National Day of the Cowboy

Celebrate the Spirit of the Cowboy

Saddle up for a memorable afternoon as we honor National Day of the Cowboy at The Heritage Society. Immerse yourself in the rich stories and rugged charm of coastal cowboys during this special docent-led event.

Event Details

Saturday, July 26, 2025 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Location The Heritage Society 1100 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002

Parking Free parking available at 212 Dallas Street.

Join Jim Hodges, our expert docent, for an insider’s look at the new Coastal Cowboys Exhibit. Highlights include:

• Guided exploration of artifacts, photographs, and personal narratives

• Stories of ranching life along Texas’s Gulf Coast

• Hands-on opportunities to learn about cowboy gear and techniques

• Two-step demonstration—grab a partner and dance on over

About Jim Hodges

Jim Hodges brings decades of Western heritage expertise to every tour. His dynamic storytelling weaves historical facts with personal anecdotes, bringing the coastal cowboy legacy to life.

Tickets & Registration

Tickets are just $5 per person.

Tickets $10

Join us on Wednesday July 9, 2025, at 6:00 PM for speaker John Espinosa, Governor General - Member of the Houston Chapter, Los Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez. The speaking engagement will be preceded with a wine reception and Spanish tapas. This speaker event was generously sponsored in part by the Summerlee Foundation.

“I grew up as a Hispanic boy in East Houston. In school, I learned all about the Boston Tea Party, about Paul Revere, and all that happened up north in the thirteen colonies. But they never told me about Gálvez or the pivotal role of Spain and the Gulf Coast in the American Revolution.” Espinosa will illuminate the accomplishments of General Bernardo De Galvez of Spain, a great hero of our country’s war for independence. He will also perpetuate the memory of the Spanish soldiers who fought during the American Revolution and share facts about Texas cattle drivers who supplied beef to feed Galvez‘s army.

Did you know Spain chose to support the Revolutionaries by allying with France primarily out of global political strategy? Three places played into their thinking: Menorca, an island off the coast of Spain in the Mediterranean; Gibraltar, a point in southern Spain guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean; and the large region of the Mississippi Valley known as Louisiana. In 1776, as the result of centuries of conflict, the British controlled Menorca and Gibraltar – key to Spain’s defense of its coast – and the French held Louisiana – a potentially lucrative source of raw materials. When France agreed to return Louisiana as part of an alliance, Spain entered the War on the Franco-American side.

About the Organization- Los Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez was founded during the Bicentennial of the United States in 1976 to research and understand the pivotal, yet unpublicized role of Spain -- and the contributions of her King and her people -- to the colonists’ victory in the American Revolution. In this endeavor, our organization labors to teach about this important, but forgotten, aspect of American history.

Tickets include free parking at 212 Dallas Street, wine and tapas reception, and three museum gallery exhibits.

“From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience” is a “Houston Signature Experience” by Visit Houston

During your tour of three historic houses that tell Houston’s stories from plantation to emancipation, the talented actor brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life in dramatic reenactments. The historical script was written by Martha Whiting-Goddard, Reverend Jack Yates’ great granddaughter, who lived in the Yates House that was relocated to Sam Houston Park.

Explore the following three houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House. “Sites of Memory,” or “Sites of Conscience” are historic places that activate the power of memory to engage the public in a deeper understanding of the past, inspiring action to shape a more just future. These sites break the silence surrounding slavery, and place the tragedy into our universal memory. It is only through dialogue that we can have peace and reconciliation. We have a duty to remember the crimes committed against humanity by our ancestors, especially as we see the return of prejudice and discrimination today.

Starring Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed.! You will be enchanted by Kijana’s dynamic and versatile performances in the realms of theatrical and communicative arts. An award-winning lyric coloratura soprano with an impressive 3.5-octave range, she has garnered accolades such as the City of Houston Talent Competition and the national APCA Best College Performing Artist of the Year. Her interactive one-woman show, The Griot, was honored as the Best College Diversity Program. Kijana’s theatrical journey began in her childhood at Houston’s Theatre Inc. and Alley Theatre, where she played numerous lead roles in both musicals and plays. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree specializing in African Theatre, achieved through joint studies at Texas Southern University and the University of Liberia, West Africa.

The talented reenactor, Khi Stephens, brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life through song, a Library of Congress slave narrative, and a portrayal written by a descendant of the Reverend Jack Yates. Stephens studied theater in Los Angeles and was coached by Martha Whiting-Goddard on her roles.

From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience begins on Saturday, February 10 in celebration of Black History Month. These 90-minute tours are offered on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month; from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to make a reservation at least two (2) weeks in advance. To make a reservation or to request more information, call 713-655-1912 or email tours@heritagesociety.org.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your tour time for parking and walking through our campus to the museum gallery for check-in. Free parking is available at 212 Dallas Street.

“From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience” is a “Houston Signature Experience” by Visit Houston

During your tour of three historic houses that tell Houston’s stories from plantation to emancipation, the talented actor brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life in dramatic reenactments. The historical script was written by Martha Whiting-Goddard, Reverend Jack Yates’ great granddaughter, who lived in the Yates House that was relocated to Sam Houston Park.

