Star of the Republic Museum facts for kids

The Star of the Republic Museum.

Where Washington on the Brazos is located in Texas.

The Star of the Republic Museum is in Washington, Texas, United States. It's the only museum in Texas made just to show the history and culture of the Republic of Texas. This was a special time from 1836 to 1846 when Texas was its own country. Inside the museum, you can explore two floors of exhibits. You'll learn about this important period through cool media displays and interesting exhibits. The museum is built at Washington on the Brazos. This is the exact spot where leaders met on March 2, 1836, to declare Texas free from Mexico.

What the Museum Does

The Star of the Republic Museum was created by the Texas Legislature, which is like the state's law-making group. Blinn College helps run it as a place for learning and culture. The museum's main goal is to collect and protect items from the Texas Republic (1836–1846). It also helps people understand the history, different cultures, and values of the first Texans. The museum wants to make sure students, teachers, and everyone else gets excited about Texas history. They do this through exhibits, tours, special programs, and online activities.

Museum History and Growth

How the Museum Started

The State of Texas officially created the Star of the Republic Museum in 1969. It opened its doors on Texas Independence Day, March 2, 1970. This date is important because it's when Texas declared its freedom. The museum was later moved from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to Blinn College in Brenham, Texas.

Becoming an Accredited Museum

In 1972, the Star of the Republic Museum earned a special award called accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. This means the museum follows high standards for how it serves the public and takes care of its collections. Only about 800 museums out of 8,500 in the nation have this important accreditation.

Big Changes and New Exhibits

The museum started a big plan in 1992 to update its building and exhibits. Thanks to this effort, a new permanent exhibit called "The Republic of Texas" opened in 2002. This exhibit lets visitors see over 1,000 items from the museum's collection. These items show what life was like in Texas in the early 1800s.

Exploring the Museum's Exhibits

Star of the Republic Museum Exhibits.

The museum has exhibits on two floors. The first floor is shaped like a five-point Texas star. The second floor is shaped like a pentagon.

First Floor: Early Texas History

The exhibits on the first floor tell the story of early Texas in order, from beginning to end. You'll learn about the first Texans, who were Native Americans. Then, you'll see how the Texian soldiers fought for Texas's freedom. Some cool things you can see here include:

• The Reading of the Texas Declaration of Independence: This is a painting from 1936 by Charles and Fanny Normann. It shows the brave men who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.
• The Lone Star Flag: This is the oldest known Texas flag from the years 1839–1846.
• You can also see personal items that belonged to the people who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.

Second Floor: Daily Life in the Republic

The second floor shows what daily life was like for settlers in the 1830s and 1840s. The exhibits are designed to help you imagine their lives. Fun things to experience on this floor include:

• A pretend riverboat trip down the Brazos River.
• An observation deck where you can see the 300-acre (1.2 km²) Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site.

Fun Annual Events

Texas Independence Day Celebration

This is the biggest event for the whole park! It happens every year on the weekend closest to March 2. That's the actual day Texas declared its freedom from Mexico. During this celebration, visitors can explore all the park's sites for free. You'll see people dressed in old-fashioned clothes, historical re-enactments, and special performances. There are also many demonstrations about what life was like during the Republic of Texas time.

Juneteenth Heritage Celebration

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston. He announced that about 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were free. Since then, Juneteenth has been celebrated with picnics, parades, family reunions, and games. The Brazos Valley area has a long history of celebrating Juneteenth. For example, the Juneteenth parade in Brenham, Texas, started in the early 1870s and still happens today. The Washington on the Brazos site observes this important day with its Juneteenth Heritage Celebration. This family-friendly event includes artifact exhibits, music, art displays, and guest speakers.

Christmas on the Brazos

You can start your holiday season at Washington on the Brazos. Activities begin in the afternoon at Independence Hall and the Star of the Republic Museum. They continue into the evening, bringing an 1850s Christmas to life. The main part of the celebration is Candlelight Christmas. This happens at Barrington Living History Farm. You can meet St. Nick, see the Jones family light their Christmas tree, and learn how enslaved people celebrated Christmas. It's a good idea to make reservations for this event.

Museum Location

The Star of the Republic Museum is one of three important places at the Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site in Washington, Texas. The other two places are:

• Independence Hall: This is where the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico was signed in 1836.
• Barrington Living History Farm: This was the home of Anson Jones, who was the last president of the Republic of Texas.

The Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site is located in Washington County, Texas. The museum's address is 23200 Park Road 12, Washington, Texas.

Descendants of the Signers

Since 2010, the Star of the Republic Museum has kept a list of the direct family members of the 60 men who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. Most of these men were chosen to be delegates at the Convention of 1836. Herbert S. Kimble also signed the Declaration as the Convention's secretary, even though he wasn't a delegate.

Here are the names of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence: