General Public Tour
The People and Places of Varner-Hogg Plantation
Timing: 1.5 hours, Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Families $22, adults $10, seniors, veterans, teachers, and first responders $8, students $5, ages 5 and under free
On a self-guided visit to Varner-Hogg Plantation, visitors can explore the places where generations worth of Texas history, commerce, and entrepreneurship unfolded. You’ll learn the stories of the many families, both enslaved and not, who worked to build Texas. Over its 134-year history, the site hosted sugarcane production, cattle ranching, and oil drilling as it transitioned through the ownership of the Varners, the Pattons, and the Hoggs. Both floors of the main house, the smokehouse, and the 1920s kitchen are open for self-guided tours. Visitors can also walk the grounds and view the enslaved quarters and sugar mill ruins, the barn, Miss Ima's cottage, the pecan orchards, the governor’s outdoor bathtub, and the Patton family cemetery.
School Tour
From Plantation to Present: Discovering Varner-Hogg
Grades: 3–5
Capacity: 30–100 students
Timing: 4 hours, Wednesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: $6 per student, one free chaperone for every 10 students. Additional adults are $10 each.
On their field trip to Varner-Hogg Plantation, students will rotate through a series of stations to learn about the multiple families and plantation aspects of the site. In the Collections Resource Center Observations station, students will examine paintings or photographs to understand how historians use primary sources to understand the past. In the Sweet Texas History station, students will complete a sugar art activity and learn about the significance of sugar in Texas—how it is made, processed, and distributed. In Business in the Parlor, students will watch a short film about the site’s history, then participate in a discussion with site staff.
The Enslaved Experience Tour
Grade: 5–12
Capacity: 5–100 students
Timing: 2 hours, Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: $8 per student, one free chaperone for every 10 students. Additional adults are $10 each
While it is difficult to imagine what life would have been like for enslaved people on the then-Patton Plantation, historians have many primary sources that provide insight about the lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked here. Students will rotate through three stations. At The Enslaved Experience in Ima's Cottage, they’ll learn about the lives of the people who were enslaved at this plantation. For The Enslaved Environment, students will visit the ruins of the sugar mill and the enslaved quarters and see what the physical environment was like for the enslaved. Finally, for Business in the Parlor, students will go to either the parlor of the main house or the Visitor Center (depending on weather and group size), watch a short film about the site’s history, and participate in a discussion with staff.
Adult Group Tour
From Fields to Fortune: Exploring Varner-Hogg's History
Capacity: 40
Timing: 2 hours, Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Adults $10, seniors, veterans, teachers, first responders $8
On this guided tour at the Varner-Hogg Plantation, visitors will learn about the site and its relation to Texas history and commerce. Site educators will tell you the stories of the enslaved families who worked to build the economy of Texas and the Hogg family that used the site as a country retreat and home. Over its history, the site hosted sugarcane production, cattle ranching, and oil drilling as it transitioned through the ownership of the Varners, the Pattons, and the Hoggs. Site educators will guide you through the Visitor Center, the barn, exhibits about the enslaved people and roughnecks that worked on the site, the main house and kitchen, and the ruins of the sugar mill and enslaved quarters.
Tour Reservations
Tour reservations should be made four weeks in advance by calling 979-345-4656, emailing varner-hogg@thc.texas.gov, or completing this tour request form.
If your group is looking for a specialized tour experience, contact the site directly to inquire about customizing your tour.
Photography
Personal photography with no flash is allowed inside the main house and exhibit buildings. If you wish to take professional photographs (including engagement, prom, or graduation photos) on the plantation, please see our photography rules and fees (PDF).
Museum Store
The museum store is located inside the visitor center. We carry books on history topics, including slavery and antebellum Texas; oil history; and biographies of Ima Hogg and the Hogg family as well as books that help children explore history and culture. We also offer an assortment of souvenirs and collectibles.
Accessibility
Accessible parking and restrooms are available on site. The visitor center, Miss Ima's cottage, smokehouse, kitchen, and barn are wheelchair accessible. There are several steps to enter the main house, and the first floor of the house is accessible. Several areas of interest are on grass but may be seen from the road.
Facilities
Public restrooms are available in the visitor center and in the building between the barn and Miss Ima's cottage. There is a water fountain next to the accessible/family restroom. Bottled water may be purchased in the gift shop. Visitors are welcome to bring food and drinks to enjoy at the site’s picnic tables; however, food and drinks are not allowed in any buildings.
Nearby Attractions
While you're in the area, visit these nearby sites:
For additional travel and history information, see the following resources: