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Visit Brenham Texas

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Calendar: Museums and History

133rd Brenham Maifest

 Friday, May 5th, 2023 :: 7:00pm - 11:30pm
 Brenham Maifest Association
 Event Details

The Brenham Maifest was first celebrated in 1881 making it the Oldest Festival in Texas today. This year, Brenham celebrates Maifest May 5th and 6th at Fireman’s Park beginning Friday at 5:00 pm with music, a carnival, festival food and drinks. Don’t miss the highlight of the Maifest – the Senior Coronation at 7pm on Friday and the Junior Coronation at 7pm on Saturday! The Maifest Parade will be in Downtown Brenham on Saturday morning at 10:30am!

Tickets for each coronation are sold separately and can be found on https://brenhammaifest.com/

133rd Brenham Maifest

 Saturday, May 6th, 2023 :: 10:30am - 11:30pm
 Brenham Maifest Association
 Event Details

The Brenham Maifest was first celebrated in 1881 making it the Oldest Festival in Texas today. This year, Brenham celebrates Maifest May 5th and 6th at Fireman’s Park beginning Friday at 5:00 pm with music, a carnival, festival food and drinks. Don’t miss the highlight of the Maifest – the Senior Coronation at 7pm on Friday and the Junior Coronation at 7pm on Saturday! The Maifest Parade will be in Downtown Brenham on Saturday morning at 10:30am!

Tickets for each coronation are sold separately and can be found on https://brenhammaifest.com/

34th Annual Burton Cotton Gin Festival

 Saturday, April 15th, 2023 :: 10:00am - 6:00pm
 Texas Cotton Gin Museum
 Event Details

In almost every corner of Texas cotton has influenced our history. In Burton, halfway between Houston & Austin on Hwy 290, sits the 1914 Burton Farmers Gin, the Oldest Operating Cotton Gin in America. Our surrounding fields may no longer be white with cotton bolls, but we still preserve that history for future generations. Step back in time with us at the 34th Annual Burton Cotton Gin Festival, Sat. April 15th, 2023.

This gem of a small town Texas festival is FREE & family friendly. It features a parade, music, contests, games, arts, crafts, food, drink, & antique tractor pull & engine & classic car shows.
Tours of the Gin structure will be conducted from 1-3 PM & at 3 PM the 1914 Burton Farmers Gin will come to life, and a bale of cotton will be ginned.
Join in the fun & watch Texas history come alive at the 33rd Annual Burton Cotton Gin Festival, Sat. April 15th, 2023 at the Texas Cotton Gin Museum, in Burton. For more information visit www.texascottonginmuseum.org, or call 979-289-3378 with questions.

John & Mary Marks: A Love Story That Transcends Time and Boundaries

 Thursday, March 30th, 2023 :: 10:00am - 4:00pm
 Brenham Heritage Museum
 Event Details

This February, the Brenham Heritage Museum is proud to celebrate Black History Month by presenting John & Mary Marks: A Love Story That Transcends Time and Boundaries, which will be on display in the Blue Bell Gallery beginning February 16, 2023.
This fascinating exhibit is comprised of images dating back to the early 1800s. Visitors will explore photos, diary excerpts, and objects centered around the life and times of John & Mary Marks, two of Washington County’s earliest known African American settlers. The display traces John and Mary Marks’ lives from the early 1800s when they first arrived in Texas and explores their connections to the West Indies, San Felipe, the “Old Three Hundred”, the Methodist church, and well-known Texas pioneers!
“To date, there have been very few historic accounts about early African Americans who were among the first settlers in Washington County,” said Natearah Austin, Vice Chair of the Brenham Heritage Museum Board of Directors. “Uncovering and sharing local untold stories is at the heart of the museum’s work. We are excited to share this story about the union of Mary Marks, a former head servant at Whiteside’s Tavern in San Felipe, and John Marks, a well-loved Methodist preacher.”
The exhibit also reflects on some of the challenges historians face in piecing together sources of information, particularly for African American history. As more information was discovered about John and Mary Marks, the teams relied on a variety of sources including archivists at the Southern Methodist University’s Bridwell Library Archives, Methodist church records, local historians, Washington County deed records, and even handwritten journals. Together, these pieces of information paint a picture that tells this unique story.
In addition to this featured exhibit for Black History Month, the newly renovated Brenham Heritage Museum includes a variety of family friendly, interactive exhibits including stories about Washington County’s veterans, a video jukebox, and touch screen maps linked to key historic figures.
This exhibit is available during regular Museum hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm, at 105 S Market Street in Brenham. Groups of 10 or more can call the museum at 979-830-8445 to schedule specific times for tours.

Waltz Across Texas Through A Floral Interpretation of Yesteryear

 Thursday, March 30th, 2023 :: 10:00am - 3:00pm
 Giddings Stone Mansion

Flower Show presented by the Bluebonnet Garden Club on Wednesday, March 29th and Thursday, March 30th!

