Alvin Historical Museum

Ghosts at the Gift Shop

2008-05-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

The Alvin Museum Gift Shop offers a variety of gift items and museum society memorabilia. Newest books include Ghosts Along the Brazos by Catherine Munson Foster and A Narrative History of Brazoria County by James A. Creighton. Both of these books are difficult to find. Our newest items are some woven rugs by Donna Rae Harris. We also have books, paintings, jewelry, stationery items all crafted by local residents as well as crosses, pendants, and souvenir items.

The Alvin Museum Gift Shop is located at the Alvin Historical Museum, 300 W. Sealy. It is open on Thursdays, Fridays, and the first Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Plan a visit soon. You'll be glad you did!

Opportunity Knocks!

2008-02-25T14:14:00.000-08:00

Opportunity knocks on the door of the Alvin Museum Gift Shop. If you have yet to visit the gift shop then you are missing out on many opportunities.

Where can you buy a copy of Alvin Texas Centennial 1879-1979?
Did you know that Floyd Vanderford has written a book of poetry?
Have you seen Bob Lanier's prize winning painting?
Do you know where to find historical markers in Brazoria County?
When was the last time you wrote in a journal?
Do your grandkids know anything about the history of Texas?
Do you have a hard time deciding what gift to buy for a special person?
Are you interested in history?
Do you want to support the Alvin Historical Museum?

You can find answers to all of these questions at the Alvin Museum Gift Shop. See you there on Thursdays, Fridays, and first Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Located at 300 W. Sealy, Alvin, Texas. No admission charge.

Shop with Us!

2007-12-06T05:10:00.000-08:00

Make the Alvin Museum Gift Shop your first stop for your holiday shopping. The gift shop offers something for everyone on your list. The shop features a varied selection of memorabilia from the Alvin Museum Society, Alvin Depot and Alvin Hotel. There is a variety of books by local authors, jewelry, notecards, journals, Fairy Lanier paintings, framed prints, children's books, Texana books, ornaments, gifts and more.

The gift shop is open Thursdays, Fridays, and the first Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It is located inside the Alvin Historical Museum at 300 W. Sealy, Alvin. We are looking forward to your visit!

Spotlight on WORDS

2007-11-04T10:00:00.002-08:00

The Alvin Museum Gift Shop has a large selection of books on a variety of topics. You are sure to find something of interest to you.

For example, need a new recipe for holiday goodies? The 2005-2006 Brazoria County Fair Cookbook, published by the Texas Extension Education Association is filled with delicious recipes for cakes, candies and cookies.

Have you ever heard of lima beans with broccoli? Who would have thought of such a combination? The Mustang Community Club 2002 "Sharing our Best" cookbook has a recipe on page 98 for this mixed vegetable dish.

Then we have Larry Phillips sharing his Life Story with us in his book, "How Did We Do It"? His book has lots of photos; you might even find one of yourself.

Floyd Vanderford's "Beyond the Sunset - Potpourri of Poems" is a collection of poems on a variety of topics that all of us can relate to. In honor of Veteran's Day, Floyd's poem "A Veteran" written November 10, 2003, reminds us,

"When you are enjoying your freedoms, don't ever forget
It was all made possible because of a vet".

Alvin Museum Gift Shop

2007-11-04T10:00:00.001-08:00

Do you like to read? Are you a history buff? Need a new recipe? Do you need a special gift for a special person? Do you like to shop? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then the Alvin Museum Gift Shop is the place for you. The gift shop offers a wide selection of items to choose from including books, cards, jewelry, paintings, journals, and more. Be sure to browse the gift shop when you visit the Alvin Historical Museum -- same days, same hours, same place.

Museum Update

2007-11-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

There is a new exhibit at the Alvin Historical Museum featuring the works of a local photographer and antique cameras from a private collection. A permanent exhibit of artifacts from the Liverpool post office is just about completed.

The museum is open on Thursdays, Fridays, and the first Saturday of each month from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Admission is $3.00.

Museum Open

2007-07-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

The Alvin Historical Museum and the Alvin Museum Gift Shop are now open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays, and the first Saturday of each month from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Museum is located at 300 W. Sealy, Alvin, Texas. Admission is $3.00.

Alvin, we have a musuem!

2007-05-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

The Alvin Museum Society cordially invites you to the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of the Alvin Historical Museum on Sunday, May 20, 2007, from 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The museum is housed in the old post office building located at 300 W. Sealy Street, Alvin. There are many permanent exhibits along with additional displays of historical interest. Come and learn about Alvin's history and its peoples.

Mural

2007-04-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

Photo of WPA Post Office Mural painted by Loren Mozley and mounted in the old Alvin Post Office in 1942. It is a valuable piece of Alvin's History. Plans are underway to restore and display the mural in the Alvin Historical Museum.

