5/5 Aiyana H. 2 years ago on Google
We
visited
this
establishment
on
Saturday,
our
second
day
in
Houston.
Catherine
and
Ms
Lou
we’re
extremely
nice.
Unfortunately
I
attempted
to
schedule
a
Freedmen’s
Town
tour
with
a
couple
of
black
Houston
tour
guides
to
no
avail.
After
one
email,
Catherine
promptly
scheduled
us
for
a
1
pm
tour
on
Saturday.
Upon
arrival
our
tour
guides
gave
us
a
short
tour
outside
showing
us
the
revitalization
under
way
by
volunteers
of
some
of
the
historic
homes
in
Freedmen’s
town
including
a
prominent
black
lawyer’s
house,
and
Rutherford
Yates
home.
The
brick
roads
are
also
extremely
historic
and
it
was
enlightening
to
discuss
the
African
influence
on
the
architecture
and
design
of
the
roads
and
homes
in
this
area.
We
did
not
get
a
chance
to
see
the
Masonic
temple
or
barber
shop
due
to
the
heat
outside.
We
were
taken
indoors
to
the
Rutherford
Yates
house
which
underwent
an
extreme
restoration
of
a
house
that
was
deemed
beyond
salvageable.
The
indoor
museum
was
amazing
with
many
artifacts
of
past
life
in
Freedmen’s
town.
The
museum
also
includes
a
replica
of
the
town
in
model
format.
There
is
also
an
inventor
room
with
many
great
inventions
and
the
patents
of
black
inventors
including
the
super
soaker,
toilet,
traffic
light,
and
famous
inventors
such
as
Madam
CJ
Walker.
The
museum
has
big
plans
to
create
separate
themed
museums
within
Freedmen’s
town.
This
would
include
a
museum
that
focuses
on
the
legal
and
education
contributions
made
by
black
people,
and
the
printer
contributions
which
Rutherford
Yates
was.
The
museum
is
also
looking
for
some
artifacts
to
add
to
their
collection
including
a
glass
pane
for
one
of
their
wooden
doors,
and
an
older
water
closet
to
include
in
the
bathroom
they
have
included.
The
restoration
work
done
on
the
Rutherford
Yates
house
was
very
impressive
and
the
outreach
to
the
community
is
amazing.
This
museum
features
programs
for
the
youth
of
the
community
and
even
involves
local
colleges
for
the
restoration
and
work
including
Texas
Southern
University.
They
also
have
a
little
gift
shop
in
the
museum
which
has
t
shirts,
books,
and
other
memorabilia
for
sale.
We
donated
$10
to
the
museum’s
donation
box
since
the
tour
is
free
to
the
public.
The
museum
has
also
utilized
the
work
of
two
black
women
that
are
two
of
few
restoration
architects
in
the
country!
It’s
unfortunate
that
the
city
of
Houston
has
destroyed
many
of
the
original
brick
roads
that
were
built
by
black
brick
layers
which
was
of
the
highest
skill
and
quality.
The
museum
has
unfortunately
had
to
sue
the
city
for
attempting
to
destroy
this
entire
neighborhood.
They
were
able
to
save
several
homes
which
they
are
planning
to
revitalize.
The
tireless
work
of
these
women
and
the
community
is
amazing
to
protect
and
showcase
the
legacy
of
Houston’s
Freedmen’s
town.
Catherine
was
even
gracious
enough
to
give
us
a
ride
to
Sam
Houston
park
for
our
next
tour
of
the
Reverend
Jack
Yates
house.
I
would
definitely
recommend
this
tour
and
museum
to
anyone
visiting
Houston
and
locals
that
want
to
get
in
touch
with
the
black
history
and
heritage
of
Houston.
I
hope
that
this
museum
will
continue
to
get
donations
and
thrive
in
Houston
for
everyone
to
cherish
what
was
and
what
is
to
come.
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