McKinney -- In true Texas fashion, when the call for help rang out, they came marching to lend a hand.

One of the most popular history museums in North Texas is in danger of closing after a 75% cut in funding, but historians, educators and re-enactors marched through historic downtown McKinney on Saturday, March 6 to show their support for North Texas History Center.

Heritage Brass Band

Just as McKinney has developed a national reputation as a city of distinction as it doubled in size over the past decade, North Texas History Center has earned a regional reputation for bringing the vibrant history of North Texas to life through its exhibits, lecture series and recent reenactment.

It was that reputation that brought historians from Collin County, of course, but also from Kaufman, Dallas, Denton, Cooke, Grayson and Fannin counties to McKinney to show their support for a facility and staff that many consider to be the flagship of area history museums.

"McKinney needs to understand there has been a tremendous amount of history that took place in North Texas," said Sherman, Texas resident Dan Bray.

Joe White (left) of Gainesville and Dan Bray of Sherman

Much of that history is documented in revolving exhibits at North Texas History center and then expounded upon at fascinating lectures by distinguished speakers such as the current State Historian, Dr. Light Cummins, and noted North Texas historian, Randy Farmer.

Every year, 5,000 to 7,000 children learn more about that history in the hands-on learning environment provided by North Texas History Center. In fact, this past fall approximately 1,500 children watched as 350 re-enactors staged a mock Civil War battle known as The Battle of Myers Landing. 

"There hasn't been a Civil War reenactment in the DFW area in 10 years," remarks the battlefield coordinator for The Battle of Myers Landing, Gary Bray.  "It's starting to look like there won't be another one."

Even in a city as dynamic as McKinney, Bray feels the economic benefit of bringing in several hundred participants for a large-scale reenactment is another factor to consider. He feels that each person spent approximately $200 for food, gas and lodging.

"We have a five-year plan in place that was implemented last year," explains North Texas History Center Executive Director Vicki Day. "If we stay on track, we could reduce our dependence on the county by 25% each year until independence in year five. It takes time. Even with this goal in mind, we want to remind you that no museums that we are aware of are totally self-sufficient. All of us need operational funding and grants are normally project based."

But every conflict has two sides.  Collin County Commissioners Court watched county funding for NTHC rapidly increase between 2005 and 2009, from $50,000 to $134,000, although every year was supposed to move the history center toward self-sufficiency. 

In FY2009, the court advised the center that FY2009 was the last year for county funding, but then commissioners provided bridge funding through the first quarter of FY2010 to provide financial support until the reenactment fundraiser.

Unfortunately, heavy rains discouraged many from attending The Battle of Myers and the fundraiser fell far short of expectations.

Still, that unfortunate turn of events didn't discourage history buffs from turning out Saturday. The Heritage Brass Band played period music as the crowd looked over exhibits inside the former U.S Post Office building located at 300 East Virginia Street in McKinney.  The building, alone, is a history lesson. 

The 1911 McKinney Post Office, described by the Texas Historical Commission as "a well-preserved example of an Italianate Post Office," became the Collin County Historical Museum in 1982 and was recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1997.

Not every town got a Post Office of this stature.  Not every town had a local lawyer such as James W. Throckmorton, a man that dared cast the first vote against secession at the Secession Convention in Austin and who later served briefly as governor.  Not every town had to deal with William Quantrill riding into town with 400 mercenaries in 1863 after the massacre in Lawrence, Kansas. McKinney has a unique place in North Texas history and a unique place to preserve that legacy. Historians on hand Saturday were also quick to point out their respect for the staff at North Texas History Center.

"We're going to lose their knowledge and all their years of cooperation," Gary Bray said as a crowd gathered on the front steps of the history center. "I just can't express strongly enough how badly we need these people. You tell me one museum that has to fund itself. If they fail, we lose one heck of an educational facility for all of North Texas."

"You give us courage to carry on the fight for Texas history," replied Vicki Day.  This is an awesome show of support. Please join us before it is too late. Please help us save Texas history."

Texas Historical Marker at the 1911 McKinney Post Office

"You give us the courage to carry on the fight for Texas history," North Texas History Center Executive Director Vicki Day tells the crowd gathered on the front steps of the historic building.

"You tell me one museum that funds itself," asks reenactment coordinator Gary Bray. "If they fail, we lose on heck of an educational facility for all of North Texas."

A member of the media interviews Gary Bray.

Preparing to march downtown

Denton County historian Bruce Arledge (second from right) joins a group of reenactors in front to the statue of James Webb Throckmorton in historic downtown McKinney