STAR OF THE REPUBLIC MUSEUM HOSTS HISTORY FAIR TODAY
More than 120 junior high and high school students will pit their historical knowledge against one another at the Brazos Valley Regional History Fair Friday, Feb. 13, hosted by Blinn College’s Star of the Republic Museum on the grounds of Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site.
Students from Navasota Junior High, Navasota High, Anderson-Shiro Jr./Sr. High School, North Zulch, Brazos Christian School and Brenham Christian Academy will showcase 70 projects and presentations in this year’s day-long fair, which is themed “Leadership and Legacy in History.”
Students from grades 7-12 qualified for this regional competition by competing in their local school history fairs. In addition to the opportunity to advance to state, the regional history fair will award $1,350 in special cash prizes.
“The students’ creativity, research and commitment never fails to impress,” said Anne McGaugh, Star of the Republic Museum’s curator of education and coordinator of the Brazos Valley Regional History Fair.
The winning students will advance to Texas History Day in Austin in May, sponsored by the Texas State Historical Association. State winners will then travel to the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland.
Project categories include historical paper, exhibit, documentary, performance and interpretive website. Judging takes place throughout the morning, and each student has a scheduled interview time with the judges to answer questions and describe the project’s research and analysis.
Some presentations will take place inside the museum, while other projects will be on display at the park’s education, visitors and conference centers. This is the 10th year the history fair has been held at Washington-on-the-Brazos.
The judges include Blinn faculty and volunteers from local historical commissions. Blinn’s Webb Society, a student historical organization, will also volunteer. At 3 p.m., the awards ceremony will announce the winners. The public is invited to view the documentaries and performances beginning at 9 a.m., and the exhibits, historical papers, and websites will be available for public viewing after judging ends at 11:50 a.m.
Star of the Republic Museum is located at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, at 23200 Park Road 12, Washington, Texas, off Highway 105. From Highway 105, follow either FM 912 or FM 1155 to Park Road 12.
Star of the Republic Museum was created by the Texas Legislature and is administered by Blinn College as a cultural and educational institution. Its purpose is to collect and preserve the material culture of the Texas Republic from 1836-1846 and to interpret the history, cultures, diversity and values of early Texans.
Daily museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.starmuseum.org or call 936-878-2461, ext. 237.