The Farmers Branch Historical Park welcomes you to our 17th year of providing quality educational programming!  We believe that by living history your students will become active participants in learning about the past.  Tours focus on learning through interactive activities and discussion. All tours are aligned with the TEKS*.

We currently offer a variety of on-site and off-site programs for public, private and home schools.  On-site tours are available Tuesday and Thursday mornings or by special appointment.  In–school programs are available Monday and Wednesday afternoons or by special appointment.  We also offer educational trunks on loan to schools. 

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.  

For Teacher Packet Click on Picture 

(pdf format)

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Tour suggestions are outlined below.  Please feel free to discuss alternative tour options with Historical Park staff.   

SCHOOL TOURS (Allow 30 minutes per building/activity)

Farmers Branch Local History (2nd grade)

•Log Culture Area: visit a log cabin and learn about early pioneers and their daily lives; activity includes old-fashioned laundry and working in our heirloom garden

•Gilbert House: visit the 1856 home of Dr. Gilbert, the first doctor in Farmers Branch, and learn about his life from his journal

•Railroad Depot and Caboose: visit the original Farmers Branch Railroad Depot and our historic caboose; learn about the impact of the railroad on the community.

•Dodson House: visit the home of the first mayor of Farmers Branch and listen to an Old Time Radio program.

Farmers Branch in the Victorian Age (3rd grade)

•Queen Anne Victorian Cottage: visit a beautiful 1880s home and learn about life 100 years ago!

•One Room School: visit our historic school and experience a lesson in reading, writing and arithmetic.

•Railroad Depot and Caboose: visit the Farmers Branch Railroad Depot and our historic caboose and learn about trains

•Old Church: visit our historic church and learn about the different ways it served its community; meet a suffragette and learn why she wants the right to vote.

OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

In-School Programs

We enjoy visiting schools and bringing history to the students.  Our in-school programs include:

·         Sarah Keenan: the first woman pioneer to Farmers Branch brings her basket of family heirlooms to talk about her journey to Texas

·         Early Kitchens: a docent will show pioneer kitchen items to the students; discuss differences between modern and historic kitchens as well as how we get food then and now 

·         Vintage Toys & Games: students can play with old-fashioned toys and games with direction from our docent

Educational Trunks

The Historical Park also loans educational trunks to teachers. 

·         Vintage Toys and Games: includes marbles, whirligig, yo-yo, Jacob’s Ladder, pick-up sticks, cornhusk doll and much more

American Indian: includes reproduction Comanche drum, kids clothing, shoes, bison hair bag, bison horn spoon and much more 

Visit Guidelines

·        There must be one adult for every 10 students.

·        Poor discipline will not be tolerated. Misbehaving students will be asked to leave.

·        The teacher is ultimately responsible for student behavior.

·        In case of inclement weather, your tour may be rescheduled in consideration of student safety.

TEKS