The Red Men Museum and Library is an

American history museum The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves, and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific, and military history. Among the items on display is t ...

Waco, Texas Waco ( ) is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2020 population of 138,486, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the ...

. It also houses the archives and presents the official history of the Improved Order of Red Men, a patriotic fraternal organization with traditions attributed to Native Americans.

Organization

Robert E. Davis, the former national secretary for the Red Men, was an avid collector of both Red Men memorabilia as well as an eclectic collection of artifacts he had purchased at auction. He willed his collection to the organization which founded the museum in 1991. The organization is incorporated as the Texas Red Men Foundation. The complex is home to both the headquarters of the national Red Men fraternal organization and the Great Council of Texas office. The Red Men Museum takes part in Texas Brazos Trail, a historical tourism effort by the State of Texas and is also a member of the Museum Association of Waco Red men museum 2012

Collection

The collection consists of a very eclectic group of artifacts, mostly pertaining to American history. Included within the collection is a peace blanket from the Apache leader

Geronimo Geronimo ( apm, Goyaałé, , ; June 16, 1829 – February 17, 1909) was a prominent leader and medicine man from the Bedonkohe band of the Ndendahe Apache people. From 1850 to 1886, Geronimo joined with members of three other Central Apache ba ...

, a bugle from the

Gettysburg Battlefield The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the site of the first shot ...

, a writing desk belonging to

Aaron Burr Aaron Burr Jr. (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805. Burr's legacy is defined by his famous personal conflict with Alexand ...

and moccasins from Chiricahua leader Cochise.

Library

The museum houses a non-circulating archive of works available to the general public for study. In addition to Red Men organization documents, the collection contains historical documents relating to

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, including the Nuremberg War Criminal Trial reports, and the complete

Warren Commission The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, known unofficially as the Warren Commission, was established by President Lyndon B. Johnson through on November 29, 1963, to investigate the assassination of United States Pr ...

report.

Building

The museum is located near the Waco Independent School District football stadium and sports complex. The brick building is designed to look reminiscent of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and also includes a hall and commercial kitchen for events.

References

External links