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Celebrate America's 250th Birthday at The W.H. Stark House
(ORANGE, TX) - The W.H. Stark House is commemorating the 250th birthday of the United States with a series of special programming including America 250 Open House, Southeast Texas Speaks: Oral History Drive and The W.H. Stark House Classics Book Club: "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." These programs are offered in collaboration with Southeast Texas 250 events hosted throughout the region, offering the community a unique opportunity to connect local history to the broader American story.
The W.H. Stark House's summer of celebration will begin on Saturday, May 16 with the America 250 Open House. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., families can enjoy a range of activities across the Carriage House and Grounds, make their mark on a Community Painting, add a wish to the Wish Wall and explore the 1894 Queen Anne-style historic home. This event is free and open to the public.
“We're thrilled to take part in the United States Semiquincentennial. Commemorating 250 years of American history offers a meaningful opportunity for us to connect the past with the present in a place where history is so profoundly preserved," said Allen Lea, director of The W.H. Stark House. "We hope to make history accessible and engaging as we bring the community together to explore, learn and celebrate our shared history."
The America 250 Open House will also feature Southeast Texas Speaks: Oral History Drive, which invites the community to share and preserve their memories of Southeast Texas. This Oral History Drive is presented by The W.H. Stark House in partnership with Lamar University TV and the Tyrrell Historical Library. Advanced registration is recommended to reserve a time slot at whstarkhouse.org/oralhistory.
"Many people don’t realize they’re already preserving history in everyday moments, whether through taking photographs with friends, listening to family stories or passing down cherished recipes. Our goal with the Oral History Drive is to help community members preserve and share the stories that make Southeast Texas special to them," said Katherine Leister, tour operations coordinator of The W.H. Stark House. "To ensure that these memories are preserved for generations to come, participants will receive a digital copy of their interview after the event and will have the option to donate their interview to the Tyrrell Historical Library in Beaumont."
The 250 celebrations continue as The W.H. Stark House Classics Book Club explores "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," the classic 1943 coming-of-age novel by Betty Smith. The Book Club will be offered on June 11 at The W.H. Stark House and on June 18 at the John Jay French Museum in Beaumont. Free registration is encouraged and available at whstarkhouse.org/classics-book-club.
Through the end of July, objects once owned by the Stark family that relate to themes of American history will be newly on view inside The W.H. Stark House. Visitors can explore these objects on three-floor guided tours on Wednesdays, Fridays and select Saturdays at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Guided tour reservations are free and encouraged at whstarkhouse.org/guided-tours.
For more information about The W.H. Stark House and America 250 programming, please visit whstarkhouse.org. The W.H. Stark House is located at 610 Main Avenue in Orange, Texas.
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