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| Frisco Heritage Museum |
I am incurably inflicted with desire to see it all. Last night my husband and I were watching season 2 of Lost on Netflix (I know we are waaay behind the times). Uluru rock was featured on the show, and I mentioned that I wanted to travel to see it. The conversation went something like this:
Hubby: You want to go and see that?
Me: Uh, is it on the planet?!?!? (yes, I am very articulate.)
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| Thumbs up pictures are becoming very popular around here. |
Because I have a long list of great things I want to see, I am often in a hurry to see things and bite off traveling experiences in huge chunks. But, to continue the culinary analogy, I have learned that it can sometimes it can be just as satisfying to enjoy a little traveling afternoon snack. Especially for kids, short visits to smaller historical sites can often be more enjoyable.
The Frisco Heritage Museum was the last stop on our list of things to do while we waited for cell phone resurrection. When we arrived, the parking lot and museum were empty except for a group of middle school students who were trudging in zombie fashion through the exhibits. Hmmm, a feeling of dread was settled upon me. At the ticket counter, the ticket agent was pleasantly surprised that we were buying tickets to the museum. Apparently, she had only sold tickets to the parking lot circus that day. I purchased our tickets, if only not to diminish her excitement, but I was already mentally composing the story of our boring afternoon.
I couldn’t have been more mistaken. The museum was small, but the exhibits were artfully displayed and both educational and entertaining. The museum follows the history of the city of Frisco, but could be in the history of any early American city.
Our first stop was the living room from the 1960s. I explained the historical significance of the 60s and made a personal connection by explaining that this is what their grandparent’s living rooms would have looked like when they were teenagers. The boys enjoyed watching the Lone Ranger on the black and white TV. They also looked at the record player and used an 8 track tape deck for the first time. Should it make me feel old that the things I used to listen to music as a kid are now in a museum?
Next to the 1960s living room was a turn of the century parlor. It was easy to compare the changes in furniture, inventions, and entertainment with the two rooms side by side. A model A and model T car showcased against a full service gas station gave us a good opportunity to talk about the changes in transportation.
At the end of the room, we stopped to check out a printing press. An extremely nice museum docent stopped and showed us the workings of the printing press that had been used for the earliest newspapers in Frisco.
Upstairs, the boys were drawn to the old timey movie theatre with black and white movies. Old Mickey Mouse cartoons and dramatic Westerns were the entertainment of the day. The boys complained a bit about the ‘boring’ films, but they would have sat and watched all day if I had allowed it.
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| Evan cleans a batch of cotton |
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| Ryan operates the cotton gin |
The highlight of the museum for us was the cotton exhibit. We had recently finished reading a book about Eli Whitney, so we were delighted to see a model of a cotton gin. Each of the boys took a turn cleaning cotton by hand and using the cotton gin. With this example, it was easy to show how the cotton gin revolutionized cotton production in the south. We also gave our best effort to spin cotton into yarn using a drop spindle and spinning wheel. Let me just say that it is fortunate that I am a resident of the 21st century. Judging from my fiber art skills, it is likely that my family would have had very little to wear.
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| Log Cabin |
The final stop included the historic houses that sit at the back of the museum property. A log cabin, one room schoolhouse, train depot, and the Lebanon Baptist church are just a few of the buildings that invite a living walk through history.
Disappointingly, the outdoor buildings are only open on the third Sunday of the month, so we were not able to tour the inside. This turned out to be like a dangling carrot for the boys, though. They scrambled up on top of each other’s shoulders and used their hands to peer through the windows of the antique buildings. The locks on the doors made the houses even more enticing. They have all asked that we return on the third Sunday to see the inside of the buildings, so we have marked our calendar for another trip back in time.
Know before you go:
• The museum offers a family pass for $8, making this a very affordable attraction for larger families.
• Museum houses are only open on the third Sunday of each month
• Babe’s Chicken House is located next door and makes a perfect place to get lunch or dinner during your visit.
• Special events happen regularly at the Frisco Heritage Center. Check the calendar for ways to spend a fun family day.
