Photographer: Stan A. Williams
This small, historic community, founded in 1870 and named after
John Burton, became the terminal for the Houston and Texas Central
Railroad. Community is located 12 miles west of Brenham on U.S. 290
halfway between Houston and Austin. Today, visitors can enjoy a
walking tour and view many of its historic buildings. Famous Texas
Ranger, Capt. Leander McNelly, is buried at Mt. Zion Baptist Church
cemetery. Antique seekers enjoy Burton during the spring and fall
shows in the area. The annual Cotton Gin Festival is held in
April.
Burton Cotton Gin and Museum-Built in 1914, it is the last
surviving gin of its vintage that still operates with the same
equipment in the original building and on the same site. Today, its
mission is to educate and celebrate the rich cotton history and the
life and times of small rural communities during the cotton era.
Although the gin closed commercially in 1974, it was restored by
volunteers in 1992, under the guidance of the Smithsonian
Institu-tion and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Powered by the 16-ton 1925 Bessemer oil engine, it demonstrates the
removal of the seed from the cotton fiber and the process of
ginning cotton from wagon to finished bale. The gin is a recorded
Texas Historic Landmark; listed on the National Register of
Historic Places; and designated a National Historic Mechanical
Engineering Landmark. For seasonal hours or more information, call,
visit the website or e-mail: burtoncottongin@earthlink.net.