Explore the following three houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House. “Sites of Memory,” or “Sites of Conscience” are historic places that activate the power of memory to engage the public in a deeper understanding of the past, inspiring action to shape a more just future. These sites break the silence surrounding slavery, and place the tragedy into our universal memory. It is only through dialogue that we can have peace and reconciliation. We have a duty to remember the crimes committed against humanity by our ancestors, especially as we see the return of prejudice and discrimination today.

Starring Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed.! You will be enchanted by Kijana’s dynamic and versatile performances in the realms of theatrical and communicative arts. An award-winning lyric coloratura soprano with an impressive 3.5-octave range, she has garnered accolades such as the City of Houston Talent Competition and the national APCA Best College Performing Artist of the Year. Her interactive one-woman show, The Griot, was honored as the Best College Diversity Program. Kijana’s theatrical journey began in her childhood at Houston’s Theatre Inc. and Alley Theatre, where she played numerous lead roles in both musicals and plays. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree specializing in African Theatre, achieved through joint studies at Texas Southern University and the University of Liberia, West Africa.

These 90-minute tours are offered on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month; from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to make a reservation at least two (2) weeks in advance. To make a reservation or to request more information, call 713-655-1912 or email tours@heritagesociety.org.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your tour time for parking and walking through our campus to the museum gallery for check-in. Free parking is available at 212 Dallas Street.

Guest Speaker: Bryanna A. Jenkins, Esq. (she, her, hers)

In celebration of Pride Month, we invite the community to engage with keynote speaker Bryanna Jenkins on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. A wine reception and book signing will also be held. Bryanna will be sharing the life and legacy of nationally renowned local trans-activist, Monica Roberts. The topic of the evening is “The Struggle to Regain Balance After the Tip”.

Roberts was a founding member of the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition, a lobbying and advocacy group dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of trans people. She is best known for her work in Texas and Kentucky politics but worked tirelessly at all levels of government for trans rights. She served on the board of the Louisville Fairness Campaign, wrote for several publications, and won many awards for her advocacy and work including the Human Rights Campaign’s John Walzel Equality Award, the Susan J. Hyde Award for Longevity in the Movement, and the Virginia Price Pioneer Award. Monica Roberts passed away on October 6, 2020.

About the Speaker
Bryanna (she/her) is the Policy Director at Lavender Rights Project. Ms. Jenkins received her B.S. from Morgan State University, her M.A. from the University of Baltimore, and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. Ms. Jenkins also published Birth Certificate with a Benefit: Using LGBTQ Jurisprudence to Make the Argument for a Transgender Person’s Constitutional Right to Amended Identity Documents in the CUNY Law Review. Prior to law school Bryanna founded and led The Baltimore Transgender Alliance and organized the city's first Baltimore Transgender Uprising March in 2015. Bryanna is also the Vice Chair of the National Bar Association’s LGBTQ Division.  

“From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience” is a “Houston Signature Experience” by Visit Houston

During your tour of three historic houses that tell Houston’s stories from plantation to emancipation, the talented actor brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life in dramatic reenactments. The historical script was written by Martha Whiting-Goddard, Reverend Jack Yates’ great granddaughter, who lived in the Yates House that was relocated to Sam Houston Park.

Explore the following three houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House. “Sites of Memory,” or “Sites of Conscience” are historic places that activate the power of memory to engage the public in a deeper understanding of the past, inspiring action to shape a more just future. These sites break the silence surrounding slavery, and place the tragedy into our universal memory. It is only through dialogue that we can have peace and reconciliation. We have a duty to remember the crimes committed against humanity by our ancestors, especially as we see the return of prejudice and discrimination today.

Starring Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed.! You will be enchanted by Kijana’s dynamic and versatile performances in the realms of theatrical and communicative arts. An award-winning lyric coloratura soprano with an impressive 3.5-octave range, she has garnered accolades such as the City of Houston Talent Competition and the national APCA Best College Performing Artist of the Year. Her interactive one-woman show, The Griot, was honored as the Best College Diversity Program. Kijana’s theatrical journey began in her childhood at Houston’s Theatre Inc. and Alley Theatre, where she played numerous lead roles in both musicals and plays. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree specializing in African Theatre, achieved through joint studies at Texas Southern University and the University of Liberia, West Africa.

The talented reenactor, Khi Stephens, brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life through song, a Library of Congress slave narrative, and a portrayal written by a descendant of the Reverend Jack Yates. Stephens studied theater in Los Angeles and was coached by Martha Whiting-Goddard on her roles.

From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience begins on Saturday, February 10 in celebration of Black History Month. These 90-minute tours are offered on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month; from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to make a reservation at least two (2) weeks in advance. To make a reservation or to request more information, call 713-655-1912 or email tours@heritagesociety.org.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your tour time for parking and walking through our campus to the museum gallery for check-in. Free parking is available at 212 Dallas Street.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Delight in the Juneteenth tradition of teacakes and red punch at our popular Black history tour. Explore the following three houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House.

