History of Yoakum Heritage Museum

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Mrs. Shirley Blundell, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Witte, Attorney Elwood Gaus, and William (Bill) Browning began the preliminary action in 1980 with the help of many community members to establish a museum in Yoakum. The first organizational meeting was held on November 30, 1981. A steering committee was formed and on December 8, 1981, the Yoakum City Council voted to support the prospective museum. The Secretary of State of Texas chartered Yoakum Heritage Museum on January 26, 1982. The chartered corporation proposed to establish and maintain a museum to preserve the culture and heritage of the surrounding area. The museum's first residence was in the former home of Dr. and Mrs. John Boyd at 215 Nelson Street (behind the Yoakum Fire Department). The museum opened to the public during the 1982 Tom-Tom Festival and its first exhibit consisted of gowns and regalia of earlier Tom-Tom celebrations. The museum had no heat and was leased for $900 a year. During the first three years of operation more than 4,000 toured the museum.

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The current museum, located at 312 Simpson Street, was built in the early 1900's and became the home of the J.K. Elkins family, owners of a small chain of 5, 10, and 25 cent stores. The house originally faced Hugo Street and was one story. The Elkins acquired the home in 1907 and completely renovated it in 1912 by adding a second story and moving the front door and placing it at an angle changing the address from Hugo to Simpson Street.

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Original to the house are the beveled glass front door, stained glass windows and ornate. staircase. The house was later occupied by the Elkins grandson, William (Bill) Browning and his family. Mr. Browning was president of the First National Bank of Yoakum. Mrs. Mary Bell Browning deeded the house to the museum in 1986. Behind the museum is the carriage house used by the Browning's as a garage; originally it was a horse barn with hay loft that is still intact.

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The museum is a nonprofit organization with very limited funds coming from the City of Yoakum, hotel/motel tax revenues, donations, Walk of Fame memorials, grants and fundraising projects. Without community sponsors and support from our membership drives, our efforts of preserving our local history would not be possible.

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Ongoing exhibits in the museum include the Leather Room which features a photographic history of the leather industry in Yoakur and C.C. Welhausen the founder of Tex Tan. The hand tooled leather border on the walls was designed by Leo Smith, a former commercial artist for Tex Tan and previous owner of the Leather Capital. More than 23 hand toolers worked on the room. Also on exhibit are a variety of antique saddles and hand tooled saddles from Tex Tan and Circle Y.

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The Military Room includes history and artifacts from the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Viet Nam and Iraq Conflict. On display are souvenirs from Yoakumites who served in the military during both war and peacetime. We also have a variety of cavalry sabers, cannon balls and a musket.

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The Train Room includes the history of Yoakum and the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad. Many artifacts and photographs from the early railroad days are on display. Also on exhibit are pictures of Uriah Lott, the first President of SAP, and Benjamin Franklin Yoakum, first Vice-President and General Manager of SAP Railroad.

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The Yoakum Room is filled with photographs and artifacts of Yoakum's early years. Also on exhibit is a collection of arrowheads and projectile points donated by Richard Baros.

On the sidewalk leading up to the museum is our Walk of Fame with bricks honoring the past and present citizens of Yoakum. The bricks were sold to honor someone for their birthday, anniversary, or any special occasion.

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The museum is open Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 pm. and on Friday's from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.