Brenham, Texas was founded in 1844 and is the county Seat of Washington County, Texas. Washington County is known as the Birthplace of Texas because of the significant role these communities played in the founding of Texas. From Brenham it is easy to visit the historic sites throughout the county.
This region of Central Texas is also known for being covered in bluebonnets every spring. Bluebonnets are the state flower and a symbol of Texas. It is common for people to stop and take photographs with the wildflowers from the middle of March to the middle of April.
Brenham has long been seen as a tourism destination in Texas due to its charm, unique history, and proximity to major cities. It is a popular day-trip destination from Houston and Austin, but it is the people who stay longer who truly get to enjoy the night life and all of the attractions the town has to offer.
Bluebell Creameries, one of the largest ice cream manufacturers in the United States, is based out of Brenham. The ice cream company is often seen as a symbol of Texas culture. Blue Bell Creameries have their own visitor center and offer tours of their facilities that attract visitors from all over. Please note they are closed on weekends.
In addition to tourism, Brenham is also home to Blinn College. Students of the school make up a significant percentage of the 16,000 person population of Brenham, Texas. This is one of several campuses for Blinn College, and not the largest campus.
Location
Brenham, Texas is located on 290 roughly halfway between Houston and Austin. Brenham is 40 miles from College Station, 75 miles from Houston, 89 miles from Austin, and 135 miles from San Antonio.
Brenham is the county seat of Washington County. Washington-on-the-Brazos, where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed, is located in Washington County. Other notable communities in the county include Independence, Chappell Hill, and Burton.
Museum on Main Street
Brenham was selected to be one of seven small towns in Texas that will receive a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian called Museum on Main Street. This exhibit will be in Brenham for December 2024 and January 2025. The other Texas communities selected are Bandera, Buffalo Gap, Clifton, El Paso, Rockport, and San Augustine.
When to visit Brenham
If you are planning to tour Blue Bell Creameries, please note they are closed on the weekends.
March is the best time of year to visit Brenham because it is usually excellent weather and that is when the wildflowers that this part of Texas is known for are in bloom. Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrushes carpet the fields around the town, and you can see them for much of the drive into Brenham from Houston if you take Highway 290. March 2nd is Texas Independence Day, and Washington County is considered the Birthplace of Texas because it is where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed.
The Bluebonnet Festival is generally in the middle of April. I personally find that the festival usually falls after the peak of bluebonnet season. This is a very popular festival, expect there to be many tourists and to pay for parking. Make reservations for hotel rooms in advance.
Maifest is the first weekend in May, and is the oldest festival in Texas. The festival celebrates the German heritage in Brenham and the Maypole is located next to an antique carousel in the park.
The Washington County Fair is held in Brenham near the end of September. It is the oldest county fair in Texas.
The Texas Arts and Music Festival is every year in the third week of October. They have many art themed events and activities, and you can see artists work on some of the amazing murals in Brenham.
There are lots of activities in Brenham year round, and any day that you have good weather is a good time visit.
What to do in Brenham, Texas
There are plenty of activities in Brenham if you want to stay for a long weekend. There are several large festivals throughout the year, and many local businesses and organizations have regular activities as well.
Brenham has a vibrant downtown. It is the county seat of Washington County, and has the courthouse in the middle of a town square. The square is full of coffee shops, restaurants, and interesting stores. There are lots of great places to take pictures, and keep an eye out for some of the town’s murals.
The downtown area has free public parking and public restrooms available. During peak tourism season crowds come in on the weekends.
Many of the attractions have limited hours or require scheduling in advance for a private tour.
Brenham Visitor Center
115 W Main St, Brenham, TX 77833
While you are walking around the historic downtown, be sure to drop into the Brenham Visitor Center. Located in the historic Simon Theater it is a wealth of information about what to see and do in the town. It is operated by the city and has information about visiting Brenham, as well as other locations in Washington County and Texas. The staff members are friendly and very helpful, and the place looks fantastic.
Be sure to stop by, because they will have up to date information about all the numerous events and activities in town. In addition to the major festivals throughout the year, they also have a list of all of the events happening in town for the week such as cooking classes, speakers, or live music.
Blue Bell Creameries Visitor’s Center
1101 S Blue Bell Rd, Brenham, Texas 77833
Please note that the tourist activities at Blue Bell Creameries are closed on the weekends.
