Washington County Historical Markers
NUMBER OF MARKERS IN COUNTY - 192
Have - 159 Need- 29 Missing- 4
Named for George Washington as in President George Washington. County seat is Brenham.
Brenham is between Austin and Houston and we have visited many times on the way to or from visiting relatives in Houston. The first time we stayed over night was in 2005 which makes it one of our first marker trips and some of the pictures are cringe worthy. When we visited in 2005 it was with a plan to see the 4th of July fireworks. We stayed in the Ant Street Inn pictured left, ate in the hotel restaurant that first night and then Steve awoke on the 4th not feeling well with some type of viral illness. He felt too sick to drive home and I hadn't got my American drivers license yet, so he spent the day sleeping and I walked around taking pictures (it was so hot). He felt well enough to drive the next day and even managed to capture a few markers on the way home. I liked Ant Street especially the free Blue Bell in the community fridge, Steve found the trains a little noisy as they did run all night. The cabin below (either of us can remember the name) we stayed to celebrate I think our anniversary, and it cute and even through there were other cabins close by you could not see them when you were inside so it felt like you were in a little cabin alone in the county. I know we have a couple of drinks prior to going to the restaurant that night (which I'm not sure is still around) I had a couple of glasses of wine with dinner and came back to the cabin and promptly felt asleep (Steve had to try out the hot tub alone, he will still remind me of this occasionally). In my defense this was a time I was working nights and I could never sit too long anywhere without falling asleep ☺️. We also get our Thanksgiving pies Bever's Kitchen in Chappell Hill, this is a very popular restaurant and if you want to try it out I suggest getting there early or you will be waiting.
As far as markers go Washington County has been hard. When we first started this hobby the Texas Historical Commission did not have all all the markers listed. To add to that this area is an old part of Texas there is lots of history happened here. The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed here. Many of of the of Stephen F. Austin original 300 colonists settled here. Sam Houston lived, married, started a family and found religion here (not necessarily in that order and Baylor University started here and much much more. Washington County Historical Commission has been active since the very early days of the historical marker program. There were 22 centennial markers alone awarded to Washington County which considering there was only 1100 placed all throughout the big state of Texas is quite a few. Washington County was also active in the sixties awarding many of the old houses in county medallion or medallions and interpretive plates. These can be challenging to reach, as they are on property, usually on large properties, well set back from the road. The Texas Historic Commission directions to these properties were purposefully vague (or sometimes downright incorrect) at this time because they were private property and they wanted to protect property owners from people wandering in without permission. It is easy enough to locate an owners name if you have an address this is listed publicly and every county's appraisal district, it's far more challenging when you only have directions that may or may not give the correct road.
I'd be typing a long time if I talked all thirty of the markers we still need to complete this county. So I'm just going highlight some that we spend time looking for and have since found they no longer exist. We got a lot of our information from Washington County Historical Commission Chairman Dr. Wilfred Dietrich who has always answered my many queries. The medallion on the Anson Jones House in Barrington Farm Park was removed from the house as it was felt it was not in keeping with the park theme of stepping back to an earlier time. There was once a second Washington-on-the Brazos 27 x 42 Subject Marker (No. 8404) located at SH 90 & FM 912 that was removed due to roadwork and never reinstated, it is no longer listed in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas. There was once an earlier marker for Independence located at the corner of FM 50 & FM 390 in Independence, it was removed when the larger 27 x 42 Aluminum subject marker was placed and it was felt the information on the original marker was incomplete. The was 1936 Centennial plague for Baylor University State Park that to this date is lost, as is the plague for the Replica of the Convention Hall. The first high school in Brenham has been missing it's medallion & plate since at least 2006, I don't think there are any plans to reinstate it. The Leander H. McNelly grave marker was missing it's plate when we visited.
While Washington County is challenging is regards to locating and getting permission to capture all the old markers, it is in my opinion a beautiful part of Texas, rolling green hills instantly come to mind. It is even more delightful in wildflower season. If you ever have a weekend where you want to get away there are many cute bed & breakfasts and enough to keep anyone busy.
