Summer Camp at the French Legation

Summer Programs for students ages 6-17.

History on the Hill: Time Traveller’s Camp

The French Legation Museum is happy to announce its 2011 Summer Camp Schedule. Children ages 6-11 are invited to join us July 18-22 and August 1-5, 2011 from 9am -3pm for a week of adventure as we travel back in time to explore life in early Austin and learn about food, clothing, travel, livestock, parties, music, and life on the frontier. For more information click https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MbdrXriADFsWQfLlowWQ1ALcGIym34TqkGFbCM-80hI/edit?hl=en .

Junior Docent Camp

Students ages 12-17 are also invited to apply to join our inaugural class of Junior Docents. Junior Docent Camp will take place June 27- July 1, 2011 from 9am- 3pm, and applications are due June 1, 2011. Junior docents will be trained as museum aides and given opportunities to go behind the scenes at a historic house museum while joining our efforts to share our history with the community. Applications and more information about the camp are posted at

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xHXeRPWWL7ROpkJfJy30Ik1uJfP7UN9vRzBMyUM9H-M/edit?hl=en

The FRENCH LEGATION MUSEUM is a non-profit historic house museum. The structure was built to serve as the diplomatic outpost for King Louis Philippe of France to the Republic of Texas in 1841. The Legation originally sat on 22 acres of land, from today’s E. 7th Street to E. 11th Street, bordered by East Avenue (IH-35) and San Marcos Street. For more information about this event and the historic site, visit www.FrenchLegationMuseum.org.

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Knit-nics: Next meeting June 5, 2011

Come and join us every 1st and 3rd Sunday under the shady oaks of the French Legation for an afternoon of crafting and lazy picnics. Bring a lawn chair, or a blanket, your favorite snacks and beverages, and your craft of choice, and get ready for some community crafting. I'll be knitting, but we welcome painters, quilters, sketch artists, scrapbookers, and even people that just are interested in the picnic portion of the excitement! See you there!

Another Glorious Opportunity

The French Legation will celebrate her 170th birthday in coming months, and during a recent check-up, courtesy of Volz & Associates, Inc. and WJE, Inc., it was discovered that the historic home needs our help. The French Legation needs to be stabilized, her load lightened, and her roof restored. With this in mind, we urge you to join us as we raise funds to support our favorite Austin Landmark.

In 1839, Alphonse Dubois was doing a little urging of his own. He wrote to French King Louis-Philippe that Texas represented a "glorious opportunity" for the French, and he urged the King to gamble on the Texians and form an official alliance with the young Republic. Louis-Philippe and his advisers agreed with Dubois' findings and signed a treaty that formally recognized Texas as a sovereign republic. We hope that you too will heed the words of Dubois and join us as we preserve the history of Austin and Texas by saving one of her crown jewels, the French Legation of the Republic of Texas.

There are many ways to support the French Legation. You can support her with your time. Time spent gardening, giving tours, helping in the office, and providing professional advice and services. You can support her with your money, by contributing directly to The Glorious Opportunity Campaign, or purchasing cedar shakes for the roof as a Mover and Shaker. Shakes only cost $5. Bundles are $50. You can support her with your presence. Our visitation numbers and volunteer records help us as we write grants and indicate community support and relevance. You can support her with your words. Tell your friends about the French Legation. Encourage them to visit, even if only for a picnic or game of Frisbee on the grounds. Ask them to get involved as a volunteer or suggest that they rent the grounds for parties and events.

We hope to see the French Legation standing tall atop Robertson Hill for another 170 years. Helps us achieve that goal by giving to The Glorious Opportunity Campaign in any way you can!

French Legation American Elm Pens Arriving Soon!

Check out the great work that Kenn's Pens did with the wood remaining from the American Elm!
www.kennspens.com/trees-frenchlegation.html