Winedale Historical Complex

Every year Winedale draws thousands of students, tourists, and program participants who tour its historic properties, attend its public programs and continuing education seminars, or for tours (by appt only).

Winedale, one of five divisions of the Center for American History, is a complex of nineteenth-century structures and modern facilities situated on 225 acres near Round Top, Texas, approximately a 30-minute drive west of Brenham. Winedale's mission is to foster an understanding of Texas history and culture through research, teaching, and public service. Winedale preserves and makes accessible its research collections of nineteenth-century buildings and their period furnishings, sponsors public programs, and serves as a conference site for non-profit educational groups.

The heart of Winedale is its historic buildings, each structure offering a tangible link to our past through its public programs and events throughout the year, and its dining hall, dormitory, modern conference center, and outdoor pavilion are available for use by nonprofit educational groups for meetings and retreats. Winedale's Interpretive Center, located in the historic Hazel's Lone Oak Cottage, contains an exhibit that acquaints visitors with the history and development of the Winedale property and historic structures, and that introduces them to Winedale programs and points of interest.

architecture and furnishings and the histories of its buildings, owners, and occupants. Winedale regularly hosts students from elementary and secondary schools as well as college and university classes in history, anthropology, horticulture, and theater. Additionally Winedale reaches out to the larger community through its public programs and continuing education seminars. Winedale sponsors

Winedale derives its name from a German community that existed briefly after 1870 in Washington County. Local farmers cultivated grapes and the post office carried the name Winedale. Sometime after 1881 the village was relocated nearby in Fayette County along Jack's Creek, where it was centered around a residence once known locally as Sam Lewis's Stopping Place, and later as the Stagecoach Inn. Samuel Lewis died in 1867, but his heirs retained the house until 1882, when they sold it to Joseph George Wagner, Sr. Members of the Wagner family, including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, lived in the home for the next eighty years. Today this residence, now called the Wagner House, is the centerpiece historic structure at Winedale.

Today's Winedale is the legacy of Houston philanthropist Miss Ima Hogg, one of the nation's early preservationists and a colleague of major recognized collectors such as John D. Rockefeller and Henry du Pont. Miss Hogg originally purchased approximately ninety acres of land and related buildings on the former Samuel K. Lewis Farmstead in 1963 in order to preserve the Lewis family home. Two years later, in the midst of her restoration of the structures, Miss Hogg donated the entire property, including period furnishings, to the University of Texas.

Winedale has several annual events including the upcoming Quilt Event which will be held February 10-23, 2014. Shakespeare at Winedale is another main draw to the complex each year with performances in the spring and summer of each year. Christmas at Winedale is family-friendly event at which visitors can enjoy 19th-century holiday fun including stagecoach rides, folk life demonstrators, home tours, German Santa and much more.

Winedale also hosts special programs throughout the year as well as seminars related to agriculture.

You can find more information about Winedale and their events online. We encourage you to visit the historical complex and learn about this treasured history!