Brenham is between Austin and Houston and we have visited many times on the way to or from visiting relatives in Houston. The first time we stayed over night was in 2005 which makes it one of our first marker trips and some of the pictures are cringe worthy. When we visited in 2005 it was with a plan to see the 4th of July fireworks. We stayed in the Ant Street Inn pictured left, ate in the hotel restaurant that first night and then Steve awoke on the 4th not feeling well with some type of viral illness. He felt too sick to drive home and I hadn't got my American drivers license yet, so he spent the day sleeping and I walked around taking pictures (it was so hot). He felt well enough to drive the next day and even managed to capture a few markers on the way home. I liked Ant Street especially the free Blue Bell in the community fridge, Steve found the trains a little noisy as they did run all night. The cabin below (either of us can remember the name) we stayed to celebrate I think our anniversary, and it cute and even through there were other cabins close by you could not see them when you were inside so it felt like you were in a little cabin alone in the county. I know we have a couple of drinks prior to going to the restaurant that night (which I'm not sure is still around) I had a couple of glasses of wine with dinner and came back to the cabin and promptly felt asleep (Steve had to try out the hot tub alone, he will still remind me of this occasionally). In my defense this was a time I was working nights and I could never sit too long anywhere without falling asleep ☺️. We also get our Thanksgiving pies Bever's Kitchen in Chappell Hill, this is a very popular restaurant and if you want to try it out I suggest getting there early or you will be waiting.
As far as markers go Washington County has been hard. When we first started this hobby the Texas Historical Commission did not have all all the markers listed. To add to that this area is an old part of Texas there is lots of history happened here. The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed here. Many of of the of Stephen F. Austin original 300 colonists settled here. Sam Houston lived, married, started a family and found religion here (not necessarily in that order and Baylor University started here and much much more. Washington County Historical Commission has been active since the very early days of the historical marker program. There were 22 centennial markers alone awarded to Washington County which considering there was only 1100 placed all throughout the big state of Texas is quite a few. Washington County was also active in the sixties awarding many of the old houses in county medallion or medallions and interpretive plates. These can be challenging to reach, as they are on property, usually on large properties, well set back from the road. The Texas Historic Commission directions to these properties were purposefully vague (or sometimes downright incorrect) at this time because they were private property and they wanted to protect property owners from people wandering in without permission. It is easy enough to locate an owners name if you have an address this is listed publicly and every county's appraisal district, it's far more challenging when you only have directions that may or may not give the correct road.
I'd be typing a long time if I talked all thirty of the markers we still need to complete this county. So I'm just going highlight some that we spend time looking for and have since found they no longer exist. We got a lot of our information from Washington County Historical Commission Chairman Dr. Wilfred Dietrich who has always answered my many queries. The medallion on the Anson Jones House in Barrington Farm Park was removed from the house as it was felt it was not in keeping with the park theme of stepping back to an earlier time. There was once a second Washington-on-the Brazos 27 x 42 Subject Marker (No. 8404) located at SH 90 & FM 912 that was removed due to roadwork and never reinstated, it is no longer listed in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas. There was once an earlier marker for Independence located at the corner of FM 50 & FM 390 in Independence, it was removed when the larger 27 x 42 Aluminum subject marker was placed and it was felt the information on the original marker was incomplete. The was 1936 Centennial plague for Baylor University State Park that to this date is lost, as is the plague for the Replica of the Convention Hall. The first high school in Brenham has been missing it's medallion & plate since at least 2006, I don't think there are any plans to reinstate it. The Leander H. McNelly grave marker was missing it's plate when we visited.
While Washington County is challenging is regards to locating and getting permission to capture all the old markers, it is in my opinion a beautiful part of Texas, rolling green hills instantly come to mind. It is even more delightful in wildflower season. If you ever have a weekend where you want to get away there are many cute bed & breakfasts and enough to keep anyone busy.
100th Anniversary Brenham Banner Press
African American Catholic Community
Allcorn-Kokemoor Farmstead
Allcorn-McNeese Cemetery
Amos Gates
Andrew Robinson Sr.