🏠 Step into History: Our three historic houses stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and struggles of generations past. From the opulent grandeur of the plantation era to the resilient spirit of emancipation, each house tells a unique story of resilience, courage, and hope.

📜 Guided Tours: Led by a tour guide, this Black History Tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived on a plantation and segregated neighborhood after June 19, 1865. Learn about the daily lives of enslaved individuals, the struggles for freedom, and the years that followed Juneteenth in our nation's history.

🍰 Tea Cake Tastings: Indulge in a sweet treat as you savor the flavors of tradition with our tea cake tastings. Made from cherished family recipes passed down through generations, these delectable treats serve as a reminder of resilience and community in the face of adversity.

TICKETS

🗓️Juneteenth Teacakes and Tours - Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM

🗓️Juneteenth Teacakes and Tours - Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM

🗓️Juneteenth Teacakes and Tours - Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM

For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

“From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience” is a “Houston Signature Experience” by Visit Houston

During your tour of three historic houses that tell Houston’s stories from plantation to emancipation, the talented actor brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life in dramatic reenactments. The historical script was written by Martha Whiting-Goddard, Reverend Jack Yates’ great granddaughter, who lived in the Yates House that was relocated to Sam Houston Park.

Explore the following three houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House. “Sites of Memory,” or “Sites of Conscience” are historic places that activate the power of memory to engage the public in a deeper understanding of the past, inspiring action to shape a more just future. These sites break the silence surrounding slavery, and place the tragedy into our universal memory. It is only through dialogue that we can have peace and reconciliation. We have a duty to remember the crimes committed against humanity by our ancestors, especially as we see the return of prejudice and discrimination today.

Starring Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed.! You will be enchanted by Kijana’s dynamic and versatile performances in the realms of theatrical and communicative arts. An award-winning lyric coloratura soprano with an impressive 3.5-octave range, she has garnered accolades such as the City of Houston Talent Competition and the national APCA Best College Performing Artist of the Year. Her interactive one-woman show, The Griot, was honored as the Best College Diversity Program. Kijana’s theatrical journey began in her childhood at Houston’s Theatre Inc. and Alley Theatre, where she played numerous lead roles in both musicals and plays. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree specializing in African Theatre, achieved through joint studies at Texas Southern University and the University of Liberia, West Africa.

The talented reenactor, Khi Stephens, brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life through song, a Library of Congress slave narrative, and a portrayal written by a descendant of the Reverend Jack Yates. Stephens studied theater in Los Angeles and was coached by Martha Whiting-Goddard on her roles.

From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience begins on Saturday, February 10 in celebration of Black History Month. These 90-minute tours are offered on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month; from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to make a reservation at least two (2) weeks in advance. To make a reservation or to request more information, call 713-655-1912 or email tours@heritagesociety.org.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your tour time for parking and walking through our campus to the museum gallery for check-in. Free parking is available at 212 Dallas Street.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Delight in the Juneteenth tradition of teacakes and red punch at our popular Black history tour. Explore the following three houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House.

🏠 Step into History: Our three historic houses stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and struggles of generations past. From the opulent grandeur of the plantation era to the resilient spirit of emancipation, each house tells a unique story of resilience, courage, and hope.

📜 Guided Tours: Led by a tour guide, this Black History Tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived on a plantation and segregated neighborhood after June 19, 1865. Learn about the daily lives of enslaved individuals, the struggles for freedom, and the years that followed Juneteenth in our nation's history.

🍰 Tea Cake Tastings: Indulge in a sweet treat as you savor the flavors of tradition with our tea cake tastings. Made from cherished family recipes passed down through generations, these delectable treats serve as a reminder of resilience and community in the face of adversity.

TICKETS

🗓️Juneteenth Teacakes and Tours - Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM

🗓️Juneteenth Teacakes and Tours - Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM

🗓️Juneteenth Teacakes and Tours - Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM

For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Join us on Tuesday, June 10 for a presentation about Sam Houston by Derrick Birdsall, the Executive Director of Sam Houston Memorial Museum at North Shepherd Brewing, at 6:30 p.m., 4816 N. Shepherd Drive Houston, TX 77018.

Derrick Birdsall is the Executive Director of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum. With a love of history that started as a child, Birdsall’s vision of turning his passion into a professional career happened at Sam Houston State University as a graduate student. Birdsall earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Sam Houston State in 1991. He later graduated with his master’s degree in history, also from SHSU. With deep roots in the community, Birdsall lived in Huntsville for over a decade before moving to the Dallas Fort-Worth Metroplex for a job opportunity with Farmers Branch Historical Park, a similar living history/outdoor museum. After 18 years in that role, the urge to move back to the Piney Woods and be closer to family grew stronger. 

“I work in a beautiful place with people passionate about Sam Houston and telling his story. It doesn’t get much better than that,” he said. “There are days that I have to pinch myself because there’s no way that I could have made a career out of teaching history out of a log cabin, sitting by the fireplace, in a room where Sam Houston spent time.”

