LCRA, City of Brenham award $10,000 grant to Brenham Heritage Museum
Window treatment, drainage improvements will help preserve cultural venue housed in historic post office
DEC. 13, 2024
BRENHAM, Texas – The Brenham Heritage Museum soon will install new window shades, tinting and drainage spouts to improve energy efficiency and protect the museum’s valuable collections and historic structure it calls home, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Brenham.
The LCRA Community Development Partnership Program grant, combined with $2,887 in matching funds from the museum, will enable the museum to address key infrastructure needs, including reducing heat and ultraviolet light entering through large windows and ensuring rainwater runoff is directed away from the building. The upgrades will improve energy efficiency, save money on utilities and help maintain a controlled environment essential for preserving artifacts and exhibits.
“These improvements will have a lasting impact on our ability to care for the museum’s collections and the historic building that houses them,” said Phillip Van Dorf, Brenham Heritage Museum board chair. “The window treatments will reduce the strain on our climate control systems, protect artifacts from damaging sunlight and create a better experience for visitors. At the same time, the new drainage spouts will help preserve the structural integrity of the building by directing rainwater away from the foundation.”
The museum is housed in the historic Post Office building in downtown Brenham, which was built in 1915 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum honors the history of Brenham and the surrounding area as the birthplace of modern Texas.
“This project demonstrates the community’s commitment to preserving its cultural assets while embracing forward-thinking solutions,” Van Dorf said. “Not only will these updates make the museum more sustainable, they will also serve as an example of how historic buildings can be preserved and modernized for today’s needs.”
The community grant is one of 37 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. The City of Brenham is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.
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