Burton Farmers Gin

Jun 5

The Burton Farmers Gin is the oldest operating cotton gin in America. Organized in 1913 by local farmers who raised $10,000, the gin opened on August 3, 1914. The two- and three-story structure was built of cypress wood clad in corrugated tin. Originally steam-powered, the gin switched to a Bessemer oil engine in 1925, housed in a new engine room with a manager’s office above it. An electric motor was added in 1963, with the Bessemer engine maintained as a backup until the gin closed in 1974.

Today, the gin is open daily for tours as the Texas Cotton Gin Museum, and the original equipment remains operational. The gin was saved, restored, and opened to the public by Operation Restoration, a nonprofit organization founded in 1987. Their efforts led to the site's designation as the Official Cotton Gin Museum of Texas in 2009. The gin was also recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1988 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Now, at 110 years old, the structure needs significant repairs and maintenance. Heavy rains after years of drought have caused wood rot, creating an urgent need for roof replacement and support for the heavy equipment on the upper floors to ensure long-term structural stability.