Thursday, April 24, 2008

"It Belongs in a Museum!" How to donate artifacts to Log Cabin Village

Do you have an heirloom that you feel should be in a museum? Would you like to see an object that you presently own preserved for posterity? If you do, you may consider donating them to Log Cabin Village. From furniture to textiles to tools, the museum is home to many everyday artifacts that provide us with a fascinating glimpse at nineteenth century Texas life.

The museum also has an archival collection of letters, photographs, and other nineteenth century documents. So how did the museum acquire all these wonderful collections? Mostly, through individual donations from individuals and families!



If you do have an object that you would like to donate, first ask yourself these questions:



  • Is the object from within the time period the Village interprets (1840 through 1890). Objects dating earlier than 1840 may be appropriate if they were still in use during this time period.

  • Is the object relevant to Texas history?

  • Does the object have a recorded history or provenance? In other words, can you determine who used it, for how long and for what?

  • Is the object in good condition?

If you answered yes to all these questions, your object may be a good candidate for donation to the museum! If you would like to discuss the possibility, contact us. The museum will then determine acceptance based on the factors above as well as whether the museum has any foreseeable use for the object, if the museum has excessive objects similar to that one, and whether the museum can properly care for the object. Who knows, that wedding dress that your great-great grandma wore can indeed become a museum piece!

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