Dallas Heritage Village in Dallas, Dallas County, United States | Heritage Village

Nestled in 13 wooded acres just south of downtown Dallas, Texas in the United States, Dallas Heritage Village provides visitors, young and young at heart with a unique museum experience.
The mission of Dallas Heritage Village is to collect, preserve and teach the history of Dallas and North Central Texas. Located in historic Old City Park, the museum uses its collections of historic buildings and furnishings, representing the period 1840-1910, to sponsor research, publications and exhibits, and to present educational programs and special events for diverse audiences of children, families and adults.
Living history changes the presentation of materials and information from a typical ?static? exhibit that a visitor would view from a distance (think roped-off paintings at an art museum, or artifacts displayed in a glass exhibit case) to a live experience, where the visitor talks with a costumed character of the past who is speaking in the vernacular of the day. Often the visitor interacts not only with the interpreter but also his surroundings. For example, a visitor to the 1861 Farmstead at Dallas Heritage Village will be greeted by ?Mrs. Kennedy,? and can sit in her parlor, play checkers, help her with chores and talk with her about the Civil War, her gardens, animals, etc. Living history tends to be multi-sensory, providing sights, sounds, smells and textures.
The costumed interpreters you will encounter portray fictional characters based on the social demographics of North Texas during the mid-19th and early 20th centuries. These composite characters are developed to represent the complex social, political, ethnic, and religious backgrounds of many of the area?s residents.
Remember that for the First Person Interpreters it is always today?s day and month, but always their year in the past. They have no knowledge of anything more recent than their year. Careful questioning can help you learn about our history and daily life in the past.