The McFaddin-Ward House
Historic House Museum in Beaumont, Texas
Zydeco music, the legendary genre of music that bubbled up out of the swamps in Cajun country, is often seen as a Louisiana-only type of music. But Texas, and specifically southeast Texas, has played a major role in the formation of zydeco music. Join us May 7th, as Roger Wood presents his talk "Lone Star …
Join the McFaddin-Ward House and the Tyrrell Historical Library Association on July 23rd for a captivating lecture from Andrew J. Torget, a historian and professor at the University of North Texas. His presentation centers around his new book, Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands. Seeds of Empire tells the …
Don’t miss the story of Lovey Marie Guillory and her ancestors, a unique and intimate story of one African American family through particularly dramatic periods of triumph and turmoil in American history. Lovey Marie Guillory’s book tells the story of her family —one of the prominent “free black” or Creole families in Louisiana— through seven …
Wine is considered by many one of the greatest pleasures in life. But in today’s wine aisle, there are an overwhelming number of options. Join the McFaddin-Ward House and Brandon Head, a representative for Noble Vines out of Lodi, California, for a look a look inside the bottle and beyond. On September 17th, we’ll host …
Stuff. We all collect it, we all buy it, and we all love it. Join us October 22nd for a lecture all about “Stuff,” featuring Carey Maloney, an award-winning architect and designer. Learn how to collect, decorate with, and more about the unique backstory behind the world’s wonderful and unusual things. Featured in the New …
Forensic Artist and Sculptor, Amanda Danning, returns to Beaumont with tales of the doomed La Salle Expedition into Texas. Her lecture focuses on three skulls found among the remains of early French settlers at Fort St. Louis. Danning reveals how her skull reconstructions are helping solve true mysteries of history. Last year's event saw a …
Chances are, the reason you're reading this is because you LOVE historic homes, right? Or maybe you simply like our free lectures and receptions. Regardless, we have a special evening planned with a very entertaining speaker. Please join us as we welcome historic house museum director, Dan Hartman, who will take us on a "tour" of the …
The Orphan Train has gained much publicity recently with a best selling novel and a movie in the works. But few know what the phenomenon really meant for the historical landscape of our country. The orphan train was the largest child migration ever seen. More than 250, 000 orphans and unwanted children were taken out …
The art scene in Southeast Texas is alive and well. Does that surprise you? For more than a century, great masters have lived among us, leaving behind brilliant works and respected reputations. We at the McFaddin-Ward House are proud to keep legacies alive through education and community events. This month is no exception as our …
James Evans, Big Bend photographer, comes to the McFaddin-Ward House sharing his wit, humor, and life's work capturing images of the formidable Big Bend, Texas. Evans fell in love with the Big Bend on a hiking trip 28 years ago, so he set up camp...permanently. He's been taking stunning pictures ever since, has authored two …
Hair History Lecture and Exhibit Long, short, braided, curled, or straightened; hairstyles make history. They can act as forms of social communication and offer insight into our private and public personas. The well-groomed McFaddin women went to great lengths to enhance their appearances, especially when it came to their hair. Museum intern Jennifer Kellum presents …
DNA: the New Way to Meet Your Relatives A hundred years ago when Ida Caldwell McFaddin researched her family's genealogy, she may have become frustrated. The methods were not easy at that time; she no doubt painstakingly poured through hundreds, if not thousands of family documents and government records to trace her family ties. How …