“From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience” is a “Houston Signature Experience” by Visit Houston

During your tour of three historic houses that tell Houston’s stories from plantation to emancipation, the talented actor brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life in dramatic reenactments. The historical script was written by Martha Whiting-Goddard, Reverend Jack Yates’ great granddaughter, who lived in the Yates House that was relocated to Sam Houston Park.

Explore the following three houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House. “Sites of Memory,” or “Sites of Conscience” are historic places that activate the power of memory to engage the public in a deeper understanding of the past, inspiring action to shape a more just future. These sites break the silence surrounding slavery, and place the tragedy into our universal memory. It is only through dialogue that we can have peace and reconciliation. We have a duty to remember the crimes committed against humanity by our ancestors, especially as we see the return of prejudice and discrimination today.

Starring Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed.! You will be enchanted by Kijana’s dynamic and versatile performances in the realms of theatrical and communicative arts. An award-winning lyric coloratura soprano with an impressive 3.5-octave range, she has garnered accolades such as the City of Houston Talent Competition and the national APCA Best College Performing Artist of the Year. Her interactive one-woman show, The Griot, was honored as the Best College Diversity Program. Kijana’s theatrical journey began in her childhood at Houston’s Theatre Inc. and Alley Theatre, where she played numerous lead roles in both musicals and plays. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree specializing in African Theatre, achieved through joint studies at Texas Southern University and the University of Liberia, West Africa.

The talented reenactor, Khi Stephens, brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life through song, a Library of Congress slave narrative, and a portrayal written by a descendant of the Reverend Jack Yates. Stephens studied theater in Los Angeles and was coached by Martha Whiting-Goddard on her roles.

From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience begins on Saturday, February 10 in celebration of Black History Month. These 90-minute tours are offered on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month; from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to make a reservation at least two (2) weeks in advance. To make a reservation or to request more information, call 713-655-1912 or email tours@heritagesociety.org.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your tour time for parking and walking through our campus to the museum gallery for check-in. Free parking is available at 212 Dallas Street.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Delight in the Juneteenth tradition of teacakes and red punch at our popular Black history tour. Explore the following three houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House.

🏠 Step into History: Our three historic houses stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and struggles of generations past. From the opulent grandeur of the plantation era to the resilient spirit of emancipation, each house tells a unique story of resilience, courage, and hope.

📜 Guided Tours: Led by a tour guide, this Black History Tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived on a plantation and segregated neighborhood after June 19, 1865. Learn about the daily lives of enslaved individuals, the struggles for freedom, and the years that followed Juneteenth in our nation's history.

🍰 Tea Cake Tastings: Indulge in a sweet treat as you savor the flavors of tradition with our tea cake tastings. Made from cherished family recipes passed down through generations, these delectable treats serve as a reminder of resilience and community in the face of adversity.

TICKETS

🗓️Juneteenth Teacakes and Tours - Saturday, June 7, 2025, 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM

🗓️Juneteenth Teacakes and Tours - Saturday, June 14, 2025, 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM

🗓️Juneteenth Teacakes and Tours - Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM

For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Tickets and tables are available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting The Heritage Society’s programs and initiatives. For reservations or more information, please visit www.heritagesociety.org/houston-heritage-luncheon-2025 or contact lwoods@heritagesociety.org.

The Heritage Society Showcases “The Houston Spirit” at the Houston Heritage Luncheon

Houston, TX – The Heritage Society is proud to announce the upcoming Houston Heritage Luncheon, a celebration of the city’s rich history and cultural legacy. The event will take place at the historic Eldorado Ballroom on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

“We’re looking forward to learning how Houston developed in the 1930s to the 1960s.” said Jillian Jopling, board president of The Heritage Society. “We will be going back to the days of Captain James A. Baker, Jesse H. Jones, and the 8F Crowd.”

Who was the 8F Crowd? Per the New York Times: "Decisions that shaped Houston were made in the Lamar Hotel’s suite 8F, a group of rooms occupied by George R. Brown of the Brown & Root Company. The ''8F Crowd,'' included Brown, Jones, and a few other very wealthy Houston men who met there regularly and had a major influence on Houston. Suite 8-F was often referred to as the "unofficial capital of Texas" according to an article.

This year’s luncheon will honor the docents of The Heritage Society, past and present, for their invaluable contributions to preserving Houston’s heritage. The keynote speaker, Ambassador Chase Untermeyer, will share insights into the historical and sociological factors that have shaped Houston’s success.

Ambassador Untermeyer brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the event. Over his distinguished career, he has held positions at all four levels of government—local, state, national, and international—and has worked in journalism, academia, and business. He served as the United States Ambassador to Qatar, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and Director of the Voice of America, among other notable roles. His deep understanding of history and governance, combined with his engaging speaking style, makes him an exceptional choice to inspire and educate attendees.

