Bonham, Texas -- October is Texas Archeology Month, and the Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site will celebrate with our annual Cemetery Walking Tour at Willow Wild Cemetery followed by a pinch pot activity at the Sam Rayburn House on October 26, 2024.

Sam Rayburn House staff will be at Willow Wild Cemetery from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, with informative guide booklets about the Rayburn family and others buried at the cemetery. The tour takes place at Willow Wild Cemetery, located at 1220 W 7th St. in Bonham, TX.

This year’s theme is “athletes” in honor of Sam Rayburn’s brother, Tom, who played semi-professional baseball around Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas in the early 1900s.

Staff will provide guides containing the grave locations and biographies of approximately 20 people who played collegiate, semi-professional, or professional sports. You may take a guide and explore the cemetery at your leisure or join us for a fully guided tour of the gravesites
beginning at 10:30 a.m. Please dress comfortably for the weather and for walking in grass, dirt, or mud. We will provide refreshments. We will be respectful of the gravesites, and avoid any areas where cemetery services may be happening during this time. Guides will be available at the Sam Rayburn House after 12:00 p.m., while supplies last, for anyone who cannot make the
program.

PLEASE NOTE: In the event of thunderstorms on October 26, this event will be rescheduled to November 2 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Contact the Sam Rayburn House for any scheduling questions.

At the Sam Rayburn House from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. on October 26, we will have free pinch pot kits for visitors to complete at the site or take home. These kits contain clay that, using water, you can turn into small clay pots or other objects! These kits are free to take or use, but tours of the Sam Rayburn House will occur on the hour and cost regular admission. There are a limited number of kits available.

The Sam Rayburn House is located at 890 W State Hwy 56 in Bonham, TX. You many contact us at (903) 583-5558 or email Margo.McCutcheon@thc.texas.gov with any questions you have about these programs or the site.

For more information about Texas Archeology Month (TAM), visit the Texas Historical Commission website (thc.texas.gov) and explore the “Preserve” tab.

Events across Texas are happening all month long, so be sure to look at the TAM Calendar to join in the fun!