BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES FUNDING REQUEST FOR MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET PROGRAM

  

The Brenham City Council approved a funding request today (Thursday) from the Visit Brenham Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) to assist with traveling exhibits coming to Brenham this winter.

The council agreed to provide the DMO with $50,000 from hotel occupancy tax reserves as it coordinates with the Smithsonian Institution to bring the Museum on Main Street program to town from December 7 – January 20, 2025.

City of Brenham Tourism and Marketing Director Jennifer Eckermann said the program, called “Crossroads: Change in Rural America”, will focus on increasing heritage tourism in Washington County, sharing undertold stories of local African American history, and celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Simon Theatre.

Three exhibits will be developed as part of the program.  One will feature Belle’s Alley and tell the story of the county’s freedom colonies.  Another will share specific history about the Camptown community and include an audio tour with different sounds like a church choir singing or ambient sounds from a campsite.  The third exhibit will showcase the life of the Simon Theatre and its ties to downtown Brenham. 

Part of the project will involve updates to the county’s historical markers guide, assisting visitors who come in to see the exhibits as they explore other parts of the county.  New brochures and rack cards will be created to promote the planned activities and programming.

Eckermann said numerous groups have gotten involved with the project or expressed their intent to do so, like the Texas Historical Commission, Texas 10 Historical Explorers, Brenham Heritage Museum, Brenham Main Street, Brenham ISD, Washington County Historical Commission and Brenham’s tourism partner communities of Burton, Chappell Hill, Independence and Washington.

Eckermann said the preliminary projected budget for the program is $200,000.  Visit Brenham is also receiving support from Washington County, as county commissioners voted in March to contribute $25,000 and follow up again in the summer to see how the funds are used before potentially providing more assistance.  She said there have been contributions from other sources as well.