Whether your stay is overnight, the weekend or the week, the Brenham area offers a full array of things to see, do and experience to fill your visit with special memories. Need some ideas? Contact our Visitor Center staff to help!
Chapelton Vineyards
Welcome to the Texas countryside where you can relax and enjoy a selection of local wines, celebrate a milestone, escape the city for a weekend in our villa, and spend time reconnecting with yourself and loved ones. Our mission here at Chapelton Vineyards is to provide you with an environment where premium wine is our priority, and to create opportunities for you to explore your wine knowledge further. We invite you to taste our wines, relax and unwind, and enjoy your time with us here. The vision for Chapelton Vineyards was born out of the Lyn’s love of the countryside. Living most of their life in the city, when they discovered Washington, TX, they fell in love with the relaxing experience, rolling hills, and of course the sunsets. After they bought property and built their personal home in Washington CO, they wanted to share their experience with others and bought more property in 2018 where they started the foundation for what is now Chapelton Vineyards. The vineyard was planted in 2019 & 2020, and the foundation of the winery building was poured in February of 2020. We are excited to continue to expand and grow our production facility as well as our estate vineyard. Follow us on social media to stay up to date on all of our upcoming events and releases!
Instagram: @chapeltonvineyards
Facebook: Chapelton Vineyards
Brenham Fire Museum
See rare antique fire engines. Learn why Brenham was burned. Hear the stories behind Maifest and Washington County Fair.
The Brenham Fire Museum was formed in 1867, to protect lives and property in the face of adversity. Shortly after, an extensive system of public cisterns was built under the streets to provide water for fighting fires. Hence, Brenham became the first Texas city to provide public services. Brenham’s historic public cisterns are a Texas Antiquities Landmark.
See Brenham’s rare Silsby Fire Engine that operated with cisterns as its water source. You’ll also see Samanthe, purchased in 1923, one of only three in the world today. Invader, purchased in 1950 is also on display.
The Brenham Fire Museum is open from 11am – 2pm, and is free entry.
If you would like to schedule a private tour of the Museum on a day we are not open to the public, those can be arranged by calling 979-337-7580. Private tours must be scheduled at least a week in advance, and a cost will be associated with this. $5/person (free for children 6 years and under). Minimum of 5 people.
For continuous hours and updates, please check the Brenham Fire Museum Facebook Page! https://www.facebook.com/brenhamfiremuseum
Barrington Plantation State Historic Site
Travel back in time to 1850 and explore the original home of Dr. Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas. The Jones family lived at the farm for over a decade, building a successful cotton farm with enslaved labor after Texas joined the union. This living history farm is complete with period costumed interpreters using 19th century farming practices for planting, cultivating, harvesting and working with livestock. Explore the sights and smells of farm life and experience the daily lives of those who came 150 years ago.
Located within Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Entrance fees apply. Open Wed-Sun 10am-4:30pm
Glissmann’s Gift Gallery & Historic Drug Store
Glissman’s Gift Gallery is a unique, one-of-a-kind gift and collectible shop. Located in historic Downtown Brenham, in an 1860s two-story masonry building built by J.T. Parnell. Also housing the display of original items from Glissman’s Drug Store.
Toubin Park
Beneath Brenham streets is a large system of historic cisterns. The cisterns were built in the late 1800s to store rainwater for public fire fighting. Private cisterns were also abundant throughout early Washington County, used for bathing, drinking and cooking. The large system of public cisterns in early Brenham was a rarity. Enjoy the Wild West story of why these cisterns were built. It’s a tale of an early railroad, a rough Boom Town, and colorful characters who shaped Washington County’s history. Self-guided tours through this historic Downtown Brenham pocket park can be enjoyed any time of the day.