WASHINGTON-ON-THE-BRAZOS CELEBRATES GRAND RE-OPENING
Washington-on-the-Brazos has re-opened to the public after undergoing over $50 million in renovations to bring new life to the historic site.
The Washington-on-the-Brazos Historical Foundation and Texas Historical Commission held a grand re-opening ceremony and ribbon cutting on Saturday to recognize those involved with the project. Visitors were then able to see the wide swath of improvements across the site, including in the Visitor Center, the Star of the Republic Museum and the Washington Townsite Experience.
Site Manager Jon Failor said after five years of design and construction, he is thrilled to now be able to showcase the birthplace of Texas, reimagined.
Among the upgrades to the site are redesigned spaces in the Visitor Center and Star of the Republic Museum, with immersive exhibits and hands-on opportunities. Additionally, the Washington Townsite Experience provides greater depth to the role of the town in the story of the Republic of Texas, replicating buildings like Sam Houston’s presidential office, Samuel Heath’s carpenter shop, Hatfield’s Exchange and Rucker’s Drug Store.
The project was funded with over $40 million in state appropriations over the course of several legislative sessions, with upwards of $11 million raised by the Historical Foundation through donations. State Senator Lois Kolkhorst, who worked to secure the state funding for the site improvements, said the story at Washington-on-the-Brazos serves as a symbol of the courage and resolve that inspired Texans’ quest for freedom and independence and continues to inspire citizens today.
With the site now re-opened, Washington-on-the-Brazos looks forward to the return of its traditional Texas Independence Day celebration, set for February 27-28, 2026. The event will mark the 190th anniversary of Texas’ declaration of independence.
Anyone who would like to contribute to continued improvements at the site can go online to https://wheretexasbecametexas.org.
