Home | National Directories | School Field Trips | Texas Cotton Gin Museum |

Texas Cotton Gin Museum

Basic Information

Address: PO Box 98 307 N. Main Street Burton, TX
Phone Number: 9792893378
Fax Number: 9792895210
Email: director@texascottonginmuseum.org
Website - Click Here!
Director: Steph Jarvis

Action Shots

Texas Cotton Gin Museum
Texas Cotton Gin Museum
Texas Cotton Gin Museum
Texas Cotton Gin Museum

* Click each thumbnail for a larger version.

Additional Information

Days and Hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays 10am to 4pm with guided tours at 10am and 2pm. The museum is open year round except for major holidays.
Description:

The Texas Cotton Gin Museum is home to the 1914 Burton Farmers Gin, the Oldest Operating Cotton Gin in America. Our mission is to keep the legacy of cotton alive for all generations through the maintenance and preservation of the 1914 Burton Farmers Gin.

Grade Levels:
K-5
6-8
9-12
Group Type: School Groups, Camp Groups, Homeschool Groups, University Groups
Disabled Access:

Museum building is wheelchair accessible, the historic Burton Farmers Gin can only be viewed from the exterior by wheelchairs.

Program Type:

The Texas Cotton Gin Museum offers an interactive, hands-on introduction to cotton and cotton ginning and guided tours of the Burton Farmers Gin. Topics and themes for tours include technology, science, agriculture, engineering, simple machines, economics, and culture.

Admission/Tickets: Admission to the museum is free. Guided group tours $3/student, $5/adult.
Registration: : Groups of 10 or more are asked to book at least two weeks in advance by calling 979-289-3378 or emailing programs@texascottonginmuseum.org.
Food: The museum does not sell food/drink. The museum invites groups to bring food and eat lunch under the 9,000 sf. Pavilion. Local restaurants/store options are available in town and staff offer information upon request.
Length of Visit: Average groups can complete the tour in less than two hours. Additional programming will lengthen the time of the visit.
Student/Staff Ratio: 15 students to 1 staff, plus chaperones is preferred.
Max. Group Number: 50-100 per day
Group Requirements: The museum can accommodate a maximum of 50 students per group, with 10 chaperones preferred. More chaperones needed for Preschool-Kindergarten.
Return Policy: Please call/email the museum as soon as possible to reschedule or cancel your visit. Tours of the gin can't be conducted in heavy rain, but an extended indoor program could be offered if rescheduling isn’t an option.
Exhibits: The museum gallery highlights tools, equipment, oral histories and photographs that bring the history of cotton to life for all ages. The 1914 Burton Farmers Gin is a fully operational air-system gin that showcases its 1925 Type IV Bessemer engine, a battery of five Lummus gin stands and a double press box.
Freebies: All visits to the museum space are free 10am to 4pm Tuesdays - Saturdays. Students can complete a trivia hunt in the museum space and receive a free postcard if they answer all correctly.
Gift Shop/Factory Outlet: The museum store offers unique cotton-themed items, books, souvenirs, t-shirts and more.
Amenities: Restrooms, covered pavilion, club car available as needed for transportation.
Videos/DVDs Shown: 15 minute video “Cotton: From Wagon to Bale” shares the history of the Burton Farmers Gin as well as the process from wagon to bale for the cotton.
Reservations Needed: Reservations for tours of 10 or more or education programs can be made anytime by calling or emailing the museum. Please schedule at least two weeks in advance.
Directions:

The museum is located halfway between Houston and Austin off Highway 290. From Houston, exit at Spur 125, turn right at the first stop sign and the museum will be on your left. From Austin, exit FM 390, take 390/Washington Street into town and turn right at the four-way stop onto Main Street. The museum will be on your right. The museum's parking lot is located directly in front of the museum/visitor center.

Nearby Attractions: The Burton Railroad Depot & Museum is located less than a mile from the museum and is open by appointment and every 1st and 3rd Saturday. The Indian Creek Nature Trail is located on museum property and includes several short walking trails highlighting native plants and is maintained by the Gideon Lincecum Chapter of the Master Naturalists. Other historical sites/attractions located within a 12-25 mile radius include Blue Bell Creameries, Washington on the Brazos, Old Baylor/Historic Independence, Chappell Hill Historical Museum and more!
Mission Statement:

The Texas Cotton Gin Museum keeps the legacy of cotton alive for all generations through the maintenance and preservation of the 1914 Burton Farmers Gin – the oldest operating cotton gin in America.

Philosophy/Belief Statement:

The Texas Cotton Gin Museum enriches people's lives by helping them understand cotton's past, to appreciate the present, and embrace the future.

Testimonials:

Denise M - 5 stars
Great display, movie and tour through historical cotton gin. Really helped me to understand agriculture in the early to mid 1900s in this part of the country as well as how the US fits into the cotton growing industry now. There were children on the tour with us and they were very engaged and clearly enjoyed it too.
March 2022

Regina C. 5 stars
I scheduled a field trip here for our homeschool group and Tynan made the process so easy! He was accommodating, organized and so friendly. We had a large group and even though it was Tynan and Steph, they did a wonderful job helping us juggle the group to experience all the fun had to offer. The tour led led by Tynan was engaging and he was so good about making sure the kids were paying attention, asking and answering questions. He even answered parent questions too. They have a cute gift shop as well. I highly recommend a trip here if you're in the area. A great way to support a small business. We will absolutely be returning in the future!
January 2022

Simon X - 5 stars
The huge gin machine reminds us how much progresses we have got in mechanical technology in past 100 years. You will feel proud for our Texans' business collaborations in doing big constructions in the early days. Highly recommended!
January 2022

Muhammid Yasin - 5 stars
Great use of a previous ginning mill for educational purposes. They also grow a tiny patch of cotton. The tour guide is knowledgeable and engaging. They run the mill now only once a year for demonstration in April. The admission is free on the Festival in April and is an excellent opportunity for kids.
June 2021

Facility History:

The Texas Cotton Gin Museum is housed within a 1980s office/retail building located adjacent to the 1914 Burton Farmers Gin. After its initial start as a laundromat/real estate office, it transitioned into office space for the local Justice of the Peace and then was shared with the newly formed Burton Cotton Gin Museum as of 1999. Eventually the museum would purchase the entire building and complete waves of remodeling to create a gift shop, museum gallery, theater, restrooms and office. The site's historic gem, the Burton Farmers Gin was built in 1914 as Burton's third cotton gin and operated until the ginning season of 1974. After its closure, the gin sat vacant until 1986 when the nonprofit Operation Restoration, Inc. formed with the purpose of saving and preserving the structure and ultimately working to create a museum.

Social Networking:

https://www.facebook.com/TexasCottonGinMuseum

Instagram: @texas_cotton_gin_museum

Additional Information:

To book an educational program or tour please email our Programs Coordinator, Tynan Shadle, at programs@texascottonginmuseum.org.