“The Houston Heritage Luncheon is a cornerstone of our efforts to celebrate and preserve the stories that define our city,” said Alison Bell, executive director of The Heritage Society. “This event traditionally honors the docents and individuals who have dedicated themselves to preserving Houston’s past with our non-profit and also inspires us to look forward to a future built on the foundation of our shared history.”

Tickets Here

This year's Juneteenth Celebration kicks off at 6:00 p.m., on Friday, May 16, with subject matter expert Sam Collins. Teaming with Sue Johnson of the Nia Cultural Center in Galveston, he and others have established the Juneteenth Legacy Project. Tickets include a wine and cheese reception with a pop-up exhibit by Houston Suffragists Project.

Samuel Collins was born in Galveston, Texas in 1971. He grew up in Hitchcock with his mother and grandparents and spent time in Galveston with his father's family. He grew up in a predominantly African American community but attended the integrated schools. He attended Texas A&M University. After he graduated, he moved to Corpus Christi in 1995 but quickly returned to Houston in 1996. In 2012 he decided to become his own boss and opened his own business. In 2005, Collins and his wife purchased the Stringfellow Orchards after he saw a historical marker on the road. Since then, he has endeavored to restore the property and highlight the histories of African Americans who worked in the orchards following the Civil War. Collins has also been involved in Juneteeth Celebrations in both Galveston and Hitchcock, and other historic preservation efforts in Galveston County. In his interview, he details the need for historical preservation in the African American community.

TICKETS HERE

At noon, on May 15 with speaker and author Dr. Jeremy Pedigo for “The Life and Politics of United States Senator Sam Houston”.

The “The Life and Politics of United States Senator Sam Houston” explores Sam Houston’s life events and developed ideology, and examined their impact on his actions and decisions as a U.S. Senator on four major issues: the acquisition and organization of Oregon, the Mexican American War, the Compromise of 1850, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. The findings showed that Houston’s actions and decisions supported the Union, opposed Texas secession, embraced compromise to settle political disputes, recognized the rights and contributions of Native Americans. Furthermore, Houston directly confronted people in which he disagreed with.

Speaker’s Biography

Jeremy Pedigo is a full-time Professor of Government and History at San Jacinto College, teaching both face-to-face and online classes. His primary teaching and research interests are American and Texas politics, public policy, the bureaucracy, early American history, and the Antebellum period. In 2023, Jeremy received the Silver Award from San Jacinto College and a scholarship from the Katy Heritage Society for an original paper titled, “John W. Balliger: Railroad Pioneer and M-K-T Executive.” Here is also a member of the East Texas Historical Association, having presented at their 2024 and 2023 Fall Conferences in Nacogdoches.

Join us on Tuesday, May 13 for a presentation by board member and Professor Hank Deslaurier who will speak about “Jack Johnson: The Galveston Giant” held at North Shepherd Brewing, at 6:30 p.m., 4816 N. Shepherd Drive Houston, TX 77018.

Born in Galveston, Texas in 1878 to former enslaved parents, Johnson initially worked as a dock worker during his teenage years before embarking on a new path at the age of 16. Growing up in Galveston’s racially diverse Twelfth Ward and being part of a Black and White gang shielded him from experiencing significant amounts of racism, as he later admitted. 

It was in the late 1800s that a shop owner in Dallas introduced Johnson to the world of boxing, recognizing his natural physical prowess. Standing over six feet tall and weighing around 220 pounds, with exceptional reflexes akin to a cat, Johnson’s physical attributes were ideal for the sport. Starting on the local boxing scene, he eventually made his way to Chicago, where he joined forces with a local promoter. Victories and defeats marked his journey, but one loss turned out to be promising. In 1901, Johnson was back in Galveston. As Texas had banned prizefighting authorities arrested Johnson and boxer Joe Choynski. During their 23-day incarceration, Choynski taught defensive techniques to Johnson, crafting his skills that would lead him to be considered one of the greatest defensive fighters of all time.

“From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience” is a “Houston Signature Experience” by Visit Houston

During your tour of three historic houses that tell Houston’s stories from plantation to emancipation, the talented actor brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life in dramatic reenactments. The historical script was written by Martha Whiting-Goddard, Reverend Jack Yates’ great granddaughter, who lived in the Yates House that was relocated to Sam Houston Park.

Explore the following three houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House. “Sites of Memory,” or “Sites of Conscience” are historic places that activate the power of memory to engage the public in a deeper understanding of the past, inspiring action to shape a more just future. These sites break the silence surrounding slavery, and place the tragedy into our universal memory. It is only through dialogue that we can have peace and reconciliation. We have a duty to remember the crimes committed against humanity by our ancestors, especially as we see the return of prejudice and discrimination today.

Starring Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed.! You will be enchanted by Kijana’s dynamic and versatile performances in the realms of theatrical and communicative arts. An award-winning lyric coloratura soprano with an impressive 3.5-octave range, she has garnered accolades such as the City of Houston Talent Competition and the national APCA Best College Performing Artist of the Year. Her interactive one-woman show, The Griot, was honored as the Best College Diversity Program. Kijana’s theatrical journey began in her childhood at Houston’s Theatre Inc. and Alley Theatre, where she played numerous lead roles in both musicals and plays. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree specializing in African Theatre, achieved through joint studies at Texas Southern University and the University of Liberia, West Africa.

