Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation, Point Bolivar
Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation in Point Bolivar, TX was the recipient of a Fall 2022 Texas Historical Foundation grant supporting restoration of the 1872 Bolivar Point Lighthouse.
One of Texas’ few surviving 19th-century lighthouses, the structure survived a great deal of abuse prior to its 1933 decommissioning. It famously served as a refuge for peninsula inhabitants during the devastating hurricanes that battered Galveston coasts in 1900 and 1915, as well as withstanding an accidental shelling from the neighboring Fort San Jacinto army base in 1917.
Ultimately, it was not these disasters that posed the greatest threat to the historic beacon, but the passing of time. By the late 2000’s, urgent repairs were needed to stave off irreversible structural damage to the lighthouse. High winds threatened to fell the original cupola, spurring the creation of Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation in 2015. Since forming, this group of advocates have made great strides in preserving the lighthouse and reaching their ultimate goal of opening its interior to the public.
A presentation of their THF grant will take place the morning of Friday, May 5 on the lighthouse grounds (419 Everett #385, Port Bolivar). Texas Historical Foundation board member Michael Graham will present the grant to BPLF Executive Director Amy Maxwell Chase. To learn more about the history of the lighthouse, visit bolivarpointlighthouse.org and check out this episode of the Light Hearted podcast.
The Bryan Museum, Galveston
Later that afternoon, a second presentation will be held at Galveston’s Bryan Museum, showcasing their recent THF grant for the development of travelling history mini-exhibits for area students.
Inspired by student responses during a museum field trip centered around the collection of paintings depicting Charles Goodnight, the museum partnered with Galveston and Pasadena school districts to build on existing social studies curriculum, using the famous rancher as a point of entry for students to explore life on the Texas Frontier.
Exhibits were built around touch-carts containing historically accurate replicas of frontier-era objects curated to align with course material for students ranging from elementary to middle school. The exhibits visited a dozen Galveston and Pasadena ISD campuses over the course of the Spring semester, one of the Bryan Museum's many efforts to bring Texas history to life for students.
The presentation will take place at the Bryan Museum (1315 21st Street, Galveston) May 5 at 2 p.m. For more upcoming exhibitions at the Bryan Museum, visit thebryanmuseum.org.
If you are a THF director or member and wish to attend either presentation, contact grants@texashistoricalfoundation.org for details.