Tickets are $15

John & Mary Marks: A Love Story That Transcends Time and Boundaries

 Friday, March 31st, 2023 :: 10:00am - 4:00pm
 Brenham Heritage Museum
 Event Details

This February, the Brenham Heritage Museum is proud to celebrate Black History Month by presenting John & Mary Marks: A Love Story That Transcends Time and Boundaries, which will be on display in the Blue Bell Gallery beginning February 16, 2023.
This fascinating exhibit is comprised of images dating back to the early 1800s. Visitors will explore photos, diary excerpts, and objects centered around the life and times of John & Mary Marks, two of Washington County’s earliest known African American settlers. The display traces John and Mary Marks’ lives from the early 1800s when they first arrived in Texas and explores their connections to the West Indies, San Felipe, the “Old Three Hundred”, the Methodist church, and well-known Texas pioneers!
“To date, there have been very few historic accounts about early African Americans who were among the first settlers in Washington County,” said Natearah Austin, Vice Chair of the Brenham Heritage Museum Board of Directors. “Uncovering and sharing local untold stories is at the heart of the museum’s work. We are excited to share this story about the union of Mary Marks, a former head servant at Whiteside’s Tavern in San Felipe, and John Marks, a well-loved Methodist preacher.”
The exhibit also reflects on some of the challenges historians face in piecing together sources of information, particularly for African American history. As more information was discovered about John and Mary Marks, the teams relied on a variety of sources including archivists at the Southern Methodist University’s Bridwell Library Archives, Methodist church records, local historians, Washington County deed records, and even handwritten journals. Together, these pieces of information paint a picture that tells this unique story.
In addition to this featured exhibit for Black History Month, the newly renovated Brenham Heritage Museum includes a variety of family friendly, interactive exhibits including stories about Washington County’s veterans, a video jukebox, and touch screen maps linked to key historic figures.
This exhibit is available during regular Museum hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm, at 105 S Market Street in Brenham. Groups of 10 or more can call the museum at 979-830-8445 to schedule specific times for tours.

John & Mary Marks: A Love Story That Transcends Time and Boundaries

 Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 :: 10:00am - 4:00pm
 Brenham Heritage Museum
 Event Details

This February, the Brenham Heritage Museum is proud to celebrate Black History Month by presenting John & Mary Marks: A Love Story That Transcends Time and Boundaries, which will be on display in the Blue Bell Gallery beginning February 16, 2023.
This fascinating exhibit is comprised of images dating back to the early 1800s. Visitors will explore photos, diary excerpts, and objects centered around the life and times of John & Mary Marks, two of Washington County’s earliest known African American settlers. The display traces John and Mary Marks’ lives from the early 1800s when they first arrived in Texas and explores their connections to the West Indies, San Felipe, the “Old Three Hundred”, the Methodist church, and well-known Texas pioneers!
“To date, there have been very few historic accounts about early African Americans who were among the first settlers in Washington County,” said Natearah Austin, Vice Chair of the Brenham Heritage Museum Board of Directors. “Uncovering and sharing local untold stories is at the heart of the museum’s work. We are excited to share this story about the union of Mary Marks, a former head servant at Whiteside’s Tavern in San Felipe, and John Marks, a well-loved Methodist preacher.”
The exhibit also reflects on some of the challenges historians face in piecing together sources of information, particularly for African American history. As more information was discovered about John and Mary Marks, the teams relied on a variety of sources including archivists at the Southern Methodist University’s Bridwell Library Archives, Methodist church records, local historians, Washington County deed records, and even handwritten journals. Together, these pieces of information paint a picture that tells this unique story.
In addition to this featured exhibit for Black History Month, the newly renovated Brenham Heritage Museum includes a variety of family friendly, interactive exhibits including stories about Washington County’s veterans, a video jukebox, and touch screen maps linked to key historic figures.
This exhibit is available during regular Museum hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm, at 105 S Market Street in Brenham. Groups of 10 or more can call the museum at 979-830-8445 to schedule specific times for tours.

Waltz Across Texas Through A Floral Interpretation of Yesteryear

 Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 :: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
 Giddings Stone Mansion

Flower Show presented by the Bluebonnet Garden Club on Wednesday, March 29th and Thursday, March 30th!

Tickets are $15

  • Things to Do
    • Downtown Brenham
    • Annual Events
    • Attractions
    • Arts & Culture
    • Wineries & Breweries
    • Live Music & Nightlife
    • Museums & History
    • Parks & Outdoors
    • Wildflower Watch
  • Event Calendar
  • Dining
    • All Dining
    • American & Homestyle
    • BBQ
    • Dessert, Bakeries, Coffee & Tea
    • Food Trucks
    • International
    • Steak & Seafood
    • Specialty Dining
  • Lodging
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    • Books & Toys
    • Clothing & Accessories
    • Garden & Outdoor
    • Gifts & Souvenirs
    • Resale
    • Specialty Retail
    • Western Apparel
  • Beyond Brenham
    • Burton
    • Chappell Hill
    • Independence
    • Washington
  • Facebook
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  • Pintrest
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