The talented reenactor, Khi Stephens, brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life through song, a Library of Congress slave narrative, and a portrayal written by a descendant of the Reverend Jack Yates. Stephens studied theater in Los Angeles and was coached by Martha Whiting-Goddard on her roles.

From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience begins on Saturday, February 10 in celebration of Black History Month. These 90-minute tours are offered on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month; from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to make a reservation at least two (2) weeks in advance. To make a reservation or to request more information, call 713-655-1912 or email tours@heritagesociety.org.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your tour time for parking and walking through our campus to the museum gallery for check-in. Free parking is available at 212 Dallas Street.

TICKETS: Karankawa Exhibit Programs — The Heritage Society

WATCH HERE on Facebook!

Board member Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston has Dr. Kate Kirkland on “LIVE from The Heritage Society with Mister McKinney” on Wednesday, May 7, at 7:00 p.m. This is a free program on Facebook or Instagram Live.

Kate Kirkland is the author of two books on Houston, Texas, history: The Hogg Family and Houston: Philanthropy and the Civic Ideal (2009) and Captain James A. Baker of Houston, 1857–1941 (2012). She has been a guest speaker of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, the Houston Seminar, the Houston Metropolitan Research Center’s Friends of the Texas Room, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Dr. Kirkland earned a bachelor’s degree in British history from Wellesley College in 1966 and a Ph.D. in American history from Rice University in 2004. 

Dr. Kirkland says that serving on the Briscoe Center Ambassadors Council nurtures a lifelong passion for history. She has spent long hours in various archives and is fascinated by the breadth of the Briscoe Center’s collection. Her current interests include philanthropy and its role in civil society, women who framed Houston’s story, and Texans in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. 

Tickets: Painted Churches Bus Tour — The Heritage Society

RSVP HERE!

Join the League of Women Voters for Women’s History Month on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 for the play screening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at The Heritage Society’s museum gallery at 1100 Bagby Street.

The First Ladies portrayed in 'Tea for Three'—Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, and Betty Ford—hold significant historical importance for various reasons:

1. Lady Bird Johnson (1912-2007)

• Environmental Advocacy: As First Lady from 1963 to 1969, she championed environmental causes, notably the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, which aimed to improve the appearance of highways across America.

• Civil Rights: She played a role in her husband's Great Society programs, which sought to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.

• Public Image: Lady Bird's focus on beautification and her public persona helped redefine the role of First Lady, emphasizing activism and social issues.

2. Pat Nixon (1912-1993)

• Supportive Role: Serving as First Lady from 1969 to 1974, Pat Nixon was known for her loyalty and support of her husband, Richard Nixon, during his presidency and the Watergate scandal.

• Advocacy for the Arts: She promoted the arts and education and was involved in numerous charitable organizations.

• Public Engagement: Pat Nixon was one of the first First Ladies to travel extensively, representing the U.S. abroad and engaging with various communities.

3. Betty Ford (1918-2011)

• Health Advocacy: As First Lady from 1974 to 1977, Betty Ford was open about her battles with breast cancer, bringing awareness to women's health issues and promoting breast cancer screenings.

• Substance Abuse Awareness: After leaving the White House, she became a prominent advocate for addiction recovery, founding the Betty Ford Center, which helped countless individuals struggling with substance abuse.

• Feminist Icon: Betty Ford was known for her progressive views on women's rights, including her support for the Equal Rights Amendment.

Conclusion

These First Ladies not only shaped their husbands' presidencies but also left lasting legacies in social, environmental, and health advocacy. Their stories reflect the evolving role of women in politics and society, highlighting the impact of their contributions beyond the traditional confines of the First Lady's role.

U.S.S. Houston (CA-30) Survivors’ Association and Next Generations®

Day of Remembrance 2025

83rd Anniversary of the Loss of U.S.S. Houston (CA-30) and H.M.A.S. Perth (D-29)

The ceremony on March 8, at 1:30 PM at The Heritage Society is set to honor those who lost their lives during the Battle of Sunda Strait on March 1, 1942, including the Sailors from the Australian, British and Dutch nations who attempted to stop Japanese naval forces from landing in Java. This event is open to the public.

FACEBOOK LIVE!

📸 Board member Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston has award winning documentary filmmaker 🎥 🎞️ Jim Bailey on the legacy of iconic Houston photographer Bob Bailey on “LIVE from The Heritage Society with Mister McKinney” on Wednesday, March 5, at 7:00 p.m. This is a free program on Facebook or Instagram Live.

