Star of the Republic Museum

06/02/2026

"Pieces of eight!" *Squawk* "Pieces of eight!" — some very well-trained pirate's parrot

In the early 19th century, that parrot wasn't just talking nonsense. "Pieces of eight" referred to the Spanish Real, one of the most trusted currencies on the planet.
Why? Because Reales were struck from high-purity silver mined in Mexico and Bolivia, giving them a monetary stability almost no other global currency could match.

They were so trusted that a Real could be physically cut into up to eight equal wedge-shaped pieces and each fragment still accepted as valid currency. Your morning coffee before some swashbuckling could be paid with a literal slice of silver coin.

This slightly worn 1820 Spanish Real was unearthed during the 2024 archaeological dig at Washington-on-the-Brazos and is now on display here at the museum. (THC.WOB.78.FI)

Want to learn more about the 2024 the dig in person? Join us Monday, June 8, 5:30–6:30 pm at the Navasota Public Library for a free talk as part of their Summer Reading Program, hands-on activities and actual archaeological finds included!
https://www.navasotatx.gov/departments/public_library/programs.php

What would you and your parrot buy with your ill-gotten piece of eight?

05/30/2026

As things heat up outside, come cool down with us (and our air conditioner) for a June packed with history!

June 8 | A Dig to Remember
Join us at the Navasota Public Library (5:30–6:30 pm) and dig into the archaeology of Washington-on-the-Brazos!
June 12 | Recollections of the Revolution
"The End is Just the Beginning" — our next episode explores the victory at San Jacinto and what came after.
June 27 | Charting New Grounds: Juneteenth 2026
Celebrate freedom's arrival at our annual Juneteenth Heritage Celebration, 10:00 am–4:00 pm.

History is always in season at the Star of the Republic Museum. Which event will you join us for?

05/25/2026

Today, we take a moment to honor those who have died in the service of our country.

05/24/2026

Visit a THC state historic site from Memorial Day through Labor Day, snap a photo, and enter for a chance to win. One photo per entry, with multiple drawings throughout the summer. Visit more sites to increase your chances.

Learn more and enter: https://bit.ly/snapshot2026

05/23/2026

Planning your Memorial Day weekend? We will be open this Monday, May 26th, from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Explore our family gallery for hands-on activities the kids will love, view the last remaining artifact known to be made from the original Independence Hall building, and discover the story of why Texas declared its independence in 1836.

Planning a day trip? Your Star of the Republic Museum admission gets you into all three sites on the Washington-on-the-Brazos complex: the museum, Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site, and Barrington Living History Farm. That's a full day of Texas history on one ticket!

Pack a lunch and make a day of it. We hope to see you Monday.

05/21/2026

Texas History isn't just something we preserve, it's something YOU can help tell.

The Texas Historical Commission is hiring at historic sites across the Lone Star State, and YOUR next chapter could start right here in history.

Opportunities include:
San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site– Help maintain the grounds where Stephen F. Austin built a nation
French Legation State Historic Site – Bring diplomatic history to life through events and programming
Slaton Harvey House SHS – Help develop one of our newest state historic sites by helping keep the paperwork flowing.

And here's something worth knowing: THC positions include FREE health insurance. Yes, really.

Whether you're a history lover, a hands-on caretaker, or a storyteller at heart, there's a place for you in the THC family.
Explore all open positions: https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/808/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

05/20/2026

Join us as we celebrate Juneteenth Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site!

Join us for our Annual Judge Eddie E. Harrison Juneteenth Heritage Celebration on June 27! This year’s focus will be Charting New Ground: African American Trailblazers. The event is free and open to the public.

See the full schedule of events at https://wheretexasbecametexas.org/events/juneteenth-heritage-celebration-4/.

05/19/2026

On July 4, 1836, while most Americans were celebrating Independence Day, the U.S. House of Representatives was reading a report that would change the fate of a brand-new nation.

This congressional report from the Committee on Foreign Affairs represents one of the earliest formal steps toward the United States recognizing the Republic of Texas as an independent nation. Citizens across the country had been petitioning Congress to acknowledge what Texians had fought and died for just months before.

Recognition wasn't instant. It wasn't guaranteed. But documents like this one show just how hard-fought Texas independence truly was, not just on the battlefield, but on the international stage.

05/14/2026

May 14, 1836, General Santa Anna and the Republic of Texas signed the Treaties of Velasco, bringing an end to the Texas Revolution.

What many don't realize is that two separate documents were signed that day. The first was a public agreement ordering the withdrawal of Mexican troops beyond the Rio Grande. The second was a confidential document, exchanging Santa Anna's release for his pledge to support the terms of the public treaty before the Mexican government.

Neither document was formally ratified. Yet history has long recognized the Treaties of Velasco as the de facto close of the Texas Revolution.

The Star of the Republic Museum is proud to hold a copy of the public agreement, dated 1836, as part of our permanent collection. Visit us today to see this historic document for yourself!

05/14/2026

Something most galleries can't give you: the smell of history.

Open a tin of s***f, and the to***co hits you sharp and sweet. Old leather goes warm and earthy. A 19th-century newspaper crackles with dust and ink. These are the scents of 1830s Texas hiding in our collection.

What do you think your favorite object at the Star of the Republic Museum smells like?