About Us

About the Museum

Welcome to the Museum of Southern History! Through these pages you are provided a "virtual" walk-through of both our buildings and their displays. After parking, you will approach the main structure where, after looking at the main building's extraordinary architecture and adjacent "sharecropper's cabin", you will enter the main gallery through the lower floor portals. We cannot refrain from pointing out the highlights of the exterior, what with it's arched doorways, columned porches, shutters, and exquisite balustrade.

Once inside, you can read about Thomas Jefferson's original Poplar Forest in Virginia, then pass through another set of doors to register for a tour. Here, one can find pamphlets on the lower floor, the traveling exhibit's gallery as well as brochures relating to the upper floor's permanent exhibits. Currently on display downstairs are some twenty "battle" flags from the "War Between the States", along with many artifacts relating to the Southern "cause", provided by the Texas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Other highlights on that floor that will command your attention are the octagonal shaped library (where written materials are housed) and a gift shop catering to the interests of readers, collectors, or those seeking a memento of their visit. A wide selection of items are found and we will order those not in stock, if obtainable. Period furnishings, place settings and artwork are so arranged throughout the gallery to help accentuate the floor and give it the feel of a well-to-do person's residence in Jefferson's time.

Once you have completed the lower floor, using either the stairway or the elevator you may travel to the upper floor area to peruse the permanent display area. The upper landing's chandelier and furnishings presage entry into a magnificent octagonal room with 13' high ceilings flanking a cubed meeting room measuring 24' x 24' x 24'. Walking clockwise enables the viewer to learn about southern agriculture, lady's fashions, medicine, and the approaching secession crisis. Opposite to those walls is a marine exhibit on the battle of Galveston (replete with a huge mural of the battle of the same name, along with a replica 32 pounder gun similar to ones used by both parties during that climatic Texas Civil War event). Alongside is the original bell from the Union gunboat, the Harriet Lane, and artifacts associated with the battle.

Just around the next corner are exhibits looking at land warfare, including infantry, cavalry and artillery items, with a fine handgun exhibit. Passing through that area, you come to the Brunet area, where mid-nineteenth century housewares, clothing and furniture shows how a southern family might live. Included is Brunet's original uniform from the war, he having served in Fenner's Louisiana Battery.

There is an exhibit that details the service of Major Weems, who served as an Asst. Adj. Gen. in Maj. Gen. John Wharton's Cavalry Corps, and includes his personal papers and post-war involvement in Terry's Texas Rangers reunion. Alongside, an exhibit chronicles the involvement of Capt. Frank Chilton, who served in Hood's Texas Infantry Brigade during the war. Also we have a case containing artifacts of Col. Cook of the famed 8th Texas (Terry's) Cavalry Regiment.

The last wall area examines post-war events from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, to that of carpetbaggers and cattle drives. Next comes a young lady's dress worn to the State Fair at Dallas in 1886 to memorabilia from the famous movie of Gone With the Wind., from the 1930s. Before leaving, ask to be shown the sharecropper's cabin and learn about a unique southern tradition that helped the south recover from "the war", or stroll the bowling green and grounds surrounding the Museum of Southern History. For, after all, while you're here, you'll be treated as family!

Our Staff...

	Joella Morris
	President Emeritus
	Joella Morris has been the guiding force behind the museum virtually since it began. Her service as benefactor, student of history and principal fund-raiser has been in large part what has made the museum possible.

	Suzie Snoddy
	Administrative Assistant
	Suzie Snoddy serves as our administrative assistant and is responsible for booking tours, maintaining museum records and supervision of gift shop sales. She serves as the point person, normally answering both our phones and the mail.

	Danny Sessums
	Curator
	Danny Sessums is in charge of collection's management, exhibit design, and serves in the dual capacity of acting administrator. With twenty plus years at museums in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, his expertise on southern history is important to the museum.