Grand Opening of the Joseph and Susanna Dickinson Hannig Museum

Grand Opening of the Joseph and Susanna Dickinson Hannig Museum

By Community Impact Newspaper Staff Wednesday, 24 February 2010

The grand opening of the Joseph and Susanna Dickinson Hannig Museum will be held on March 2, Texas Independence Day, from 10 a.m. to noon at the museum, located at 411 E. Fifth St. The museum will feature stories of the women and children survivors of the Battle of the Alamo in an exhibition that will include never-before-seen items from private collections, in particular from the Esparza family, whose ancestors played a pivotal role on both sides of the Texas Revolution.

Susanna Dickinson survived the Battle of the Alamo, bringing the news of its fall to General Sam Houston, earning her the name "The Messenger of the Alamo." Built by her husband Joseph Hannig in the German Vernacular style, Susanna Dickinson resided in the home from 1870–1873.

Artifacts featured at the museum include original family furniture and Bibles donated by Susanna’s descendents; original furniture on loan from the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History; quilts sewn by Susanna’s granddaughters-in-law; and for one week only, Susanna’s petticoat, on loan from the Alamo.

The 10-year-long restoration was made possible by the fundraising efforts of The Friends of the O. Henry and Dickinson Museums, Inc. and the City of Austin 2006 Bond election, and additional funding from the Texas Committee on the Humanities.