Samuel Walker Houston
Museum & Cultural Center
"Preserving the history & legacy of Samuel Walker Houston"
The Samuel Walker Houston Museum and Cultural Center was designed to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of one of Texas' greatest educators, Samuel Walker Houston. Originally opened in 1991 at 341 Old Madisonville Road on property leased from the Huntsville Independent School District. The facility closed in 2000 to make way for a new elementary school.
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In 2001, the Museum and Cultural Center reopened at its current location, 1604 10th Street. This site previously served as Huntsville's Negro High School. In 2013, the school district gift-deeded the property to the National Alumni Association of Samuel Walker Houston High School.
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The Samuel Walker Houston Museum and Cultural Center is pleased to offer tours to public and school groups. Topics covered include African American history, segregated education, and the African American civil rights movement.
History & About Us
Samuel Walker Houston was born as a free man in 1864 to Joshua Houston Sr.. a former slave of General Sam Houston. Mr. Houston graduated from Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, and also attended Howard University and Atlanta University, now Clark-Atlanta. After recognizing that education was the key to the future for young African Americans, Mr. Houston established the first Training School for formerly enslaved people of color in 1906. For years, the Training School was the only school of its kind for African Americans in East Texas, and the first permanent classroom building opened in 1914. This was primarily built and financed by the African American community. The Training School produced the first generation of teachers, skilled craftsmen, and entrepreneurs post enslavement and at its peak enrollment totaled 400. The students completed 10 years of education, which qualified graduates to either enter college or return as teachers after a certification process.
Mission
To preserve the history and legacy of Samuel Walker Houston and support his core values and principals by educating, exhibiting, and maintaining a facility and environment that serves the community and public.
Purpose
To provide a permanent, Alumni Association-owned, repository for artifacts, historical memorabilia, photographs and official documents relating to the life of the school's founder, as well as post-slavery historical information on the African-American citizens of Huntsville and Walker County, Texas. A secondary focus is to provide a facility for cultural, educational and recreational activities for the enrichment of residents of the broader community.
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Timeline
1906: Established
1914: First Classroom opened
1926: Consolidated with Huntsville Negro School
1929-1930: Consolidated with Huntsville School System 1955: Samuel Walker Houston High School
1959: New Elementary at 10th street Location
1968: Samuel Walker Houston High School Closed 1991: Established in Brick Home West of Present Location 1999-2001: Closed for Construction
2001: Reopened
2009: Charted with a Board of Directors made up of Alumni & Citizens
2009: Acquired 23,32 Acres, Original Site of the Training School
2013: Gift Deed of .754 Acre incl. Buildings which is the Current Museum & Cultural center Location