Brenham Heritage Museum

Learn about the history of the area and what it was like before and after the American Civil War.

The building that houses the Brenham Heritage Museum used to be a United States Post Office. This historical building is quite remarkable. In the 1990s, a non-profit was established, and they compiled history collections, raised funds, and set it up as a museum. The first population base for the town of Brenham consisted of 300 families. Not much happened in the area during the Civil War; in fact, most people here considered it an eastern affair. After the Civil War, the Union knew that many Confederates had come to Brenham, Texas. There was much commotion here in the years following the war.

Before and after the Civil War, many German immigrants came to Texas, settled in Brenham, and brought their traditions with them. One of the traditions still celebrated (for over 100 years) in Brenham today is the Mayfest, which was all about agriculture. Mayfest is more like a pageant these days, with gowns, crowns, and awards given. When German immigrants came to Texas, many of them started new businesses like banks, agricultural companies, and retail establishments.

Once inside the museum, you will discover the town's history, its heritage and traditions, and see old artifacts and items collected from residents. Among the historical display is a National Cash Register circa 1900. It had a wood base with a locking money drawer for each of the cashiers. Marble was mounted on the wood in front of the register to detect whether or not coins were made of precious metal. Different metals made different sounds, so the cashier could tell if a coin was real or fake. There are also uniforms, replica uniforms, and guns from the Civil War era on display. One of the pistols is from a relative of a soldier that fought in the war. The pistol is in such good shape that it was thought to be a replica, but it is indeed real. If you love learning about American history, stop by this museum in Brenham, Texas.