Farmers Branch Historical Park
2540 Farmers Branch Lane, Farmers Branch
972/406-0184
fbhistoricalpark.com
Hours: 8am–6pm Monday–Friday; 12–6pm Saturday–Sunday.
General Admission: Free.
Parking: Free.
Don’t be fooled by the word “park.” Farmers Branch Historical Park is much more than picnic tables and kite-flying space. The 27-acre public park houses 13 original, recreated and relocated historical structures typical of early Farmers Branch settlements, including an 1885 Victorian cottage and 1890s all-wooden train caboose.
To see the history firsthand, take a free tour any day of the week through one or all of the park’s buildings, filled with interactive games and activities to keep kids involved and asking questions. Call ahead to set up a weekend tour or pop in the museum store after school to find an available guide.
While every building is equally charming, there are several must-see exhibits for families. In the 1920s-style General Store, older kids can weigh candy on an old scale and spot the real-life differences from pictures of Farmers Branch general stores throughout history. With the help of a parent, younger kids are invited to join a scavenger hunt and complete a grocery-shopping list using the store’s items. You’ll feel nostalgic listening to stories on an antique radio while the kids punch away at an old cash register.
When you’re in the 1900 one-room schoolhouse, the guide will ask your kids to recite lines from the third grade readers in their desks. But be cautious: Kids who misbehave might have to wear an ugly bonnet. Let them stay and play with the mini chalkboards on top of the antique wooden desks while you count all 45 stars on the American flag.
If time runs out or your kids get antsy, plan another trip back to the park for a second look around. To get the full experience, pick cotton in the 1840s Log Culture area, examine an amputation kit in Dr. Gilbert’s 1856 home and honk the horn of a 1936 Glad Acres truck in the model Texaco Gas Station.
