Brazoria County Historical Museum

Alex Ward's team of oxen pulling a wagon of people in the July 4, 1911 parade in Alvin, Texas. From "Windows to the Past," pg. 24.

Did your littles explore the Brazoria County Historical Museum as part of the BC Summer Museum Passport? Drop your photos in the comments, we want to see all those smiling faces! 🌟

Often called the “Father of Texas,” Stephen F. Austin played a central role in the region’s early settlement and its path to independence through his leadership and persistence.

Born into a politically engaged family, Austin carried forward his father Moses Austin’s plan to establish an Anglo colony in Texas. After Moses’s death in 1821, Stephen secured approval from the Mexican government and, by 1825, successfully settled the group known as the “Old Three Hundred.”

To support and govern this growing colony, Austin founded San Felipe de Austin in 1823 as its capital. The town quickly became the social, economic, and political center, with a small but diverse population, local businesses, postal routes, and early newspapers. By 1835, it was a प्रमुख commercial hub and hosted important conventions and the provisional government during the Texas Revolution.

After the fall of the Alamo, the town was evacuated and burned during the Runaway Scrape in 1836. Although residents returned and San Felipe was incorporated in 1837, it never regained its former stature; the county seat moved to Bellville in 1846, and much of the original townsite was later donated to the state in 1940.

Visitors today can explore San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site , which includes a townsite and museum that tells the story of early settlers and the early days of the revolution. You’ll find such artifacts as Stephen F. Austin’s field desk and an 1830s printing press.

Plan your visit: visitsanfelipedeaustin.com

🕊️ Happy Juneteenth!

As Brazoria County's repository for local history, we are proud to be a resource for anyone researching Black history in our community.

Our archives are open to all who wish to explore this important part of our shared heritage.

We also welcome donations of family history materials photographs, documents, and other resources that help preserve and tell these stories for generations to come.

If you have questions or would like to get started, please reach out to Abigail, our Library and Archival Manager at [email protected]

🌟 Charlie Brown (1828–1920) 🌟

Born into slavery, Charlie Brown became one of the wealthiest and most influential men in Brazoria County earning the Houston Post headline “The Wealthiest Negro in Texas.” Beginning in 1869, Brown purchased land in West Columbia and eventually owned roughly 3,000 acres. He and his wife, Isabella, built a thriving farming community called Cedar Grove, complete with a church and school that he helped fund. Brown later moved his family into a two-story mansion in downtown West Columbia, reportedly the first home in town with electric lights, and was said to be the first Black owner of an automobile in the area.

Charlie and Isabella are buried in a family cemetery overlooking Dance Bayou. His legacy lives on through Brown Street, Charlie Brown Intermediate School, and the hundreds of descendants who gather each Juneteenth for a family reunion on land their family has held for over 120 years.

Want to learn more local history like this? Our reading/research room is open Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm — stop by anytime! 📚

City of Angleton Holiday Closure – Juneteenth

All City of Angleton offices — including City Hall, Municipal Court, Utility Billing, Development Services, and Public Works — will be closed Friday, June 19, 2026, in observance of Juneteenth.

Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services will continue normal operations. Angleton Recreation Center Hours are 8 AM - 6 PM.

For water leaks or sewer backups, please call the non-emergency Police Department line at 979-849-2383.

In the case of an emergency, dial 911.

Mexican Presbyterian Church, Angleton, Texas (1935)
This historic photograph, taken in 1935 by an unknown photographer, depicts the Mexican Presbyterian Church in Angleton, Texas. The wooden church building is elevated above the ground on wooden pillars, a common architectural feature of the period. Standing in front of the church are four unidentified boys, offering a glimpse into the local community and daily life of the era. The image serves as an important record of the religious and cultural history of Angleton's Mexican American community.

Honor Juneteenth with a guided tour at Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site. The tour will focus on stories of the emancipation of black enslaved people in Brazoria County.

Guided tours will be going on throughout the month of June. No reservation required. Tour is included with the cost of admission. A Juneteenth flag craft will follow the tour. Light refreshments will be provided.
June 17 at 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm
June 20 at 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm
June 27 at 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm

Pictured is Sarah Ford, a woman who was enslaved at Patton Place, now known as the Varner-Hogg Plantation. Sarah remembers what occurred the day Union Soldiers announced freedom at Patton Place and shares it in an oral history. "Purty soon sojers comes and de captain reads a 'mation. And, Law me, dat one time Massa Charley can't open he mouth 'cause de captain tell him to shut up, dat he'd do de talkin'. Den de captain say, 'I come to tell you de slaves is free and you don't have to call nobody master no more.' This picture was taken in 1937 upon Sarah sharing her story, which would become part of the WPA narratives.
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.