Magnus Gustafsson to speak at the Courthouse

Carl Widen VASA Lodge #743 of Austin in conjunction with the Williamson Museum invites the public to a free open house on Saturday, May 31, at 4:00 pm in the 26^th District Courtroom on the second floor of the restored Williamson County Courthouse located at 710 Main Street in Georgetown. Please use the south entrance of the Courthouse access the courthouse for this event.

Magnus Gustafsson of Chalmers University of Technology, Center for Language and Communication of Goteborg, Sweden, is the featured guest speaker. He will present on education in modern Sweden, especially new Swedish legislation regarding language, immigration and other topics of interest. An open house at the Museum, located at 716 S. Austin Ave., immediately follows the presentation. The open house features the exhibit From Småland, Sweden, to Big Land Texas, and provides visitors with the unique opportunity to visit with Magnus Gustafsson and members of Carl Widen VASA to learn more about Swedish Culture.

Thank You!

We want to thank Humanities Texas for sponsoring Pioneer Day 2008. This year's event was a success, drawing over 600 people. Thank you!

Art Contest Winners

Results from the Home Sweet Texas Home Art Contest announced at Pioneer Day 2008:

Third Place
Primary (K-2nd grade): Tyler Davis, Burden Elementary
Intermediate (3rd-5th grade): TIE: Katarina Gomez and Lindsey Shultz, Village Elementary
Middle School (6th-8th grade): Jose Morales, Forbes Middle School
High School (9th-12th grade): Jeremy Stefek, Thrall High School

Second Place
Primary (K-2nd grade): Cassidey Weems, Burden Elementary
Intermediate (3rd-5th grade): Karina Calderon, Village Elementary
Middle School (6th-8th grade): Samuel Talbert, Forbes Middle School
High School (9th-12th grade): Lauri Jansky, Thrall High School

First Place
Primary (K-2nd grade): Kaleb Koop, Burden Elementary
Intermediate (3rd-5th grade): Caroline McGahan, Fern Bluff Elementary
Middle School (6th-8th grade): Tristan Snyder, Forbes Middle School
High School (9th-12th grade): Jordan Miller, Thrall High School

This Place Matters

For Historic Preservation Month, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is sponsoring a "This Place Matters" campaign. On their website, you can upload photographs of places that matter to you and your community. We've uploaded three: the Up the Chisholm Trail marker, the Williamson County Courthouse, and the Farmers State Bank building (the Museum). Check out our additions at www.preservationnation.org. And, celebrate Historic Preservation Month!

ART!

Every year in conjunction with Pioneer Day, we hold an art contest. We have four age categories, and we give the students a theme. This year's was Home Sweet Texas Home. We judge on how the creativity and originality. There were some really, really good ones this year.

However, this one caught my eye right off. Unfortunately, it didn't place in the contest. But, I liked it so much, I wanted to put it on the blog. This was drawn by Mackenzy Turner a second grader at Bill Burden Elementary in Liberty Hill. You go, Mackenzy! I love your poster!

May 10 is Pioneer Day!

Come celebrate Home Sweet Texas Home with the Williamson Museum, Saturday, May 10, at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd. The event will include hands-on demonstrations of pioneer activities and games, living history presentations, and the winning posters from the Home Sweet Texas Home Poster art contest. A free hot dog lunch will be served at noon, but a pioneer-style lunch cooked on site in Dutch ovens will also be available for $3.00 per person. This event is free of charge and open to the public from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Hands-on & Make & Take Activities:

· Pioneer Crafts: Learn how the pioneers lived, dressed, and worked. Hands-on activities include corn grinding, washing clothes, making cornhusk dolls, and churning butter.

· Pioneer Games: Marbles, buzz-saw, rag ball making, Jacob’s Ladder, tug-of-war and three-legged races are some of the activities visitors can enjoy.

· Wood Carving: Participants will get instruction from Williamson County woodcarvers, learn about wooden toys, and have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on carving activity.

· Living History Presentations: The best way to learn about history is through the stories of those that lived it. Throughout the day, visitors can talk with the San Gabriel Pioneers and the Buffalo Soldiers at their camps.

· Historic Village Tours: Visitors can tour the historic structures on location at the Park including the Palm Mansion, Rice’s Crossing Store and Mather Cabin.