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Upcoming Programs, as of April 28, 2008
Summer Concerts on
the Lawn
This year, 2008, will bring an expanded and exciting summer concert series
to the Brazoria County Courthouse Lawn.
The first concert will be May 17, from 6:30 to 9 PM, and features the
ever-popular Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws. This will be the third year
for them at our summer concert series, and we are thrilled to welcome them
back again.
The
second concert will be on June 28 from 6:30 to 9 PM, and features Los Cuatro
Aces, a Conjunto band from Missouri City. If Step didn’t lay down enough
accordion for you in May, be sure to stop by for some great music in June.
The third performance will be the Chakaba Entourage. This group of African
performers will delight you with African drumming, storytelling, dancing and
an amazing Masked Stilt Dancer. This performance will be on July 19 from
6:30 to 7:45 PM.
All the concerts are free and held on the lawn of the Brazoria County
Courthouse in downtown Angleton. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy!
Austin Town 2007, November 7-9, 2007
Austin Town is a re-enactment of a fictional 1830's town in Colonial Texas. This year the three day event will be held the first weekend of November. Friday, November 7 is field trip day for all the area schools while November 8 & 9 is open to the general public.
County Museum Completes First Phase of Restoration
The Board of Directors of the Brazoria County Historical Museum is pleased to announce the completion of the first phase of restoration on the historic 1897 Brazoria County Courthouse. Known to be the oldest public building still in existence in Brazoria County, the historic courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, and a State Archeological Landmark. This building also houses the Museum, which is the primary repository for artifacts and documents that relate the rich history of Brazoria County as well as reflect the County’s cultural and demographic diversity. In recognition of this milestone as well as to acknowledge the donors who funded this work, the Board will host an open house on Saturday, March 1, 2008, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. An invitation to the public is extended through the press. Since light refreshments will be served, guests are asked to R.S.V.P. by telephoning 979/864-1208 so that adequate preparations can be made.
The restoration of the historic courthouse has been divided into three phases so as to minimize the disruption of services that the Museum provides to the public. To date, the first phase of the restoration project on the historic courthouse has been completed at a cost of $530,125. The general contractor for the project, Zenith Construction, supervised the upgrade of the electrical service from single-phase to three-phase, the installation of a new HVAC system, and improvements made to existing plumbing lines and fixtures.
Certain safety features also were put into place including fire suppression and security systems, both of which afford protection for the building, the collection it houses, and the public. Additionally, a diesel-powered generator and plantation shutters were installed. The generator will ensure uninterrupted power to critical operations in the event of an emergency, particularly a tropical storm. The shutters provide daily protection to exhibits and in collection storage by blocking harmful ultraviolet light as well as damaging heat. The shutters also serve to safeguard the interior of the historic courthouse and its contents from the damaging effects of wind and rain during inclement weather.
Once current electrical,
mechanical and plumbing requirements were met and specific safety issues
addressed, the general contractor then focused on interior treatments. Much
plaster was repaired or replaced; missing millwork was fabricated and installed;
and, all plaster and wood surfaces were painted. New light fixtures, cabinetry
and flooring completed the transformation.
As the Staff begins to make use of the newly renovated space, the Board of Directors is working to secure the funds for the second and third phases of restoration. Estimated costs for these phases of construction are approximately $461,000 and $357,000, respectively. Since opening to the public as a museum in 1983, the historic courthouse has undergone partial restoration as the museum’s activities have expanded and funding was secured. BCHM’s Board of Directors, to whom a lease agreement on the building was assigned in 1988 after the museum received its 501(c)(3) designation, have committed to completing restoration of the structure. The Museum needs the community’s help now to complete restoration of the historic 1897 Brazoria County Courthouse. This will ensure the preservation of not only one of Brazoria County’s oldest historic structures, but also the continued protection of the historical objects housed within it. For more information on the restoration project in particular or the Museum in general, telephone the Museum at 979/864-1208.
The Brazoria County Historical Museum exists to
discover, preserve, and make known the history of Brazoria County.
Located in Brazoria County's historic 1897 courthouse, the Museum collects,
preserves and exhibits artifacts that relate the history of and which
reflect the County's cultural and demographic diversity.