Bob Bailey was a photographer who captured Houston life from 1929 until his death in 1971. His younger brother Marvin worked for him and carried on the business until the mid-1990s and died in 1998. Between them they left behind 500,000 glass negatives, the bulk being 8"x10" and 4" X 5" and a few larger formats (e.g. 16" x 20"). In 1998, an enterprising retired lawyer named James Lee saved the negatives from being tossed in the trash, and found a home for them at the [Dolph] Briscoe Center for American History, associated with the University of Texas at Austin. In the 14 years the negatives have rested there, about 5,000 of the 25,000 interesting (to Houstonians) photos have been digitized.

Jim Bailey of Sunset Productions of Houston, Texas, is an award-winning television and film producer who specializes in educational video programs and television documentaries focusing on Texas history, art and lifestyles.  As a 30-year veteran, he has written and produced more than one hundred television and video programs.

He has served as president of the board of Texas Foundation for the Arts, and is a member of Harris County Historical Commission, Rice Historical Society and Preservation Houston.  He is a third-generation Texan and graduate of Baylor University. He was co-producer on the recent PBS documentaries “The Golden Age of Texas Courthouses” and “Uncommon Law:  The Life and Times of Leon Jaworski.”  He recently produced and co-wrote a 60-minute documentary, “In Search of Houston’s History,” for the Friends of the Texas Room and the Houston Public Library.  Other recent documentaries include “The Art of Architecture—Houston,” which won a Telly Award, and “The 1910 Harris County Courthouse,” which won the Good Brick Award from Preservation Houston.Bailey was co-producer of the HoustonPBS program “Houston Arts Television.” Two other recent PBS documentaries were “Juneteenth:  A Celebration of Freedom,” produced in cooperation with the School of Architecture at Prairie View A&M University; and “Brushstrokes of South Texas,” an interesting profile of the life of Mexican-born artist Daniel Lechon and his murals that were installed in the Kennedy Ranch Museum of South Texas History. “Asia Society Texas Center,” the story of architect Yoshio Taniguchi’s new landmark building in Houston’s Museum District, was produced by Texas Foundation for the Arts and Houston Arts Alliance and aired on HoustonPBS in 2013.  Jim Bailey worked on the documentary as co-producer and writer.

LIONWOMAN PRODUCTIONS TX HOSTS

A CONVERSATION WITH HOUSTON WOMEN LEADERS

As we embrace fresh challenges in 2025, Lionwoman Productions TX invites you to a public conversation, “Women Empowerment: Changing the Landscape.” This event will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at The Heritage Society of Houston, 1100 Bagby St., from 4:00 – 6:00 PM.  Join us at a pre-talk reception in the Museum Gallery, to meet and chat with speakers and fellow attendees.  TICKETS:  www.lionwomanproductionstx.com / Women Empowerment. (Free parking)

The conversation will focus on how women lead and explore strategies for advancing empowerment, particularly by recognizing the value of female experience and incorporating female perspectives into policymaking and problem-solving at local and national levels.

Our esteemed panelists, representing various disciplines in business and the arts here in Houston, include:

·       Malinda Beckham, Co-Artistic Director, Dirt Dogs Theatre, and business entrepreneur

·       Claudia de Vasco, Managing Director, Miller Theatre Advisory Board, and longtime Arts and Culture Advocate

·       Judge Dolores Lozano (Precinct 2, Position 2), First female justice of the peace to be elected to the position, Advocate for Hispanic community.

·       Eileen J. Morris, Artistic Director, The Ensemble Theatre, and longtime Civil Rights Activist

·       Tamara Siler, Director, University Relations - Admission, Rice University, and Houston singer and actor

·       Dr. Diana Strassmann, Carolyn and Fred McManis Distinguished Professor in the Practice, Emerita, at Rice’s Center for Women, Gender, and Sexuality. Scholar in feminist economics.

·       Geraldina Wise, Artist, Co-owner of Sawyer Gallery Studios, Advocate for Hispanic voices and diversity, Activist for the Environment and Cultural Awareness.

At noon, join us and Speaker Dr. Caleb McDaniel for “Captain’s Story: Slavery and Freedom in the Archives of The Heritage Society and Rice University”

In 1997, archivists at Rice University learned of a document which referred by name to a person enslaved by William Marsh Rice, the university’s founder. But it was not until the work of the Task Force on Slavery, Segregation, and Racial Injustice (2019-2023) that the full significance of the document, held in the archives of the Heritage Society, became clear. In this talk, Prof. McDaniel will return to those archives to examine what they can teach us about the history of slavery, emancipation, and the Civil War era in Houston and its hinterlands, as well as the importance of the institutions that preserve archives today.

Speaker’s Biography

Dr. W. Caleb McDaniel is a historian of the United States. His teaching and research to date have focused on the nineteenth century, the Civil War Era, and the struggle over slavery. He is also co-chair of the Rice University Task Force on Slavery, Segregation, and Racial Injustice.

His most recent book, Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America, published by Oxford University Press in 2019, was awarded the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in History and the Civil War and Reconstruction book prize from the Organization of American Historians. It tells the story of Henrietta Wood, a formerly enslaved woman who, in the twilight of Reconstruction, won the largest known sum ever awarded by a U.S. court in restitution for slavery.

