Palm House Museum In Round Rock Permanently Closes

Round Rock TX

17 August, 2021

1:00 PM

Description

ROUND ROCK, TX — After 44 years, the Palm House Museum will permanently close to the public as part of the Round Rock Chamber, officials announced Aug. 9. The museum, at 212 E. Main Street downtown, had been closed to the public since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, but will not reopen because the museum is "not a fit anymore" for the Round Rock Chamber, which owns the home. The Palm House Museum showcased the home of Andrew Palm, a Swedish immigrant who arrived in the area at the age of 14 with his mother and five brothers in 1853. After the Palms purchased land from the Swedish Immigration Agency, the family built the Palm Mansion in 1873. Andrew Palm's youngest daughters, Mary and Marguerite, donated the house to the city of Round Rock in 1975. A year later, the house was moved to downtown Round Rock, according to the Williamson County Historical Commission. The chamber said it is exploring other options for the museum's future, including the Williamson County Historical Commission, Williamson Museum, Old Settlers Museum and Stagecoach Inn. Chamber President and CEO Jason Ball told Community Impact Newspaper that the decision to hand off the museum had been made in 2019 by the chamber board. Ball told the newspaper it has packed artifacts of the home so it may be stored and preserved properly. He said its not a permanent closure of the museum, but just an end to its operation with the chamber. "Round Rock is not the same community it was 44 years ago, and the chamber is a very different program than it was in 1976," the chamber said in a statement. "Our mission is to work with businesses to increase economic vitality and opportunities for everyone in our community. We are not a visitor center, or a convention and visitors bureau—which is across the street." The chamber said it has cost them thousands of dollars to keep up with repairs and states they are "not skilled in maintenance preservation and display of historical items." "In our view, [the] best and most respectful thing to do is to align with groups and organizations that can provide the appropriate maintenance and care necessary, from professionals with training in historical preservation," the chamber said. Anyone who is interested in picking up items that were loaned or donated to the Palm House Museum may contact Sue Reed at [email protected] COVERAGE:Heavy Rains Cause Flooding At Texas Capitol, UT AustinRound Rock Budgets $37 Million To Fund Police In 2022Austinite Wins $5 Million Scratch-Off Ticket In North Austin