Post Office Mural

2007-01-07T11:27:00.000-08:00

"New Deal Art During the Great Depression"

"On May 6, 1935, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was created to help provide economic relief to the citizens of the United States who were suffering through the Great Depression. The artistic community had already become inspired during the 1920s and '30s by the revitalization of the Italian Renaissance fresco style by the inspired creations of Mexican muralists Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueriros. Certain visionary U.S. politicians decided to combine the creativity of the new art movements with the values of the American people. The Federal Art Project (FAP) was one of the divisions of the WPA created under Federal Project One. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had made several attempts prior to the FAP to provide employment for artists on relief, namely the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) which operated from 1933 to 1934 and the Treasury Department Section of Painting and Sculpture which was created in 1934 after the demise of the PWAP However, it was the FAP which provided the widest reach, creating over 5,000 jobs for artists and producing over 225,000 works of art for the American people.

It is this legacy of the thousands of workers who labored at their craft for little money but great pride which we have to inspire us today. Although many of these works of art have been destroyed or stolen, those that remain must be preserved. They stand as a reminder of a time in our country’s history when dreams were not allowed to be destroyed by economic disaster."

From http://www.wpamurals.com/

Gala Tickets on Sale

2006-10-31T05:49:00.000-08:00

The Alvin Museum Society presents "Encore: Another Evening with the Stars" on Saturday, November 11, 2006, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Parish Hall, Alvin. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with a social hour, silent auction, dinner and entertainment. Local "stars" will lip-sync hit music from the past while portraying the artist who made the song famous.

Individual tickets are $50.00 and Reserved Tables for eight are $500.00. Contact Bill Nelson, 281-388-0616 or Alvin-Manvel Chamber of Commerce, 281-331-3944 for tickets. Advance ticket purchase required. NO tickets sold at the door. Get your tickets NOW! Proceeds benefit the Alvin Historical Museum Exhibit Fund.

Accessions Chairman Named

2006-09-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

Tommy and Becky Peebles attended the August meeting of the Alvin Museum Society. Tommy was recently named Accessions Chairman for the Alvin Historical Museum. Along with his phenominal memory and love for local-history facts, Tommy is the ideal choice to head the committee responsible for logging in the museum's artifacts.

Another Gala Is On The Way

2006-08-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

The Alvin Museum Society presents "Encore: Another Evening with the Stars" including a silent auction, dinner, and entertainment. The fund raising event is set for November 11, 2006, 6:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Parish Hall. Individual tickets are $50.00 per person and available from Edward Jones/Bill Nelson, 281-388-0616 or Alvin-Manvel Area Chamber of Commerce, 281-331-3944.

A Reserved Table for Eight is $500.00. For information about Event Sponsor and Table Sponsor, please contact Mark Patterson, 281-331-6481 or Terry Droege, 281-281-3172.

All proceeds benefit the Alvin Historical Museum Exhibit Fund. Visit this site again for up to date information about this event.

Fire Truck

2006-06-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

Part of Alvin's history is this 1942 Shiny Red Chevrolet Fire Truck. Although it has been "retired" for many years, it still runs. It is the pride and joy of the Alvin Volunteer Fire Department. The department keeps it in storage and displays it on various holidays and during the fire department's open house in December. This picture was taken in December 2004 after an unexpected snowfall.

Open House - Well Attended

2006-02-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

What a pleasure it was to see a full house on January 15th! Over 200 members and friends came to the Alvin Historical Museum Progress Review Open House. Thanks to the Open House Committee for organizing this event: Dr. J.C. DeWitt, chairman, Shirley Brothers, Bobbie Case, Mary Anne McWhirter, and Mona Travis, and the volunteers who assisted them. Many thanks to all of you who came to show your interest in and support of YOUR museum.

With only one professional exhibit ready, volunteers prepared several well-received exhibits that displayed a few of the artifacts in the museum's collecitons. Among them were a World War II collection, paintings of downtown buildings, "Grandmother's Trunk", items from the Marguerite Rogers House Museum, and Alvin High School memorabilia. Vintage photographs were shown on a new flat-screen television.

Museum Review & Open House

2006-01-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, January 15, the Alvin Museum Society plans to "show off" the progress of renovating the old post office into the Alvin Historical Museum. Most of the building renovations have been completed. Work is underway on designing and constructing exhibits and displays. Fund raising events are on-going to complete the exhibits. The open house will give the community an opportunity to see the renovations, exhibit topics and some of the artifacts collected for display.

The Alvin Historical Museum is located at 302 W. Sealy, Alvin. The public is invited to the progress review and open house from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2006.

Another "Another Evening with the Stars"

2005-08-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

The Alvin Historical Museum Fundraising Committee is putting together a committee to plan "Another Evening with the Stars". This is a very popular event and promises to be a fun filled evening with dinner, a silent auction and of course "guest celebs."

Check back for more details as they develop.

Welcome to the Alvin Historical Museum

2005-08-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Alvin Historical Museum Blog. On this site we hope to provide the public with information about the Museum which will be opening soon.