A local nonprofit is one step closer to seeing its dream come to fruition to help build a district dedicated to paying homage to Black history in Bastrop County in the Kerr Park area.

Two-minute impact

The Bastrop County African American Cultural Center & Freedom Colonies Museum team is working to build a complex to house the Bastrop County African American History and Cultural Center.

BCAACC officials will sign a letter of intent with the city of Bastrop to lease a section of property in Kerr Park at Bastrop City Hall on Aug. 12 at 2:30 p.m.

Some context

The BCAACC team operates the current museum inside the 525-square-foot historic Kerr-Wilson house at 1303 Pine St., within the vicinity of Kerr Park.

BCAACC board President Doris Williams said the move will bring the space to over 24,000 square feet. Williams said having a larger complex in the area is important to the Black community as the Kerr Community Center has historically been a safe space to gather—especially during the era of racial segregation.The details

The Bastrop County African American History and Cultural Center will span two stories tall adjacent to the Kerr Community Center at 1308 Walnut St.

Some of the plans include amenities such as:

• Museum and open galleries
• Exhibit halls
• Theater and theater lobby
• Meeting rooms
• Administrative offices
• Kitchen
• Storage
• Covered porch
• Lobby and cafe
• Gift shop

“We look forward to providing walking tours, museum exhibitions, and programs that expand the historical narrative of Bastrop to include the remarkable number of structures still standing, particularly in and around Kerr Park, that tell the story of African American educators, musicians, politicians, architects and [business people], and their contributions to Bastrop,” Williams said in the Hotel Occupancy Tax funding application to the city.The cost

Under the most recent plans, the complex will cost around $25 million.

“The city has been very supportive of this,” Williams said. “Signing the 30-year lease agreement is an important step as we embark on this journey. What we focus on now is funding to continue making strides.”

So far, the BCAACC has received $172,275 from entities including:

• $99,775 from the Institute of Library and Museum Science
• $22,500 from the Fayette Community Foundation Rural Community Health Grant
• $50,000 HOT Funding from the city of Bastrop

Williams said anyone interested in donating can do so online through the nonprofit’s PayPal Giving Fund, or email [email protected].

Looking ahead

Bear Goolsby—owner and architect of Powers Goolsby Architects, the company spearheading the project—said the plan is to incorporate the Kerr-Wilson house into the history and cultural center complex.

“Right now, we are looking at breaking it into two phases to try to get up as much as we can as soon as we can,” Goolsby said. “The first phase is for the museum and the second is for the cultural center.”

Some context

In late spring, Bastrop City Council members voted in support of the project after hearing from community members at town halls.

Bastrop City Manager Sylvia Carrillo said this is the first of several initiatives to create a cohesive, welcoming space encompassing several city blocks in the Kerr Park area that pays homage to Black history in Bastrop.

Once funding has been established, Carrillo said the plan is to break ground within 18-24 months. Williams said after that, construction should be completed within two to three years.

In their own words

“The cultural center will teach others of the rich history of African Americans and their relationship with other cultures,” according to the BCAACC website. “It is intended to be a harbinger of cultural artifacts, history, Black art, and futurist ideas that are inclusive of all cultures working together in harmony.”