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Public Invited to Local Museum’s Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Columbia Historical Museum's Board of Directors will be held Monday, January 13, 2025, at...
Rosenwald School Student Left Legacy of Love
By Tracy Gupton There was not a single seat left vacant at this past Saturday's funeral service at Blue Run Baptist...
Where Were You When JFK Was Assassinated?
By Tracy Gupton Where were you? What were you doing when you first heard? My father told me he was watching a movie in...
Womack’s impact on museum immeasurable
Longtime Columbia Historical Museum director Bill Womack pictured with his grandson Carrson Karl at the West Columbia museum in happier days By Tracy Gupton Hearts are heavy among those of us who serve as members of the Columbia Historical Museum Board of Directors as...
Former Museum President Schwebel Passes Away
Former Columbia Historical Museum President and board member Donna Lyn Schwebel of West Columbia, Texas, passed peacefully next to her husband on April 18, 2023, at their second home in Rockport, Texas. Even though she has been taken away from this world, we're happy...
San Jacinto Battle occurred 187 years ago
The great monument, a huge obelisk, that can be seen miles away from the site near present day La Porte, commemorates the San Jacinto battlefield. On this day, April 21st, in 1836, the Texan army led by General Sam Houston savored the sweet taste of victory over...
New Sign Placed at WC Rosenwald School
Expressions of gratitude go out to Wade Weems for donating the new Rosenwald School sign and to Bill Womack for overseeing the installation of it this week on the grounds of the historic old schoolhouse located at the intersection of Broad Street and Clay Street in...
Local 4th Grader Wins Essay Contest
Photo by Korey Langford West Columbia Elementary School 4th grader Landon Stewart, left, was presented a gift bag containing chocolate candy and a $25 gift card recently from Columbia Historical Museum board member Pat Weeks. Landon’s essay on “How West Columbia Was...
History of Columbia Methodist church, Part 2
By Winston C. Avera Jr. Apparently another location to build a new church had been considered since there is a deed from Anna L. Sharp to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Columbia, conveying lots in Block 15 in Columbia for the purpose of divine...
History of the Methodist church in West Columbia
By Winston C. Avera Jr. Since 1839, there has been a fellowship at Columbia Methodist Church, organized for the worship of God and the service of man. The Columbia United Methodist Church was first organized as a Methodist Society by Rev. Isaac L. G. Strickland in...
Survivor of Goliad Massacre buried in WC
By Tracy Gupton As Texian soldiers routed General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna’s Mexican troops at the decisive Battle of San Jacinto in April 1836, celebratory shouts of “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember Goliad” rained down on the fallen and fleeing Mexicans. One of...
Columbia in the Days of the Republic, Part Two
By Beth Griggs Columbia and Marion were first established as towns in the Brazos Precinct of Austin’s Colony, Department of Texas, State of Coahuila, Mexico. By 1834, this was the municipality of Columbia, Department of Brazos, State of Coahuila and Texas. For some...
Columbia in the Days of the Republic, Part One
By Beth Griggs The twin cities of Columbia and Marion were laid out in 1826 by Josiah H. Bell, on a part of the original land grant he received from the government of Mexico. Josiah H. Bell was a longtime associate and personal friend of Stephen F. Austin, and...
Local newspaper published after the Civil War
By Tracy Gupton Columbia Historical Museum My interest in the writer Victor Rose was piqued a little over a year ago when East Columbia history buff Flem Rogers donated his copy of the book, “The Life and Services of General Ben McCulloch,” to the Columbia Historical...
WC hosted state championship 70 years ago
By Tracy Gupton Columbia Historical Museum On December 19, 1953, something occurred in West Columbia, Texas, that has never been duplicated. For the one and only time in history West Columbia, site of the first capital of the Republic of Texas, hosted a state...