I love history. Anyone reading my articles on TravelGumbo and elsewhere knows I usually pull history into almost every story.
While visiting my son in Austin, Texas, I ventured out on my own while he was working and visited Pioneer Farms, a 90-acre living history museum.
I was greeted by a welcoming docent who gave me a brief overview of the exhibits available throughout the park. She explained that each building had been moved here and was authentic to the time it was representing. And that the museum preserves and depicts the lifestyles of Central Texans during the 19th century.
Seven themed historic areas are complete with volunteer interpreters in historic dress:
- 1844 Tonkawa Encampment.
- A native stretch of the Walnut Creek Greenbelt as it was in 1853.
- 1868 Kruger Farm.
- 1873 Jourdan Farm.
- 1886 Bell Farm.
- 1899 Sprinkle Corner rural village.
- 1850 Scarborough Barn
Before you start, download the map on your phone using the QR code available at the general store when you pay your admission.
The park is big. I only saw half of it and plan to revisit the experience later.
What I did find was excellent. Each house, garden, and barn was placed in an authentic setting. The homes, decorated by historians with period furnishings, offer a glimpse of the past.
In the barn were two tawny horses. I fed the chickens with feed from the general store and photographed the longhorn cattle.
My day was filled with kind conversation with costumed docents and a pleasant walk through Texas history.
For more information, click here.
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