Thursday, May 14 (optional day)
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Tour:
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Plan early to visit two lovely 19th century homes in Brenham.
The Giddings-Wilkins House Museum (1843) is the oldest structure in Washington County.
JD Giddings built it as a wedding home for his bride, Ann.
The happy couple raised a family there, but when mosquito-borne yellow fever struck Washington County in 1868,
JD built a new house on higher ground, the Giddings-Stone Mansion (1870).
The "new" house is like a lovely palace of Greek Revival architecture.
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These houses are available for touring only by appointment in a group of 4 or more.
Call the Heritage Society of Washington County volunteer Debi Meschwitz at (979) 203-9482 between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm to make an appointment.
The cost is $15 per person (minimum 4 people) to tour both homes.
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Eat:
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For dinner we’ll visit the Fireman’s Training Center Hall to enjoy a feast of hamburgers and hear
exciting insights into Texas law enforcement by a representative of the
Texas Rangers (the guys with hats and badges, not the ones with hats and bats).
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Friday, May 15 - Touring, Eating, and Fun!
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Tour:
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The Brenham Fire Museum is first on the Tour.
It was built to house Brenham’s rare 1923 American LaFrance Type 38 fire engine.
Then we’ll drive to the Chappell Hill Historical Society Museum.
Chappell Hill was founded in 1849, and the museum has exhibits from the Civil War era through the 20th century.
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Next on the Tour is picturesque Washington-on-the-Brazos,
where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed.
The last stop before lunch will be a garage tour of a private residence.
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Eat:
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Lunch will be at our good friend Bill Thomas’s ranch in the country town of Richards.
Bill is along-time antique car collector and a member of the Gulf Coast Region AACA.
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Tour:
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We’ll continue the Tour by visiting Old Iron Works, an automotive restoration shop in
Montgomery that also houses Richard Mitchell’s private antique car collection.
If time permits, we can visit another nearby classic car collection or go to the Brazos State Park for fun.
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Eat:
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Convene at 6:00 pm for an evening meal at the Fireman’s Training Center Hall.
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Saturday, May 16 - More Touring, More Eating, and More Fun!
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Tour:
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We’ll leave Brenham in the morning and tour to the Winedale Historical Complex,
a collection of 19th century structures on 225 acres near Round Top.
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Continue on to Round Top and visit all the antique and “junk” shops to your heart’s content.
It’s on the way to our next stop, the Texas Cotton Gin Museum in Burton.
The museum houses America’s oldest operating cotton gin. We’ll even get to see it ginning up some cotton!
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Eat:
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Lunch will be in the Pavilion of the Cotton Gin.
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Tour:
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After lunch it’s on to the town of Independence, the site of the original Baylor University.
Then we’ll drive to The Antique Rose Emporium and maybe even hear a talk about raising flowers in Southeast Texas.
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Eat:
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We’ll cap the Tour with a celebratory banquet at the Fireman’s Training Center Hall.
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