H.R. No. 1249 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Farmers Branch Historical Park is marking its 25th anniversary in 2011; and WHEREAS, Established as an outdoor museum to preserve and interpret the history of Texas and the Peters colony, whose first office was in Farmers Branch, the park opened in 1986 and today welcomes some 50,000 visitors annually; and WHEREAS, The 27-acre park traces the fascinating heritage of Farmers Branch from the 1840s through the 1940s; its cornerstone is the 1856 Gilbert House, and other notable buildings include the Farmers Branch depot, dating back to the 1870s, the 1885 Queen Anne Victorian Cottage, an 1890s church, the school built in the first decade of the past century, and the 1930s Dodson House; additionally, an 1840s log culture area features unique examples of early Texas log cabin architecture and is of particular interest to aficionados of the pioneer days; and WHEREAS, Educational programming at the park focuses on interactive learning and discussion; tours let schoolchildren engage with history in a lively fashion, and the park also offers a variety of off-site programs for public, private, and home schools; and WHEREAS, Among its many attractions, the park is home to two vintage baseball teams, the Farmers Branch Mustangs and the Rawhide Creek Tanners, and interpreters and volunteers re-create the sights and sounds of a 19th-century baseball game, illustrating how the sport has changed; and WHEREAS, For a quarter-century, the Farmers Branch Historical Park has preserved and celebrated the heritage of the area, providing a window on the past and giving young Texans a greater understanding of the part their city played in the annals of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Farmers Branch Historical Park and extend to all those associated with the park sincere best wishes for continued success in the years to come. Jackson Anchia ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1249 was adopted by the House on April 21, 2011, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House