November 2010

The museum boasts over 100 acres and many historic buildings, as well as a wide variety of exhibits and artifacts from the period. The museum, a living history center, also hosts classes and workshops all year round.

The Museum’s 60,000 square feet facility houses photographic wall murals depicting early life in the oilfields, a West Texas boomtown, a unique marine diorama allowing visitors to travel back some 230 million years ago, taped interviews with pioneers who died many years ago, equipment now called “antique” that was necessary to oil men 80 years ago as computers are to business men today, and the largest permanent collection of original paintings by Prix de West Gold Medal artist Tom Lovell.

Between 1866 and 1890 more than four million head of cattle were trailed through Fort Worth which was soon known as “Cowtown”. For the drovers heading longhorn cattle up the Chisholm Trail to the railheads, Fort Worth was the last major stop for rest and supplies. Beyond Fort Worth they would have to deal with crossing the Red River into Indian Territory. At the height of World War I in 1917, the Fort Worth Stockyards was the largest horse and mule market in the world. Military officers from Allied countries came to purchase the animals to support their war efforts. In 1989 the North Fort Worth Historical Society opened the Stockyards Museum in the Exchange Building which now hosts many thousands of visitors from all over the world each year.

This museum explores the preservation of the Pennsylvania German ("Pennsylvania Dutch") history, folklore, and tradition.

The Center is located on a 30-acre 19th century farmstead with a stone farm house, barn, and smaller buildings which have been authentically restored, a one-room schoolhouse, circa 1870, and the library, which contains genealogical, historical and cultural information.

The museum is housed in a 36,000 square-foot facility that includes four galleries, a conference room, classroom, darkroom, dance studio, 134-seat theatre, and archival space. The galleries feature a core exhibit on Juneteenth, a permanent exhibit on Austin African-American families, an Artists Gallery, and a children’s exhibit on African-American scientists and inventors.

The Spanish mission was established in 1690. Also in the park is the restored Rice Family Log Home, built in 1828 and restored in 1974. The home, which Joseph Redmund Rice, Sr. constructed between 1828 and 1838, is one of the oldest structures in the area. The home served as a stopover for immigrants, adventurers, and local residents traveling the Old San Antonio Road across pioneer Texas.

Today the cabin is administered by the Welsh Valley Preservation Society and exhibits many examples of fine antique furniture, metals, household implements, and colonial period decorative arts from the early Welsh and German traditions of Pennsylvania.

The Farragut Folklife Museum is a treasure chest of artifacts and photographs, which tell the history of the Farragut and Concord communities. One of the highlights of the museum is the collection found in the Admiral David Glasgow Farragut Gallery. Admiral Farragut was born in this area on July 5, 1801. Farragut was the first commissioned admiral of the United States Navy and best known for his statement, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead." This nationally sought after collection houses artifacts such as Farragut's personal china, uniform ornamentation, family photographs, manuscripts, letters of interest and a large collection of scrimshaw.

The museum also exhibits objects of memorabilia including the history of local schools, churches, the Farragut and Concord communities and the Civil War in the Doris Woods Owens Gallery. The Bill Dunlap Gallery contains railroad artifacts and changing exhibits of interest to the community.

Within 13 years, five were located along the San Antonio River. The missions’ purpose? To acculturate and Christianize the native population and make them Spanish citizens. Today, visitors can retrace the footsteps of the mission Indians and friars. And, possibly, meet descendants of those first inhabitants.The four mission churches within San Antonio Missions National Historical Park are active catholic parishes, and hold regular services. They are open to park visitors during park hours, except for special services, such as weddings and funerals.

A society seeking to promote a greater appreciation of Indiana County's rich heritage and history.

The society manages a library as well as a museum with permanent and changing exhibits that include coal mining, farm and home, Native Americans, and art shows.