Yesterday, I visited the Polk County Memorial Museum in Livingston, Texas. This small museum is free to the public and covers a vast array of topics related to East Texas history, including prehistory, Native American arts & crafts, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the timber industry.
Some of my favorites items at the museum included the animal baskets made of longleaf pine needles. The baskets were created by members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, whose reservation is next to Livingston.
My other favorite artifacts came from exhibits on life in Polk County during the 1900s through the 1950s. This includes several musical instruments, photographs of high school students, bottles and fine china, and a fancy chandelier.
Overall, the museum is professional done, with high quality signage and well-maintained exhibits. The building itself is highly accessible, with no room to get lost, bright lighting, and fairly wide hallways and doorways, although there is a step up to get into the house, with no ramp available. Also note that the language of some exhibits take on a "Lost Cause" tone.
Abby Epplett Rating System:
Experience: 7/10 | Accessibility: 7/10