Blue Bell Ice Cream is an important part of Brenham, Texas. Tourists are able to watch the ice cream being made. You can get a scoop of ice cream a the ice cream parlor for a dollar.
Blue Bell Creameries was originally named the Brenham Creamery Company when it was founded in 1907.
Giddings Stone Mansion
2203 Century Cir, Brenham, TX 77833
Trying to get away from a Yellow Fever epidemic that occurred in Brenham the Giddings family had this house built on higher ground. Construction was completed on the home in 1870. It was built in the Greek Revival style, which is popular in Brenham. The house has large verandas and stately columns. It has been designated a Texas Historic Landmark by the Texas Historical Commission.
For a fee you can make arrangements to have a guided tour of the mansion or participate in a full heritage home tour of multiple historic houses.
Brenham Heritage Museum
105 S Market St, Brenham, Texas 77833
Admission is $5 for adults. Open Wednesday – Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
The Brenham Heritage Museum is dedicated to the history of Brenham and the surrounding Washington County. It is located in an old post office building that was built in 1916.
Brenham Fire Museum
109 S Market St, Brenham, TX 77833
See antique fire fighting equipment including multiple fire trucks such as Samanthe, which was purchased by the department in 1923. You can also learn about the history of the Brenham fire department, and how they served the community.
The museum has free entry during its operating hours, which are usually only on Saturdays and extremely limited. Private tours can be scheduled at least a week in advance for a fee.
If you aren’t able to visit during their hours of operation it is still worth walking past because you can see some of the trucks through the windows.
Brenham used a unique system of cisterns to get water for fire fighting. The cisterns are preserved in Toubin Park which is in the historic downtown. The system of public cisterns is a Texas Archeological Landmark.
The Silsby Steam Fire Engine is the only one still existing in Texas. The Brenham Fire Department founded the Washington County Fair, which is the oldest county fair in Texas. They also began the Maifest celebration which has been celebrated annually since 1881.
Flying Horses Antique Carousel
Ewing St, Brenham, TX 7783 at Fireman’s Park
This is a hand carved wooden carousel. From 1870 – 1930 it was popular for people to travel across the United States selling rides on this style of carousel. This era came to an end with the Great Depression. This carousel is believed to be the oldest surviving carousel in Texas.
The Flying Horses Antique Carousel is one of only five remaining antique wooden carousels in Texas. It is located inside of Fireman’s Park. The horses on the carousel were built in the Country Fair style by manufacturer Charles W. Dare. The carousel was abandoned in a pasture by a traveling carnival that was unable to support itself. In 1930 people from Brenham salvaged the carousel and restored it. By 1932 the carousel was unveiled for the Washington County Fair, where six rides cost a quarter.
The carousel open to the public seasonally for limited hours during the weekends, or by advanced reservation for groups on weekdays. Only children under age 12 are allowed to ride on the wooden horses, adults can stand near the horses or ride the gondolas.
Toubin Park
208 S Park St, Brenham, TX 77833
This park is located in the historic downtown of Brenham. It is very small and only about the size of one lot and accessed along an alley. It showcases the public cistern system that was created as one of the first government public works projects in Texas.
Water was collected on the roofs of buildings, and drained into underground cisterns. In addition to being a rudimentary form of indoor plumbing, the water in the cisterns was also used for fighting fires.
Toubin Park is a small peaceful area that is shady in the middle of the downtown area. You can hear the sound of the running water from the cisterns. There is also a dog waste station in the park.
See the Murals
Historic Downtown
There are over twenty murals located throughout Brenham. Most of the murals can be found off of Commerce Street in between Austin Street and Saint Charles Street. Several of the murals are located in Parking Lot E, located between Park Street and Baylor Street.
In addition to the public art, there are art galleries and art studios located on Alamo Street.
Blue Bell Aquatic Center
1800 E Tom Green St, Brenham, TX 77833
The municipal pool for Brenham is open to non-residents if they pay for a day pass. There are three different pools in the complex including a family friendly ice cream themed leisure pool with a big slide.
Must be Heaven
107 W Alamo St, Brenham, TX 77833
Located in the historic downtown Must be Heaven is a lunch spot with an ice cream parlor and pies by the slice. You can order soup and sandwiches for lunch. You can go straight up to the counter to order slices of pie or ice cream to-go.
Drive with me around Brenham, Texas
Here are some of my driving videos around Brenham, Texas.