Last Tuesday, I visited the Dutch Windmill Museum & La Maison Des Acadienne at Tex Ritter Park in Nederland, Texas. This cute pair of reproduction buildings tells the history of two groups who settled in the area in the late 19th century: the staid, Calvinist Dutch and the the fun-loving, Catholic Acadians. Although these groups were radically different, their cultural emphases of hard work, religious devotions, and tolerance of others enabled them to live and thrive together.
The museums take on a similarly positive spin. They stand in a park named after country music singer and actor Woodward Maurice "Tex" Ritter. Some of his memorabilia is housed in the Dutch Windmill Museum. Another treasure in this windmill include the high jump bar from the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, where southeast Texas native Walter Francis "Buddy" Davis won gold with a leap of 6 ft 8 1/4in, just a quarter inch over his own height. Additionally, the windmill has many elements of Dutch culture, including gifts from the Dutch royal family, dolls in various regional Dutch costumes, wooden shoes and bonnets to wear, faux tulips, and plenty of delft for sale. I even got to try a sample of Dutch candy.
Over at La Maison, tools and goods from French life in Texas fill the little log house, which is strikingly similar to the home at the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket, RI. A quick guided tour leads through the main room, where the girls in the family would sleep, then on to the parents' small room, and finally to the tight kitchen. The guide explains that the boys would sleep in the attic, although that space is not open for the tour. A display case in the main room contains additional artifacts from French culture, including an old violin.
While these museums are a great trip for families and school groups, they do pose significant accessibility issues. Both buildings were well-lit and unlikely to have sound-related issues. However, they also have front steps at the entrance, while the second floor of the windmill is accessible only by narrow, winding, metal steps, which even I was slow to navigate. Accordingly, this experience cannot be enjoyed by someone with significant mobility issues.
For those who can ascend the steps, this charming pair of free museums is a great way to get a peek into two different groups from southeast Texas, and it's a nostalgia trip for anyone who is part of those cultures. The hours of the museums are a little tricky. They are open Tuesday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. before September 1, and Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. plus Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. after September 1. It is unclear if January 1 marks a second transition. Visitors can call ahead to ask for hours at 409-723-1545.