Hours
Wednesday to Sunday (tickets required)
Visitor Center & Grounds:
9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Museum:
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Townsite and Barrington Farm:
10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Monday to Tuesday (no tickets required)
Visitor Center & Grounds:
9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
All other facilities closed
Tickets
Adult $10
Senior/Veteran/Teacher/First Responder $8
Children (6-17) $6
Child (5 and under) Free
Family (2 adults & 1 child) $22, each additional child $1
Adult Tour Group (per person) $8
Programs
Public Tours
Special Events
School Programs
The General Convention, which would decide the fate of Texas, met at Washington in March 1836. People revere Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site as the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. Thereafter, despite great personal risk, the delegates continued meeting until they had drafted a constitution and established the new nation’s first lasting government. The picturesque Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site is located on the Brazos River. The expansive grounds provide a beautiful setting for picnicking, sightseeing, and birdwatching. The Star of the Republic Museum, Independence Hall, and Barrington Living History Farm offer the visitor a unique insight into the lives of the people who established the Republic of Texas.
See Washington-on-the-Brazos ComplexSee the Site
Plan Your Visit
Step back in time and explore the birthplace of the Lone Star State.
Educational Programs
Bring your students to where Texas became Texas! Our school programs are designed to align with Texas curriculum standards and provide hands-on learning experiences that bring history to life.
Facility Rentals
We have many options to host your next event.
The Texas Leadership Experience
The Texas Leadership Experience at Washington-on-the-Brazos is a three-day leadership experience designed for corporations, businesses, and civic leaders seeking an engaging and relevant experience for their executives, directors, teams, and high-potential employees.
Washington-on-the-Brazos Complex
Head to our Washington-on-the-Brazos Complex landing page to see events at all three sites, plan your trip, explore the campus, and learn about education opportunities.
Events at Washington-on-the-Brazos
Labor of Thine Hands: Trades in Early Texas
Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Ponder for a moment all the skills and trades practiced by others that you rely upon each day. Could you survive without them? Just as you require the skills of others, so did early Texans. Blacksmiths repaired their plows and wagons; potters turned vessels for storing their water and food; and carpenters built their homes and filled them with furniture. While often viewed as self-sufficient, urban and rural communities were linked together by the goods and services each offered. As you explore the Washington Townsite, we encourage you to visit with the various tradesmen and women to discover more about the work they are doing and how their skills were needed by the community. For more information, please contact Ben Baumgartner at ben.baumgartner@thc.texas.gov, or 936-878-2214 ext. 248
Gamblers, Horse Racers, and Sports of All Classes: Horse Racing in Washington
Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Join us on Saturday for an exciting 19th century horse racing exhibition! This year’s event will feature 5 races on the track at 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, and 3:00pm. You’ll enjoy the atmosphere of race day, with period games like faro, refreshments, stick horse races for kids, and wagon rides by Iron Horse Guest Ranch! For more information, please contact Tynan Shadle at tynan.shadle@thc.texas.gov or 936-878-2214 ext. 224.
Questions with the President
Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Questions for the President, 10a-4p: Have you ever wanted to ask Sam Houston questions about his life? This program is for you! Join us and our friends from the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library at the recreated Presidential Office of Sam Houston. At 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, you will get to speak with the president and ask him questions about his presidency, his thoughts on former president Lamar, his family life, or his remembrances of the Texas Revolution. We will also be doing readings from the memoir 60 years on the Brazos by Washington resident John Lockhart, which includes stories from his boyhood about meeting and listening to President Houston. For more information please contact Adam Arnold at adam.arnold@thc.texas.gov or 936-878-2214 ext 228.
Washington-on-the-Brazos in the Blog
Rebirth on the Brazos
Another New Beginning: Upgraded Washington-on-the-Brazos Site Brings Texas Republic Era to Life
Independence! A Lone Star Rises
See the independent film, “Independence! A Lone Star Rises” produced by the Washington-on-the-Brazos Historical Foundation.
Remember The Republic
To this day, the Republic of Texas captures the imagination of people across the globe. On March 2, 1836, the founders set in motion a series of events which created an identity that transcended politics and still lasts with us. Learn about some sites around the state that preserve its legacy.
Support Our Historic Sites
Make a gift to the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to supporting the historic sites of the THC.
Donate