Sondra Hernandez Staff writer September 17, 2024

For a look at the lighter side of politics this election cycle, the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County is currently exhibiting nostalgic presidential campaign memorabilia. 

It’s a part of the museum’s rotating exhibits in the Mark C. Clapham Art Gallery. A collection of Currier and Ives dinnerware from Shelia Williamson is on display in the gallery as well. 

Here’s what to know about both exhibits on display through mid-November:

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What is the Heritage Museum? 

The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County launched in 1986 and is composed of four themed galleries of Montgomery County history and the people, places and events that made it what it is today. The museum is housed in the Grogan Cochran home which is 100 this year. 

The complex at 1506 Interstate 45 North in Conroe also includes the Strake Gray oil field house that was moved from Conroe’s oil field southeast of the city and the “Roughneck House” that displays a roughneck’s living quarters in the 1930s. 

The museum staff hosts special programing each month, has a collection of recorded oral history interviews from Montgomery County residents and the recently revamped gift shop features homemade gift items and souvenirs. 

A play on politics 

The museum staff aims to have timely exhibits that rotate roughly every three months. 

For the presidential election, Suann Hereford, executive director of the museum, said the staff put presidential campaign memorabilia from the museum’s collection on display. Museum volunteer Blake Spencer also borrowed some items from the Montgomery County Democratic Party to put in the display. 

With a chuckle, Spencer said there’s something for everyone here to offend equally.

Some of the earlier pieces date back to Harry S. Truman and Dwight Eisenhower’s presidencies in the 1940s and 1950s. Among the quirkier items are presidential rubber ducks, a George Bush jack-in-the-box, a Bill Clinton nesting doll, a rubber Nixon mask and a porcelain donkey and elephant from the 1976 Democratic and Republican national conventions. 

Hereford said there are no items from a current candidate. The most recent candidate represented is Barack Obama. 

Both the campaign display and Currier and Ives exhibit will be up through mid-November. 

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What’s next?

Upcoming programs at the museum include Stephen Popp discussing the Constitution and the electoral college at 1 p.m. Sept. 28, a Model A car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 12, a discussion on John Wesley Hardin from Bernie Sargent at 1 p.m. Oct. 26, yuletide traditions with Leah Lamp at 1 p.m. Nov. 23 and a Christmas open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 7. 

In late November, the rotating exhibits will switch to a nutcracker collection and Christmas scenes display. 

Follow the heritage museum’s Facebook page for more activities at the museum. 

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