Anson Jones Barrington Home
Applewhite House
Asa Brigham
Atkinson Cemetery
Barrington Plantation
Bassett and Bassett Banking House
Baylor University, Female Department
Baylor University for Boys
Baylor University on Windmill Hill
Baylor University State Park
Bethlehem Cemetery
Birthplace of Hedwig T Kniker Blinn College
Blue Bell Creameries
B'nai Abraham Synagogue
Brenham
Brenham Fire Department
Brenham Manifest
Brenham Masonic Cemetery
Brenham Normal & Industrial College
Brenham Presbyterian Church
Brenham Public Library
Brown's Prairie School and Building
Burton Cafe
Burton Community
Burton Depot
Burton Farmers Gin
Burton High School
Burton State Bank
Camp Felder
Camptown Cemetery
Cedar Creek Community
Chappell Hill
Chappell Hill Female College Bell
Chappell Hill Masonic Cemetery
Christian Church Cemetery
City of Brenham
Columns of a Building of Old Baylor University
Davis Family
Dr. Asa Hoxey Home
Dr. Horace G. Clark
Early Texas River Steamers
Eben-Ezer Evangelical Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Colleges of Texas
Farmers State Bank & Reinstein Store
First Baptist Church
First Christian Church of Brenham
First Methodist Church
First Public High School in Brenham
Former Bank Building of Giddings & Giddings
Friedens Church of Washington, UCC
Friedens Church of Washington, UCC Cemetery
Fritz Paul and Emma Schroeder House
Gantt-Jones House
General Jerome B. Robertson Home
General Sam Houston
Gen. James Willie
George Campbell Childress Statue
George Clark Red Homestead
George Washington Petty
Germania Mutual Aid Association
Giddings-Stone House
Giddings-Wilkin House
Gideon Lincecum
Gideon Lincecum
Glenblythe Plantation, Home of Thomas Affleck
Greenvine Baptist Church
Greenvine Gas Discovery
Greenvine Schools
Harmon School
Hasskarl House - "Far View"
Hatfield Plantation
Henry V. and Rebecca Robertson Homestead
Hogan Funeral Home
Holly Oaks
Hood's Texas Brigade, C. S. A.
Houston-Lea Family Cemetery
Hunt-Hardy House
Hutchinson-Korth Home
Independence
Independence
Independence Postal Service
Independence School
Jacob Haller House
James Holt, Texas Ranger
James Walker Log House
Jefferson Davis Highway No. 20
John Hoblett Seward Home
John McNeese Graveyard
John Prince Coles
John Sterling Smith House
John William Smith
Julius Yanch Home
La Bahia Road
Leander H. McNelly
Lewis Kraatz
Liberty Baptist Church
Liberty Community Cemetery
Live Oak Female Seminary
Lockhart Plantation
Louis Lehmann House
Ludwig Lehman Family Cemetery
Major William E. Howth
Margaret Lea Houston Home
Margaret M. Lea Houston
Mayer Cemetery
Mercy Seat Baptist Church
Methodist Church
Milas Robertson "Burney" Parker
Mill Creek Farm
Milroy's Garden and Orchard
Moses Austin Bryan
Moses Baine
Mount Rose Baptist Church
Mount Vernon
Mount Zion Cemetery
Mt. Calvary Cemetery
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Mt. Zion Cemetery
Mt. Zion United Methodist Church
Nancy Lea Bell
Oak Hill Cemetery
Oak Rest Cemetery and Site of Prospect Presbyterian Church
Old Baptist Church
Old Baylor Park
Old Independence Cemetery
Old Rock Store
Pampell-Day Homestead
Permela Haynie Home
Pleasant Hill School
Prairie Lea Cemetery
Providence Baptist Church
Purchase of Washington Park
Replica of Convention Hall
Reue-Eickenhorst House
Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor
Robert Starke Armistead
Robert Starke Armistead
Rocky Hill School
Rosedale Nursery
Ross-Carroll House
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Salem Lutheran Church
Schmid Bros. Building
Schuerenberg House
Seelhorst-Lehrmann House
Site of Chappell Hill College
Site of Home of General Sam Houston
Site of Masonic Academy
Site of Mound Hill School
Site of Old St. Anthony Hotel
Site of Rees Sanitarium
Site of Soule University for Boys
Site of Wesley School
Southern Pacific Freight Depot
Steiner & Dallmeyer Building
St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church
St. John's United Church of Christ Cemetery
St. Paul-Rehburg School
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Texas Confederate County Commissioners Court
The Declaration of Texas Independence
Thomas Afflect
Thomas Deye Owings
Union Hill
Washington County
Washington County Courthouse
Washington County C. S. A.
Washington County State Bank
Washington-on-the Brazos
Washington-on-the Brazos
Waul's Texas Legion Campsite
Wesley Brethren Church
Whiting Cemetery
William H. Watson
William Jones Elliott Heard
Wittbecker-Weiss House
Witte-Williams House
Wood-Hughes House
Woodlief Brown Log House
W. W. Browning House
African American Catholic Community
Allcorn-Kokemoor Farmstead
Allcorn-McNeese Cemetery
Amos Gates
Andrew Robinson Sr.
