“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.

Bring the family to 1100 Bagby Street to buy wonderfully, unique gifts from local small businesses. Entry is free both Friday and Saturday evening.

Bring the family to 1100 Bagby Street to buy wonderfully, unique gifts from local small businesses. Entry is free both Friday and Saturday evening.

Family in town? We are running a Thanksgiving special of $5 off each ticket for our popular historic house tour with re-enactments by the talented Kijana Wiseman to encourage family outings. Tickets are here: Elevated Tour Experience - Black History — The Heritage Society

“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.

Educated in the "Texas state of mind" she never questioned that she'd spend her life telling the stories about the state and the people who make its past, present, and future.

Meet Texas History and Houston History Author Lora-Marie Bernard at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 4, 2024, when Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston opens the fall season with enchanting stories about Texas. View the show on Facebook or Instagram on his free, online program that also highlights history happenings at The Heritage Society.

About the Author

Lora-Marie Bernard writes nonfiction books about Texas. She has been called one of the state's best storytellers by Texana Reads. 

She was the 2018 recipient of the Dan Parkinson Literary Award for her efforts to preserve Texas culture through literature. She is the 2020 recipient of the Catherine Munson Foster Memorial Award for Literature in recognition of her efforts to increase the public’s understanding of Texas and its people.

During her time as a Texas-based journalist and communicator, she won numerous Associated Press awards and national press honors for her public affairs and investigative reporting. Early in her career, she earned the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award.

As a Washington D.C. field correspondent, she served as an international radio commentator, journalist and photographer for the 2017 Trump presidential campaign, the 2018 Texas U.S. Senate Race, the Washington D.C. Women's March, and Hurricane Harvey.

She earned her master’s degree in liberal arts extension studies from Harvard University in 2018. She earned her undergraduate degree from the Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas. She is the Vice President of the Southeast Texas Museum. She also serves as an international Corporate Board member for the Alumnae-i Network for Harvard Women. 

There's nothing more fun than buying yourself some everyday glamourous jewelry for the City of Houston's 188th Birthday. Look splendid and shop for a great cause...Houston's history museum. The party in store is happy hour time 4- 6 p.m. at 714 Yale Street. Come model jewelry with us and enjoy sweets, sips, and balloons. RSVP to info@heritagesociety.org.

Can't make the party? SHOP ONLINE THESE TWO DAYS: Your unique giveback code is GIVEBACK-HBMZF and will be live from Wednesday, 8/28 - Thursday, 8/29. 1) Code MUST be entered at the time of checkout to calculate 20% giveback to The Heritage Society. 2) The giveback code cannot be combined with another code.

August 30th is Houston's birthday!  Come see how tomorrow's leaders rally for Houston's future with today's City leadership in celebration of Houston's history. This is an energetic, rally event on Saturday, August 24.  

Free Houston History Bus Tours at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. First come, first serve.

It's time for our annual celebration with the League of Women Voters Houston. This year, we will be celebrating on Saturday, August 24 at 3:00 PM during the Happy Birthday Houston event with City leaders and Youth leaders. RSVP here.

Did you know we have Women's History Tours year-round?  Since we are closed on Monday the 26th, we are offering BUY ONE GET ONE FREE TICKETS on Saturday, August 24.  Our tour times are 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Book your tickets here.

Houston – A Second Choice City

Texans are a proud lot, and Houston is no exception. Jesse Jones even remarked in a 1954 letter, as Houston achieved a population of one million people, “Looking at the map, the United States rests of Texas and Texas rests on Houston.”

But not everyone has seen it that way. Looking back at some of the city’s significant turning points, Houston was not the first choice of location. From the city’s founding in 1836 to getting the Houston Ship Channel, the 1928 Democratic Convention, and NASA, Houston was an also-ran, but its city leaders had the last laugh.

