The historical Victorian Brown House in the charming downtown of Wylie is a picturesque glimpse into the past. The Brown House exhibit celebrating America’s 250th birthday is open to the public starting Jan. 13 for the rest of the year. The history of Wylie is well portrayed throughout the period accurate and historical embellishments of the home, which has been standing since 1905.
The overall historical appearance of the house adds to the Victorian feel, encompassed by period accurate wallpaper, furniture, paintings and decorations. The stained glass windows are original from when the Brown House was first built
The best part of the history home was the tour guides, who extravagantly dressed from the time period they were portraying. These tour guides were kind, knowledgeable and committed to their job— spreading the history of Wylie and America. The time period accurate costumes brought a sense of jolly and enthusiasm to the Brown House exhibit.
One downside of the Brown House is that it’s not hands-on nor interactive, so younger children with smaller attention spans may not be intrigued by the exhibit unless they simply have a penchant for history. Yet despite this exhibit entirely hands off, it still feels interactive through the tour guides, beautiful exhibits, informational displays and period accurate decorum.
Throughout my time at the exhibit, I learned so much about the Victorian era, the Brown House, the becoming of America, George Washington, and American history. I highly recommend spending a few hours or an afternoon visiting the Brown House to learn a plentiful amount of information about Wylie and the United States. It’s a historical adventure, all without leaving your hometown.
