Historical Services

Founders’ Day Festival

On Oct. 1, the Man House Museum held the second annual Founders’ Day Festival. The event is designed to show visitors what life was like when Mansfield was founded in 1890.

The day was fun for everyone involved. There were a number of artisans and historical demonstrators who performed tasks that would have been done in the 19th century and spoke with visitors about their work. These included a blacksmith, potter, laundress, quilter, leatherworker, spinner, and doctor. There was also a storyteller, musicians, and an original covered wagon. Handson activities in which visitors could participate included: quill pen writing, leather stamping, candle dipping and old-fashioned kid’s games.

Also present were local historical organizations and other area nonprofits that have partnered with the museum. The Mansfield Garden Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, Friends of the Library, Historic Landmark Commission, Mansfield Historical Society and Mansfield Cemetery Association all had tables where they sold items or informed visitors about their organizations and the work they do in the community. The event had help from sponsors: the Mansfield Historical Society, Mansfield Women’s Club and Mansfield Record. Student volunteers from the Timberview Basketball Team also helped the event enormously, as well as Lake Ridge Key Club, Legacy Honor’s Society, and Mansfield High School Key Club.

Next year’s Founders’ Day Festival has been tentatively scheduled for Oct. 7, 2023.

Self-Evaluation Underway The Historic Preservation Advisory Board and museum staff are in the process of completing a self-evaluation of the practices of the Mansfield Historical Museum and Man House Museum. The program is called StEPs, Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations, which was created by the American Association for State and Local History. The evaluation provides an opportunity to see what the museums are doing well as well as areas that need improvement in order to meet the highest standards in the museum field.

The next Historical Preservation Advisory Board meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27.

Guests Served

858 Visitors

24 Researchers

24 Volunteers

Wedding Dress Exhibit

This summer, the museum displayed an exhibit called “I Do: A Century of Bridal Dresses.” The exhibit featured wedding gowns from the 1890s-1990s. Some of the gowns were from the museum’s collection, others were borrowed from people in the community. The exhibit ran from June through August and was well received, with many people coming to the museum specifically to see the display.

MANSFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY