Charter Bus Visit To The George Washington Carver Museum
The George Washington Carver Museum was built in 1926 as a small wood-framed structure that soon had more visitors than it could accommodate.
Originally a library for African-Americans during segregation, it was renamed the George Washington Carver branch of the state library system in 1947 to honor the inventor and scientist who contributed so much through his research and work.
In 1979, a larger facility was built and the original library has become a museum and community center dedicated to the promotion of African-American history and recognition of their contributions to modern society. This facility also has the distinction of being the first African-American museum in the State of Texas.
The citizens of Austin voted and passed a bond in 1998 to further fund and expand the Carver Museum and Cultural Center and the Carver Branch Library. Nowadays, the museum is housed in a 36,000 square-foot facility that includes four galleries, a conference room, classroom, darkroom, dance studio, 134-seat theater, and archival space.
The galleries feature a core exhibit on Juneteenth, a permanent exhibit on Austin African-American families, an Artists Gallery, and a children's exhibit on African-American scientists and inventors.
If your time in Austin is short, make a special effort to see the Juneteenth Gallery which is a celebration of freedom. The Carver's core exhibit is dedicated to the history and evolution of Juneteenth. This Texas-born jubilee was created when slaves found out they were free in June, even though the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed in April. Juneteenth is still celebrated in Texas and this museum catalogues the history and events surrounding this tradition.
Originally a library for African-Americans during segregation, it was renamed the George Washington Carver branch of the state library system in 1947 to honor the inventor and scientist who contributed so much through his research and work.
In 1979, a larger facility was built and the original library has become a museum and community center dedicated to the promotion of African-American history and recognition of their contributions to modern society. This facility also has the distinction of being the first African-American museum in the State of Texas.
The citizens of Austin voted and passed a bond in 1998 to further fund and expand the Carver Museum and Cultural Center and the Carver Branch Library. Nowadays, the museum is housed in a 36,000 square-foot facility that includes four galleries, a conference room, classroom, darkroom, dance studio, 134-seat theater, and archival space.
The galleries feature a core exhibit on Juneteenth, a permanent exhibit on Austin African-American families, an Artists Gallery, and a children's exhibit on African-American scientists and inventors.
If your time in Austin is short, make a special effort to see the Juneteenth Gallery which is a celebration of freedom. The Carver's core exhibit is dedicated to the history and evolution of Juneteenth. This Texas-born jubilee was created when slaves found out they were free in June, even though the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed in April. Juneteenth is still celebrated in Texas and this museum catalogues the history and events surrounding this tradition.