Anson Jones Barrington Home
Applewhite House
Asa Brigham
Atkinson Cemetery
Barrington Plantation
Bassett and Bassett Banking House
Baylor University, Female Department
Baylor University for Boys
Baylor University on Windmill Hill
Baylor University State Park
Bethlehem Cemetery
Birthplace of Hedwig T Kniker Blinn College
Blue Bell Creameries
B'nai Abraham Synagogue
Brenham
Brenham Fire Department
Brenham Manifest
Brenham Masonic Cemetery
Brenham Normal & Industrial College
Brenham Presbyterian Church
Brenham Public Library
Brown's Prairie School and Building
Burton Cafe
Burton Community
Burton Depot
Burton Farmers Gin
Burton High School
Burton State Bank
Camp Felder
Camptown Cemetery
Cedar Creek Community
Chappell Hill
Chappell Hill Female College Bell
Chappell Hill Masonic Cemetery
Christian Church Cemetery
City of Brenham
Columns of a Building of Old Baylor University
Davis Family
Dr. Asa Hoxey Home
Dr. Horace G. Clark
Early Texas River Steamers
Eben-Ezer Evangelical Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Colleges of Texas
Farmers State Bank & Reinstein Store
First Baptist Church
First Christian Church of Brenham
First Methodist Church
First Public High School in Brenham
Former Bank Building of Giddings & Giddings
Friedens Church of Washington, UCC
Friedens Church of Washington, UCC Cemetery
Fritz Paul and Emma Schroeder House
Gantt-Jones House
General Jerome B. Robertson Home
General Sam Houston
Gen. James Willie
George Campbell Childress Statue
George Clark Red Homestead
George Washington Petty
Germania Mutual Aid Association
Giddings-Stone House
Giddings-Wilkin House
Gideon Lincecum
Gideon Lincecum
Glenblythe Plantation, Home of Thomas Affleck
Greenvine Baptist Church
Greenvine Gas Discovery
Greenvine Schools
Harmon School
Hasskarl House - "Far View"
Hatfield Plantation
Henry V. and Rebecca Robertson Homestead
Hogan Funeral Home
Holly Oaks
Hood's Texas Brigade, C. S. A.
Houston-Lea Family Cemetery
Hunt-Hardy House
Hutchinson-Korth Home
Independence
Independence
Independence Postal Service
Independence School
Jacob Haller House
James Holt, Texas Ranger
James Walker Log House
Jefferson Davis Highway No. 20
John Hoblett Seward Home
John McNeese Graveyard
John Prince Coles
John Sterling Smith House
John William Smith
Julius Yanch Home
La Bahia Road
Leander H. McNelly
Lewis Kraatz
Liberty Baptist Church
Liberty Community Cemetery
Live Oak Female Seminary
Lockhart Plantation
Louis Lehmann House
Ludwig Lehman Family Cemetery
Major William E. Howth
Margaret Lea Houston Home
Margaret M. Lea Houston
Mayer Cemetery
Mercy Seat Baptist Church
Methodist Church
Milas Robertson "Burney" Parker
Mill Creek Farm
Milroy's Garden and Orchard
Moses Austin Bryan
Moses Baine
Mount Rose Baptist Church
Mount Vernon
Mount Zion Cemetery
Mt. Calvary Cemetery
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Mt. Zion Cemetery
Mt. Zion United Methodist Church
Nancy Lea Bell
Oak Hill Cemetery
Oak Rest Cemetery and Site of Prospect Presbyterian Church
Old Baptist Church
Old Baylor Park
Old Independence Cemetery
Old Rock Store
Pampell-Day Homestead
Permela Haynie Home
Pleasant Hill School
Prairie Lea Cemetery
Providence Baptist Church
Purchase of Washington Park
Replica of Convention Hall
Reue-Eickenhorst House
Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor
Robert Starke Armistead
Robert Starke Armistead
Rocky Hill School
Rosedale Nursery
Ross-Carroll House
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Salem Lutheran Church
Schmid Bros. Building
Schuerenberg House
Seelhorst-Lehrmann House
Site of Chappell Hill College
Site of Home of General Sam Houston
Site of Masonic Academy
Site of Mound Hill School
Site of Old St. Anthony Hotel
Site of Rees Sanitarium
Site of Soule University for Boys
Site of Wesley School
Southern Pacific Freight Depot
Steiner & Dallmeyer Building
St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church
St. John's United Church of Christ Cemetery
St. Paul-Rehburg School
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Texas Confederate County Commissioners Court
The Declaration of Texas Independence
Thomas Afflect
Thomas Deye Owings
Union Hill
Washington County
Washington County Courthouse
Washington County C. S. A.
Washington County State Bank
Washington-on-the Brazos
Washington-on-the Brazos
Waul's Texas Legion Campsite
Wesley Brethren Church
Whiting Cemetery
William H. Watson
William Jones Elliott Heard
Wittbecker-Weiss House
Witte-Williams House
Wood-Hughes House
Woodlief Brown Log House
W. W. Browning House