 About the Speaker

Debbie Harwell received her doctorate in U.S. history from the University of Houston where, since 2009, she has served as the managing editor/editor of Houston History magazine, published by the UH Center for Public History. A native Houstonian, she incorporates personal knowledge with historical research in teaching, writing for the magazine, and training the staff.

Since 2012, Harwell has taught a Houston history and public history methods classes in the Honors College and History, learning to research, conduct oral histories, and write for a public audience. In addition to her work at Houston History, Harwell’s book, Wednesdays in Mississippi: Proper Ladies Working for Radical Change, Freedom Summer 1964, won the 2015 Julia Cherry Spruill Prize for the best book in southern women’s history. She currently serves on the Harris County Historical Commission.

Join Us for the “From Plantation to Emancipation Tour”, a Visit Houston Signature Experience!

Saturday, July 27 at 12:30 p.m. - Actress Khi Stephens and a tour guide breathe life into the struggles and triumphs of those who lived through the times of slavery and the jubilation of freedom. The stories, steeped in authenticity, draw from a script penned by Martha Whiting-Goddard, a direct descendant of Reverend Jack Yates, and once a resident of one of the featured houses you explore.
The 1847 Kellum-Noble House, the 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage, and the 1870 Yates House—each one a UNESCO-designated Site of Memory —stand as pillars of remembrance. As you wander through these homes, you are not just walking through museum exhibits; you are transported to a different era, where each room tells a story of endurance and each artifact a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

Tom Moser was born and raised in Houston.  He began his career 50 plus year career in the aerospace industry at NASA, where he participated in every U.S.  human space flight program from Mercury to the Space Station.  He served as the Chief Engineer at the Johnson Space Center and as senior manager in the Apollo, Space Shuttle and Space Station Programs in Houston and Washington, D.C. When he retired to Kerrville in 1997, he immediately failed retirement when he became the Executive Director of the Texas Aerospace Commission for Governor George W. Bush.  He established commercial Spaceports in Texas.  Space-X is operating at the south Texas Spaceport. He failed retirement again, when he was elected Kerr County Commissioner for three terms. He has been interested in the Truth regarding “Global Warming” and CO2 for over 30 years.  As such he founded the “Right Climate Stuff” 12 years ago.  An organization of retired NASA colleagues and other scientists with the objective of disseminating the Truth regarding Climate Change. Tom has multiple engineering degrees and studies from the University of Texas, University of Pennsylvania and Rice University.  He is a distinguished graduate of the UT College of Engineering and a Fellow of National and International Aerospace organizations. He and his wife, Ginnie, have four children and ten grandchildren.

He will have 5 NASA Alumni guests with him who will astound you with facts about how we became Space City.

Join Writers in the Schools and META4 Houston for the Space City Slam Weekend, a two-day poetry slam and workshop festival in the city of Houston, TX. Over the course of two days, poets and slam teams from across the country will compete, learn, and form community together.

Youth poets and slam teams ages 13-19 are welcome. 

What is a slam?

A poetry slam is a competitive event in which poets perform spoken word poetry before a live audience and a panel of judges. Slams can be loud and lively, with audience participation, cheering and dramatic delivery.

What is Meta4?

As 2023 Brave New Voices International Champion Meta4 Houston is the face of the youth poetry slam scene in Houston. Each year hundreds of teens compete at the Space City Slam Series, vying for one of six coveted spots on the Meta4 team. Meta4 Houston takes the voices of youth to powerful new heights through one-on-one mentorship as well as local and national performance opportunities.

2024 Space City Slam Weekend Registration Application

If you are interested in attending/competing in the 2024 Space City Slam Weekend, please submit your application by Thursday, June 27, 2024. For more information, please contact outspoken@witshouston.org.

THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE MEMBERS’ EVENT FOR YOU AND A GUEST TO ATTEND A RECEPTION WITH THE ASTRODOME CONSERVANCY

Members: You and a guest are invited to enjoy a history exhibit featuring 92 years of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and congregate with like-minded preservationists who value saving structures that define our great City.  We would like to thank the HLSR Western Art Committee and guest speaker Richard Gruen, also known as "Flame the Rodeo Clown".

