Scenic Stroll Through Historic Richmond with Fort Bend Museum

The Fort Bend County Museum invites local history buffs to come along on a Walking Tour of Historic Richmond on April 20. The tour begins at the Fort Bend Museum Gallery at 10 a.m. and will cover about a mile in 45 minutes. This month’s tour will feature sites in the 200 block of Morton Street, plus other historic buildings nearby. 

One of the first stops on the tour will be at Congressman John M. Moore’s Home, built in 1883. Here, visitors will learn the history of the family who lived in this home from 1883 to 1975.  The home is now part of the Fort Bend County Museum Association and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next on the route is the Fort Bend County Courthouse. Built in 1908, this is the county’s 5^th courthouse, featuring monuments of Mirabeau B. Lamar and Deaf Smith who played major parts in shaping our state.

Just across the street, the McFarlane House is now the administrative offices for the Fort Bend County Museum Association. Visitors will learn about Isaac McFarlane, who built the house in the early 1850s and served as a member of Terry’s Texas Rangers during the Civil War.

Next, the tour will venture to the site of Jane Long’s Boarding House. Jane Long, known as the Mother of Texas, opened a boarding house in Richmond in 1837 where she provided hospitality and comfortable accommodations for visitors. This building also served as the campaign headquarters for Mirabeau B. Lamar during his run for the presidency.

Another noteworthy stop on the tour is the site of the Jaybird-Woodpecker Feud, a bloody shoot-out that occurred in what is now Historic Downtown Richmond in 1889, marking the end of the post-Civil War fight for political power and control in the county government.

Tour participants are advised to bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes. The cost for the tour is $10 per person for non-museum members, $5 for members and children under 12 years old are free. For more information regarding the tour call (281) 342-6478 or email javery@forbendmuseum.org or crogers@fortbendmuseum.org

The next tour on May 11 will feature a different section of Downtown Historic Richmond. Be sure to check the Fort Bend County Museum’s Facebook and blog for regular updates on tours and other upcoming events.
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