Brenham: Fireman’s Park

Large, circular building constructed of stone foundation, wood and window walls, and metal roof. Designed to house an historic carousel, built in 1935 by Works Progress Administration

Fireman’s Park Carousel building, WPA construction, 1935. (Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0)

Carousel inside a building

Carousel in Fireman’s Park. (TXDOT)

Parade float shaped like a biplane with four people in the back during the 1925 Maifest celebration

Maifest airplane float, 1925 (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas-Austin)

Crowds of people lining the streets of a commerical area to watch a parade with floats diring Maifest of 1929

Maifest parade, 1929. (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas-Austin)

Group of shildren seated on a tiered stage with two as king and queen at top with an half-circle backdrop with a heart cut in the center, dated May 19, 1932

Junior King and queen with attendants, Maifest 1932. (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas-Austin)

Parade float with 5 children seated on top and two dressed as guards in front, dated May 13, 1938

Maifest parade float, 1938. (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas-Austin)

Group of girls dancing around a maypole, briding ribbons to the pole.

Group of young girls dancing around a maypole. (simpleinsomnia/Flickr)

The Brenham Volunteer Fire Department sponsored the first Maifest in 1881, and purchased the property now known as Fireman’s Park in 1884. The park features ball fields, an outdoor kitchen, volleyball courts, and several picnic areas. In 1935, the Works Progress Administration constructed the building that houses a working, antique carousel that dates to about 1900.

Maifest has a tradition of supporting the community. In 1948, funds were raised to build Brenham’s public swimming pool, and today festival profits help to fund a variety of local youth programs.

Fireman's Park

SITE MAP
PREVIOUS
SITES
NEXT