Richard is an active community volunteer who moved to Houston in 1970 after receiving his master’s degree in education from the University of Iowa. His professional career included almost 50 years as a nonprofit program director and fundraising professional. In February 2018 he retired from Today’s Harbor for Children, formerly Boys & Girls Harbor, after working for 13 years as their Director of Development and Communications.

He is a Life Member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and this year marks his 25th year as a volunteer on the Speakers Committee. In addition to speaking to business and civic groups about RODEOHOUSTON, he also spends time telling children and adults about the Rodeo as “FLAME” the Rodeo Clown. In 2002, 2022 and 2023 he received the Committee’s “Speaker of the Year” award. He has also been recognized as one of the Committee’s “Top Producers” five times and in 2012 he was named “Top Special Events Speaker”. After serving as a vice chairman for three years, this year he is the captain of the “Future Leaders” team where he serves as a mentor for new Speakers Committee members.

Community involvement includes membership in the Rotary Club of Houston Heights and the Optimist Club of Downtown Houston. He currently serves on the Board of the Apollo Chamber Players, a nonprofit string quartet, and the Board of the Rotary Club of Houston Heights Charitable Foundation. In addition to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Speakers Committee, he is also a Team Captain for the Astros Foundation Volunteer Corps, and volunteers at other charitable organizations in the Greater Houston area. In his spare time, he enjoys visiting museums and bass fishing.

Join Us for the “From Plantation to Emancipation Tour”, a Visit Houston Signature Experience!

Saturday, June 15 and Saturday, June 22 at 12:30 p.m. - Actress Khi Stephens and a tour guide breathe life into the struggles and triumphs of those who lived through the times of slavery and the jubilation of freedom. The stories, steeped in authenticity, draw from a script penned by Martha Whiting-Goddard, a direct descendant of Reverend Jack Yates, and once a resident of one of the featured houses you explore.
The 1847 Kellum-Noble House, the 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage, and the 1870 Yates House—each one a UNESCO-designated Site of Memory —stand as pillars of remembrance. As you wander through these homes, you are not just walking through museum exhibits; you are transported to a different era, where each room tells a story of endurance and each artifact a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

Lunch and Learns have returned! Please join us for Black History and Texas History with author Dr. Ronald Goodwin on Thursday, June 20, at Noon. Dr. Ronald Goodwin from Prairie View A&M University will discuss the collection of slave narratives in Texas during the preservation efforts of the New Deal in the 1930s.

About the Author and Speaker: Dr. Goodwin has lectured at The Heritage Society and is a distinguished Co-Chair of the Levi Jordan Plantation Advisory Committee for the Texas Historical Commission, 2020-present. He is the General Editor, PVAMU Book Series, Texas A&M University Press, 2019-present. He has taught coursed in US History Survey, African American History, Urban History, American Chattel Slavery, Military History, Contemporary US History, and Early National US History.

Bring your own lunch or order lunch from Potbelly’s when you purchase your ticket online (please order lunch by June 18).

TICKETS

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 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, our 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.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Join Us for the “From Plantation to Emancipation Tour”, a Visit Houston Signature Experience!

Saturday, June 15 and Saturday, June 22 at 12:30 p.m. - Actress Khi Stephens and a tour guide breathe life into the struggles and triumphs of those who lived through the times of slavery and the jubilation of freedom. The stories, steeped in authenticity, draw from a script penned by Martha Whiting-Goddard, a direct descendant of Reverend Jack Yates, and once a resident of one of the featured houses you explore.
The 1847 Kellum-Noble House, the 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage, and the 1870 Yates House—each one a UNESCO-designated Site of Memory —stand as pillars of remembrance. As you wander through these homes, you are not just walking through museum exhibits; you are transported to a different era, where each room tells a story of endurance and each artifact a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 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, our 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.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 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, our 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.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 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, our 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.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

This Juneteenth event is free to the public, thanks to our sponsors Canine Companions.

