Established as an official nonprofit organization in 2008, the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation aims to preserve the history of Sugar Land and has made its mission to assemble a collection that teaches the history of Sugar Land to future generations.

Executive director Dennis Parmer, one of the founding members of the foundation and former Sugar Land City Council member, said this project became an important city initiative 10 years ago.

"In 2003, the Imperial Sugar Refinery site closed down," he said. "There was talk of what it would become because it is a historical building that has always been here, which is located next to the historical Char House. I had just been elected to the City Council and being a Sugar Land resident for more than 20 years, I had both public and personal concern for this building. We started talking about ideas, and in 2006, it was an official project."

Since 2008, Parmer has been a part of the museum's rapid growth, which is temporarily housed in the sugar factory's former engineering and personnel building at 198 Kempner next to the historic eight-story Char House. One of the biggest projects upcoming for the Heritage Foundation is establishing a permanent location for the museum.

"The Heritage Foundation is working hand-in-hand with Johnson Development to come up with a location that works for both parties," Parmer said. "It's a strategic initiative that incorporates both the historical preservation of Sugar Land and the developmental growth and transition from company town to city."

For now, the museum is still a go-to spot for history and community events, hosting walking tours of the historical Imperial Sugar Factory and the surrounding area the second Saturday of every month.

"Where the museum is going to be housed permanently is a stepping stone between the history and the future pages in the story of Sugar Land," Palmer said.

198 Kempner St.

Sugar Land 281-494-0261

www.slheritage.org

Hours: Sat. 9 a.m.–1 p.m.