Dr. McDaniel’s first book, The Problem of Democracy in the Age of Slavery: Garrisonian Abolitionism and Transatlantic Reform, was published in 2013 and won the Merle Curti award from the Organization of American Historians and the James L. Broussard Prize from the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic.

His scholarly articles have appeared in the Journal of the Civil War Era, the Journal of the Early Republic, American Quarterly, and elsewhere, and he has published essays in the New York Times, Smithsonian, The Atlantic, and other outlets.

HISTORY ON TAP

History on Tap is a free program for the community held at North Shepherd Brewing 4816 N. Shepherd Drive HTX 77018

Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 6:30 PM

Speaker: Rion Braddock “Texas Tales Untold in a Textbook”

Please join us for a rousing discussion of Early Texas and stories you will not find in a school textbook!!  Most of us know the story of the Texas Revolution and how Texas won its independence from Mexico.  But… is there more to the story?

·    Why did our Texas heroes come to Texas in the first place?

·    What did they want once they got here?

·    What did they do once they were here?

·    What did Santa Anna do during his march through Texas?

·    What about the Yellow Rose of Texas?

Let’s explore some of these questions and discover “the rest of the story”.

On Friday, February 7, at 6:00 p.m., join Language Keeper Do’wal Sehi (Sunshine in English) as she shares a humble retelling of the journey of revitalizing the Karankawa Language. This lecture is 45 minutes long and begins with a contemporary history of the Karankawa People, the discovery and cumulation of Karankawa Vocabulary, the hardships along the way, new discoveries, and where the path of larger cultural revitalization is heading. Hear the tried-and-true story of how nothing that is ever labeled as “extinct” really ever is and also see the exhibit KARANKAWA: AN ENDURING CULTURE OF TEXAS EXHIBIT on display until March 29, 2025. $5 Program Ticket includes wine and cheese reception and access to the exhibit.

Speaker’s Biography:

Do’wal Sehi is an indigenous educator, resistance artist, and language keeper from the Karankawa Hawk Clan. She currently works as an Indigenous Educator for a Health and Wellness Resort where she is inspired by Karankawa spirituality and ideology to hold space for and educate others to reconnect to the natural world, undo harmful colonial rhetoric, and find peace within themselves and the Mother Earth.

Her goal is to protect and serve her people, the original land stewards, and to educate those who are seeking it. On this journey, she has organized protests for her people, spoken at call to actions advocating for repatriation, reparations, and basic human rights, designed and offered classes and lectures, as well as shown in gallery spaces across Austin, TX. Her most recent goal is to inspire resistance, decolonization, and education through her art and lectures.

TICKETS HERE

At noon, join us and Speaker Andrew Sanders for “Texas in the International Civil War”

Topic: This presentation places Civil War–era Texas in an international perspective. Arguing that trade was the central point of contention in Civil War Texas, the presentation looks to the nexus of that trade, Matamoros, where merchants from Mexico, the US, and Europe competed and collaborated to reap the benefits of wartime border commerce. While distant federal governments found it difficult to exercise their goals on the border, wealthy merchant capitalists successfully juggled the realities of war to profitably participate in the Atlantic trade in cotton grown by enslaved people. For these merchants, loyalty and identity were fluid and contingent on circumstance, and they took advantage of their evolving postures toward different governments. While capitalism generally rests on trust, this one was built on precariousness. The merchant class of Matamoros learned how to thrive in the space between competing legal systems by engaging in shady commerce and seeking state compensation when their bets failed. o About the Speaker: Dru Sanders is a PhD candidate at Rice University. He completed a bachelor’s degree at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, and a master’s degree at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. Before coming to Rice, he taught at the Windward School in White Plains, New York. His research interests include the nineteenth century US, slavery and capitalism, the US-Mexico borderlands, and the Civil War in an international context.

1100 Bagby Street, Museum Gallery.  Free Parking at 212 Dallas

Members attend Lunch and Learns for free!  Membership information here- https://www.heritagesociety.org/membership-join

History on Tap is a free program for the community held at North Shepherd Brewing at 6:30 p.m. 4816 N. Shepherd Drive HTX 77018

Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6:30 PM

Speaker: Dr. Brian Riedel “Whose Montrose?: a Neighborhood History”

Elite suburb, “gayborhood,” crime-ridden urban core, cultural mecca, gentrified contradiction – Montrose has been all these things and more. In this talk, Brian Riedel of Rice University will discuss the history of this iconic Houston neighborhood and its place in the city’s imagination of itself.

Bio:

A native of North Carolina, Brian Riedel has called Houston home since 1997.  In his role as Associate Director for the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Rice University, he connects community conversations and academic resources through teaching, research, and public events.  He is currently completing a book manuscript, 'Sex, Race, and the City: New Histories of Houston,' a history of the city that centers its sexual and racial past.  Outside these pursuits, he enjoys spending time with his husband and their two dogs.  You can learn more about him at https://profiles.rice.edu/faculty/brian-riedel.