9:30 a.m. - Juneteenth Freedmen’s Town Bike Riders ride by the Yates House for this photo opportunity tradition

9:45 a.m. - Teacake reception, red velvet coffee will be served

10:00 a.m. - Historian and Poet Dr. Don Williams reads General Order No. 3

10:05 a.m. - Martha Whiting-Goddard, great granddaughter of Reverend Jack Yates, shares family history and what it was like growing up in the Yates House that was moved to Sam Houston Park

10:10 a.m. - The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses -Houston performs (Organization’s History)

10:40 a.m. - Harold Cash reminisces his experience as a black cowboy

11:10 a.m. - Larry Callies shares his inspiration behind the Black Cowboy Museum

11:40 a.m. - Executive Director Alison Bell introduces “From Plantation to Emancipation Tour” as featured and co-designed by Visit Houston, Houston’s tourism board

Noon - Celebration ends

12:30 - 2 p.m. - Optional Tour for $25: From Plantation to Emancipation Tour. Book HERE.

Babette Fraser Hale, the talented author, has penned a captivating book titled This Familiar Heart: An Improbable Love Story and will be sharing her insights in a speech and signing copies of her book at The Heritage Society, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 1100 Bagby Street.  We will toast with wine in celebration of her recently published book that promises to be a heartfelt exploration of love, life, and loss. This is a story about appreciation and healing.

The story unfolds the passionate and unlikely romance between popular Houston columnist and author, Leon Hale, and prize-winning writer Babette Fraser Hale, who was twenty-three years his junior. Their journey begins with a turbulent courtship, gradually evolving into a partnership, and ultimately culminating in a long marriage. The poignant tale concludes with Leon’s difficult passing during pandemic isolation in rural central Texas, leaving Babette to reflect on their shared experiences and face unexpected surprises after his death.

If you’re intrigued by unconventional love stories, this one is definitely worth adding to your reading list!

Book Description:  This Familiar Heart:  An Improbable Love Story

Writer Babette Hale met columnist Leon Hale in Houston in 1980. Their marriage lasted 40 years, until Leon’s death in 2021 during the pandemic.

In this intimate rendering of a relationship, we learn how deceptive surface impressions can be.

Leon Hale, author of Bonney’s Place, was sixty years old, a “country boy” who wrote about rural Texans with humor and sensitivity in his popular column for The Houston Post and, later, the Houston Chronicle. Babette Fraser at 36 was a child of privilege, a city girl educated abroad, struggling in her career while raising a young son. No one thought it could work.

Even Hale himself held serious doubts. But it did endure. The interior congruencies they discovered through a long and turbulent courtship knit them tightly together for the rest of his life.

And when he died during the Pandemic isolation period, searing levels of grief and doubt threatened Babette’s understanding of the partnership and marriage that had sustained her for forty years. Had he really been the person she thought he was? Had he kept secrets that would forever change her view of him?

In candid, evocative prose, she explores the distorted perceptions that often follow the death of a cherished spouse, and the loving resolution that allows life to go on.

About the Author

Babette Fraser Hale is no stranger to literary acclaim. Her previous work, “A Wall of Bright Dead Feathers,” won the debut fiction award from the Texas Institute of Letters in 2022. Her storytelling prowess has also been recognized through the Meyerson Prize from Southwest Review and inclusion in the “Other Distinguished Stories” section of Best American Short Stories, 201534.

“I’ve been writing for publication since I was fifteen, but my passion—of the inanimate variety—is books. I’ve been a journalist, editor, publisher, part owner of a bookstore, and all the time writing fiction. This Familiar Heart is my first book length non-fiction. Both the story collection and the memoir are set in Texas, where I live.”

