Published February 7, 2025
No period of American history is more misunderstood than Reconstruction. It was a time that saw the great hope of Emancipation and the reintroduction of the Confederates into U.S. citizenship. The burning of Brenham is a captivating story locally, and the true, unvarnished account will live in the upcoming Reconstruction Kiosk, which will elaborate on this fascinating era of American history.
The kiosk will be topped by the first newspaper printed in Brenham after the Civil War, one which locally announced Emancipation. This exhibit will also feature a prominent touchscreen mapping interactive of Freedom Colonies in the county, the communities founded by those just released from bondage.
Yellow fever is also highlighted here with the deadly epidemic of 1867. Secondary artifacts, imagery, and maps in vitrines, and additional touchscreen provide further visuals and information.
This kiosk will contain more interactive elements than most in order to allow visitors to drill down into a little-studied era of our past. Around all sides and faces will be touchscreens, text panels, backlit photo panels, and artifact vitrines to tell these stories in a state-of-the-art, interactive manner. The kiosk is topped by the most important artifact in the museum’s permanent collection: the first newspaper in Brenham after the Civil War, when and where Emancipation was officially announced in Washington County. (featured above)
Support this Important Exhibit!
The Brenham Heritage Museum is running a special matching campaign to support the development of this exhibit, running from February 1 through April 30, 2025. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, every dollar you contribute will be matched, up to $10,000, doubling the impact of your gift.
If you wish to contribute to this important project, please complete the attached donation form and mail to the Brenham Heritage Museum at 310 East Main St, Brenham, TX 77833 before April 30, 2025 to double your impact! All donations are 100% tax-deductible as allowed by law.
You may also donate online by clicking the link here.
For additional questions, please contact admin@brenhamheritagemuseum.org