A recent trip to Houston and Galveston included a short drive to West Columbia to visit the Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site. The site is now part of the Texas Historical Commission site and there is a connection to the old Three-hundred settlers. These settlers received land grants from Stephen E. Austin’s first colony.
An interesting fact about this former sugar plantation is that it is named for the first and last owner leaving out the middle owners; ‘The Pattons.” The Pattons owned the plantation through most of the 19th Century until the Governor Hogg purchased the property in 1902 shortly after the Galveston Hurricane. It remained in the Hogg family until his daughter Ima donated the property to the state in 1957 along with her collection of American antique furniture. The furniture has since been moved to the other Hogg home in Houston (more on this other wonderful home in another post).
The Varner-Hogg plantation is a restored example of Greek Revival Great House. The grounds are wonderfully landscaped. You can explore the 65+ acres finding a sugarcane mill ruin, the site of slave quarters, and a pecan orchard. In addition, oil was found on the property and you can learn more about the history of oil production on the plantation. The plantation did have slaves and the above video does a good job detailing the history enslaved individuals on the property. Other areas to explore while visiting the historic site include: the Patton family cemetery, foundation ruins of the sugar mill, and the site of several slave quarters.
drnicktravels.com 