Collin County History Museum

 McKinney, TX

This historic post office is now the Collin County History Museum.  The flags are at half mass because of our most recent mass shooting on America's Birthday.

Getting our History on

Today we visited the Collin County History Museum in Downtown McKinney and Erika joined us.  Collin County is named after Collin McKinney and McKinney Texas is named after Collin McKinney.  We are spending our month in McKinney Texas in Collin County.

The museum sits near the center of downtown McKinney across the street from Arcade 92.  Did you read about my trip there? If not check it out here.  Upon entering you are greeted by a volunteer that asks you to sign a book and there is a donation bucket right there.  We were given an overview of the building by a nice young man.  He also showed us how to use the iPad with an augmented reality tour installed.  When you see a photo or display with a blue dot you can point the iPad at it and get either a photo of what it looks like now or more information.  It was a really fun way to interact with the museum.  

I really wanted to touch this cool old clock but I pretended to be a grownup and didn't

The augmented reality app replaced the photo on the wall with a photo of how the building looks now.  It worked really well.

This one gave you more info about the cart that you see

There was an electric trolley that ran through  McKinney at one time.  They ended service in 1928.

Sadly I wasn't allowed to dress up like an operator and punch cards.

I used my Google Pixel 6 to edit out a person that was in the shot on the left and it also wanted to edit out the banjo player.  

They tell us that Collin McKinney was the person that suggested all Texas Counties be about 30 square miles.  They don't tell us that it was because that is about how much distance you could cover from your farm to the county seat in a day back in the day.

I should have brought markers so I could have colored in their map.

We have seen many Northern Mockingbirds.  I also checked to make sure the Pecan tree was actually native to Texas.  It is.

Fancy hats

I was hoping my pharmacist friend could whip me up a batch of this.  His blog is here if you are interested.

I spy with my little eye something that glorifies racism.  This mural seemed newish.  We were both unwilling to ask about it as we didn't want to stir the pot.

Their mascot is a buffalo.

You can watch all of Chet Garner's content for only $25 a year.  Or you can read my blog for zero dollars a year.  I don't look as good in a cowboy hat.

Collin McKinney, The Man, The Myth, The Legend

We watched a video about Collin  McKinney and all of his greatness.  He seemed to be on the right side of history the whole way and had God given powers and he was powered by God.  If you have a moment I highly recommend you watch the video linked below.  In the end there will be 2 possible outcomes, you will have tears in your eyes and want to move to Texas and strive to be the man Collin McKinney was or you will be reminded of Jebediah Springfield of The Simpsons.  I am not saying that Collin had a shady unknown past, but the video is VERY over the top on their love for their beloved Collin McKinney.

 Here is a clip from The Simpsons for contrast.  

If you are in McKinney, TX you should make a trip to the museum.  They do a great job and it was an hour or so in a building that wasn't 85 degrees.  If you end up having the courage to ask about the mural let me know what they say.

Gelato on a hot day

After the museum we walked 10 miles (it was only about a quarter mile but it was like 102 degrees) to the gelato shop.  I got a really delicious Root Beer Float.

Sweet Caroline, BUM BUM BUM, Gelato

They make their gelato daily in small batches.  How small?  Not sure.

It was really the hardest decision of the week so far

This photo is for The Instagram

It came with a sidecar of Root Beer

This is the statue of Throckmorton.  He has a street named after him and his motto was, "Pull My Finger" we think.  James Webb Throckmorton was the 12th governor of Texas and a slave owner. If you accidentally Google him as Throck Morton or Throckmorton sign, you get a very very different result that is also interesting but not really SFW.

Root Beer float weather for sure

That's it for today.  Tomorrow we hit the road and look out the window at eastern Texas.  If you didn't catch yesterday's post it is right here.