Tyler TX Facebook

Follow Donny on Twitter

Username:
Password:
  Remember Me   Forgot password?  Register
0-9  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

Find or Refer a Contractor in Tyler

Cultural Institutions and Events in Tyler Texas

May 19th, 2010

The Tyler and East Texas area are often criticized for a perceived lack of culture or cultural events. This point of criticism is only partially true. With the city growing more and more all the time, new events and institutions geared to changing this perception are opening every day. For those interested in expanding our area’s horizons, here are a couple of opportunities to aid to our local cultural awareness.

The American Freedom Museum at the Brook Hill School

The Brook Hill School has been open for nearly fourteen years now. In that time the school has worked to build a reputation as a premier preparatory academy that not only offers its students an excellent education, but contributes to the betterment to the overall East Texas community. One such example is The American Freedom Museum, located on their campus in Bullard. The museum opened to the public earlier this month and is so much more than just an amateur collection of charts and artifacts! It is an actual historical museum with exhibits that would make any university proud. The Hall of Presidents, features documents signed by each of our nation’s Presidents. The Hall of Freedom contains historical artifacts from all of our nation’s wars and conflicts, including period uniforms, flags and weapons. There are even aircraft and other vehicles from both the Second World War and the Vietnam War, on display. The purpose of the institution is to inspire both students and the public at large, as well as to honor Americans veterans from all our wars. A visit here would provide a wonderful learning opportunity for East Texans this summer. For more information on either the school or the museum contact their office at (903)894-5000. Also look for the article entitled Classical Education and Christian Character located elsewhere on this site.

As a side note the school will be running its summer athletic camps from the end of June through July. The camps cover most area sports including Basketball, Baseball, Football, Soccer, Dance and Drill, general conditioning and a number of others. See their website for times and options. www.brookhill.org/summercamps.html.

The Historical Aviation Memorial Museum

Another opportunity for summer learning is the Historical Aviation Memorial Museum, located in the old Tyler Pounds Field Terminal in Tyler. The Aviation Museum is a great local institution that will fascinate kids and adults alike. It covers the history of aviation and even space travel, from all periods of history. In doors are models, maps and uniforms from air forces and air transportation the world over. Out doors are restored military aircraft from several historical periods. The museum also owns three additional airplanes which are currently not on general display and is in the process of restoring a couple others. The museum is scheduled to hold an Aviation Camp from June ninth through the twelfth, from ten am to three pm, and a static air show display on July third from ten am to five pm. For more information on the museum and other upcoming events visit their website at www.tylerhamm.org, or look for the article entitled World history is down the street, located elsewhere on this site.

The Tyler Oil Palace

While I admit the venue is not great, the Tyler Oil Palace has maintained an interesting slate of events lately. This summer the agenda continues to move forward with an appearance by legendary country western artist George Jones on June nineteenth, followed by political rock star Sara Palin on June twenty sixth, and a visit from the Shrine Circus on September fourth, fifth, and sixth. While I concede that not all of these necessarily constitute culturally enriching events, visits from national figures like Palin, (and Glen Beck who visited last month), definitely help to put our fair city on the map. For more info on the Oil Palace or on upcoming events go to the website at www.oilpalace.com, or see my recent article entitled Glenn Beck comes to Tyler, also located on this site.

Good Shepherd Offers A Great Education

January 8th, 2010

Since July is winding down and the kids will be headed back to school, it’s time to look at yet another academic opportunity in Tyler. Good Shepherd School has been serving Tyler and the East Texas community since 1979. The private Tyler elementary school offers all grades from kindergarten to twelfth grade. The school’s focus is on providing a Classical, traditional Anglican, education to its students.
 
Good Shepherd is a “Reformed Episcopal School.” Theologically, it holds tightly to its roots in the English reformation, but it remains a conservative Episcopal school. The school uses what it calls the “medieval trivium” consisting of Grammar, Logic and rhetoric, to teach the students to reason critically and communicate their ideas clearly.

The curriculum is a mix of texts selected by the teachers and staff as most useful and effective for those classrooms. This classical approach seems to be an effective one, since the students emerge with a well rounded education. With around a hundred thirty students, the teacher student ratio is low, a plus for many parents seeking a more personal tutorial experience for their children. 

The students also attend daily chapel services. The liturgical services teach the Our Father, (or the Lord’s Prayer), the Ten Commandments, the Christian Creeds, etc. The purpose of these services is to instill in the students an appreciation of the historic traditions of the Christian faith. The school hopes to provide the students with a world view grounded in reason and scripture, which he or she will hopefully carry throughout their lives. Even though the school itself is Anglican, the student body contains families from a number of different denominations.

While the education offered at Good Shepherd is excellent, the extra curriculars are admittedly light. They do offer some limited programs like basketball, and baseball. G. S. also partners with other area schools in order to offer greater athletic opportunities to its student body. For parents whose concern is largely academic however, this is not a huge trade off. If you would like more information contact the office at (903)592-4045, or see the website at www.gsstyler.org. Good Shepherd School is located at 2525 Old Jacksonville Rd. Tyler TX

A Bit Of Africa In The Middle Of Tyler

January 8th, 2010

In the late nineteen sixties and early seventies, Mr. and Mrs. Brookshire, of local grocery fame, went on numerous expeditions to Africa. The purpose was to return samples of the African wildlife to Texas where it could be studied and enjoyed by area youth. After several such treks the couple established the Brookshire’s “World of Wild Museum” in 1975. This beginning was small however, as it opened in the lobby of the company office. A year later the exhibit would expand slightly. Tyler Texas would have to wait until 1990, for the museum to grow into its own building. Fourteen years after the move, the museum expanded yet again, this time to include new exhibits donated by members of the East Texas community.

Today the museum includes wildlife from all over the world, but focuses on Africa and North America. There are all kinds of big and small game, including everything from monkeys to zebras, and polar bears to big horn sheep and antelopes. In fact there are more than four hundred fifty different species on display.

When establishing the museum, the Brookshire family did not forget the business they obviously love. Attached to the museum is a model of a nineteen twenties country store. Found inside are all the items necessary to life in that period, displayed as they would have been at the time. Everything from food stuffs, to practical items like clocks, chairs and fabrics, to coffee and tobacco are found there.

The last feature of the museum is the playground, which has three interesting exhibits of its own. The first is a La France fire truck. Built in 1952, it served the Dallas fire department for years and now offers young visitors a hands-on experience. The second is a McCormick Deering farm tractor. It was built in 1926 and sits quietly in the yard, for the enjoyment of its young visitors. Lastly, is a railroad Caboose, which has been restored to a more useful time. Picnic tables provide a place sit and eat after a tour of the museum.

The Brookshire’s World of Wild Museum and county store is admittedly, oddly located on Old Jacksonville road, next to the Brookshire’s grocery store distribution center. But with forty thousand visitors a year, Tylerites are clearly finding it. It is a wonderful educational experience for all ages, and best of all its absolutely free. So if you’re looking for a place to take your children for a summer morning outing, consider this local trip. It will surely surpass your expectations. For more info, or to take a virtual tour go to http://www.brookshires.com/museum