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The Jackie Townsell
Bear Creek
Heritage Center
The Bear Creek community is the oldest African-American community in North Texas, established by freed slaves in the 1850’s. Located at 3925 Jackson Street in Irving, Texas, the Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center celebrates this community with the establishment of 3 museums. The J.O. Davis house is a walk through museum telling the story of the Bear Creek community, while the Sam Green House has been restored as a period authentic home depicting what life was like in the area back in the 1930’s. These restored homes are from two of the founding families of Bear Creek and have been a focal point for many years.
The newest addition to the Center is the Bear Creek Masonic Lodge #263. This building was not only the lodge for the local black masons, but was also the community center for the area hosting proms, cotillions, churches and countless other functions for the population of Bear Creek. Recently restored, this building now houses a premier African-American museum telling the story of the struggles from slavery all the way to the Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s. Read quotes from the last born Americans born into slavery, see tolls used to work the land, listen to a black cowboy tell of life on the open range, learn about the Harlem Renaissance, and then hear a story of a housewife turned protestor to fight the Jim Crow laws that affected all of the area.
The Museums are open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Admission is free.
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