This workshop is open to Cub Scouts and complements the Texas Badge curriculum. Scouts will tour the 1823 Old Place and learn about Texas pioneers’ laborious lifestyle and jump forward in time to the 1905 Staiti House and appreciate innovation. Scouts and parents will also enjoy learning about 92 years of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and get an understanding of preserving cowboy and cowgirl skillsets and culture that defines our great state. Snacks and a drink are included.

All Badge objectives will be met - State Symbols, State History, and State Culture.

The Heritage Society, 1100 Bagby Street, Free parking at 212 Dallas Street.

On Saturday, May 4, after the City’s Cinco de Mayo Parade, walk over to The Heritage Society’s The Albert & Ethel Herzstein Museum Gallery, at 1100 Bagby Street, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to discover Mexican American culture through the arts with a Sip and See experience.
“Although ‘Cinco’ has to do with The Battle of Puebla in 1862 during the second French intervention in Mexico, Texans like to celebrate with cerveza and enjoying Mexican culture.” The Heritage Society’s executive director, Alison Bell said. “Enjoy three exhibits and our new Latino cARTographies, a new interactive and portable digital board developed by the University of Houston’s Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies that allows you to see 3,000 images of art, 250+ artists, 80 landmarks, 17 arts organizations and other sites of importance to Houston’s Latino communities.”
“Latino cARTographies features our commissioned a mural that is outside our gallery to celebrate the many contributions of our city’s Mexican American community,” Bell said. “Mural artists Laura López Cano and Jesse Sifuentes, along with key fundraisers and government officials can now see their creation complemented by the interactive, digital board that is inside our museum gallery.”
In the spirit of the great Mexican muralists, our vibrant collective outdoor mural, Mexican-American History & Culture in 20th Century Houston, spotlights 38 places, personalities, and events that played a key role in the growth of this community and provides recognition for the countless and essential contributions of Mexican Americans to the economy, culture, and vitality of our city in the 1900s.
“We have been partnering with University of Houston over the past two years to enhance our educational offerings and make history relevant especially through their artistic tech project,” The Heritage Society’s board president, Minnette Boesel said. “Imagine swiping your finger to magically experience Latino art in seven communities and learn about their inspiration.”
The interactive exhibit will be available until December 31, 2024. Museum gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday, and tickets are only $5. In addition, visitors can enjoy the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo History Exhibit and an additional Texas history exhibit of the General Duncan Store with old-fashioned toys and a trunk show-and-tell. For tickets and/or inquiries about Tex-Mex-themed field trips, group tours, or museum gallery rentals for rodeo events, please see: www.heritagesociety.org/latino-cartographies.

Join us on Wednesday, 5/1, on Facebook or Instagram at 7 p.m. with Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston as he hosts Facebook Live with author Richard Cunningham speaking about West University History in this free, online program.

West University history is Harris County history, and Cunningham’s book West University Place will take you on a journey of how it transformed then flourished. The real estate development called West University Place was part of a trend in the early 20th century of building affordable neighborhoods away from city centers; it was never meant to be a city on its own. West University Place evolved from treeless farmland into one of the most livable small towns in Texas—but the journey was not easy. More than once, the enterprise could have failed. If not for the actions of visionary leaders and dedicated residents, things may have turned out quite differently.

Cunningham, who is a freelance science writer, is author of the novel, Three Good Leads, a sequel to Maude Brown’s Baby, his debut novel. Three Good Leads is set in Houston and Galveston during the 1918 Influenza pandemic.  These fictional books were inspired by authentic vintage photographs that had a life of their own. 

Today, Cunningham serves on the City of West University Place Parks and Recreation Board. In 2021, he originated research into the location of the 1894 Harris County Poor Farm, which led to the approval of a historical marker on the Edloe Street pathway. He and his wife live in a 1948 cottage in West U that they remodeled in 2007.

Join Executive Director Alison Bell and Mister McKinney for a night of Houston history!