Museum board members, staff members from several city departments and residents interested in their city’s history were treated to an illustrated printed history as well as an interesting collection of items that represent Garland’s involvement in the art of making hats. This art, which has been prominent in Garland since the 1930s, continues to thrive today.
There are three hat manufacturers that call Garland home: HatCo (formerly Byer-Rolnick), Master Hatters and Milano Hat Company. The exhibit, called “Garland Hats: Harry, William and John,” tells the story of each company and the men who ran them.
Kim Nurmi, Heritage Crossing coordinator, explained that exhibits like this are important for multiple reasons.
“When working on the exhibits, we discover new things that we never knew before so it’s important that the research continues,” she said.
She added that when the museum brings part of Garland’s history to the public as in an exhibit, it creates civic pride in those who view it.
“A person could be from Garland, not know anything about the city’s history and be very ambivalent about living here, feeling that it’s just where they live,” Nurmi said. “But when they learn facts about it’s history like the hat manufacturing, for example, it creates a deeper connection within that person which leads to civic pride.”
To provide fun, educational programs for children, the museum engages the help of their mascot, Henry the Heritage Hedgehog.
Henry leads a tour of the downtown area, talks about history and asks questions to engage kids and get them to use their imaginations. The museum also offers a scavenger hunt using photos of items instead of text so that younger children and children who do not speak English can participate. During the scavenger hunt, kids may be shown a picture of a computer, for example, then they look around the museum for something that would have been used in the past as a computer is used today.
Tours and field trips are also available for groups of children such as Garland ISD students, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Private tours can also be arranged.
During the kids’ visits, Nurmi explains the basic history of the depot structure and railcar and covers subjects such how the back room is higher because the floor needed to be level with railcars for easy loading and unloading of cargo.
She calls children’s attention to the oddity of two entry doors and two ticket windows at the depot. When inquiring if any of them know the reason, she is impressed that even some of the youngest kids can answer the question.
“They’ve learned about segregation in school but when they see the reality first-hand it changes things for them.,” she said. “It’s important for kids to see real-life examples of how things were.”
An exhibit about the arts in Garland is currently in the works and is sure to be fascinating to Garland residents as well as everyone with an interest in the arts.
The Landmark Museum is located at 393 North Sixth Street and is open from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. every Saturday. To find out more about volunteering at the museum or to arrange a field trip or private group tour, please email Heritage@garlandtx.gov.