Center for Rural Heritage

The Preservation Texas Center for Rural Heritage at Bassett Farms Conservancy is a historic 2,400-acre farm and ranch located southeast of Waco in Falls and Limestone counties. The property was donated to Preservation Texas in 2012 by the late Mrs. Willie Ford (Bassett) Sparkman so that it can be permanently stewarded. The vast cultural landscape contains a range of historic, natural, and archaeological resources, including the Hopewell Freedom Colony.

In the coming years, the property will be developed as a statewide preservation training center. Programs will focus on late 19th century African-American freedom colonies, early 20th century tenant farming, and the stewardship of large-scale cultural landscapes. Hiking trails will be developed to increase access to the property, and threatened historic buildings will be relocated to the Center to provide lodging for guests. On-site preservation training programs and residencies will provide unmatched opportunities for hands-on preservation trades education, archaeology, and best practices in historic preservation.

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