Pioneer Farms (formerly known as the Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farm or pluralized, the Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms)[1][2] is a living history museum in Austin, Texas. The site was originally granted to a settler, James O. Rice, in the fall of 1844 as part of a larger land acquisition. Frederick and Harriet Jourdan moved into what is now known as Pioneer Farms in 1852 and would later build a farm about 2,000 acres large. Pioneer Farms itself is only about 95 acres in size.[3] In 1956, the site was donated to the Heritage Society of Austin by the grandchildren of Frederick and Harriet for the purpose of establishing a park there.[1] It formally became a history museum in 1975.[4] The museum is open to the public from Tuesday to Friday and hosts themed events for holidays like Halloween, Easter and Christmas.[5] The museum hosts field trips and educational programs for schoolchildren.[6]
 Sprinkle Corner, a village in the museum | |
  Pioneer Farms Location within Texas | |
| Established | 1975 |
|---|---|
| Location | 10621 Pioneer Farms Drive Austin, Texas |
| Coordinates | 30°22′06″N 97°39′33″W / 30.3684592°N 97.6590796°W |
| Type | Living history museum |
| Website | Pioneer Farms |
Pioneer Farms contains numerous historic locations within its boundaries, along with the Scarborough Barn, a livestock farm.[2][5] Various animals such as chickens, horses and Texas longhorns can be found in the barn.[6] Some of the structures that are at the farm were originally in separate locations in Central Texas and were moved there to preserve their history.[6][1] Other in Pioneer Farms include a farm that was inhabited by German immigrant Fritz Kruger in 1868, during a period of economic growth for Texas' agricultural industry.[2] Another location within the museum is a green belt that was designated in 1853.[5][7] Many other areas are in the museum; a blacksmithery,[7] the James Bell home and the Frederick Jourdan cabin,[2] a stone blockhouse built in 1868, a rural village established in 1899, a stagecoach stop constructed in 1873, an 1864 encampment of the Tonkawa people, and several other farms built throughout the 19th century.[5] Pioneer Farms is home to the historic Aynesworth–Wright House.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c Estrada, John-Carlos (23 March 2023). "#TBT: Austin's Pioneer Farms preserves & expands the living history of Central Texas' past". CBS Austin. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Pioneer Farms". Texas Time Travel. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms | Austin, TX". www.austintexas.org. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Donate". Pioneer Farms. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d "PIONEER FARMS". Pioneer Farms. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "Support Jourdan Bachman Pioneer Farms | Amplify Austin". www.amplifyatx.org. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b "5 Things We Love About Pioneer Farms". Do512 Family. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Rogers, Erin (8 August 2013). "Pioneer Farms: Jump back in time to Central Texas in 1800s". Fort Cavazos Sentinel. Retrieved 26 October 2024.