acres (46 ha) of land for the library. Building work began in the fall of 1975. By then, $700,000 had been collected from private donations. The library officially opened its doors on May 14, 1977.

The library commission chose Liberty as the site for the archives. This is because Liberty County was home to Atascocito. Atascocito was an old Spanish outpost. It later became the center of government for a ten-county area in 1826. The name of the settlement changed to Liberty in 1831. All or parts of these counties were once part of the Atascosito-Liberty District.