an array of acting, singing, and dancing classes for school-age children. Students who take the after-school classes participate in national theater competitions.
Plaza has brought home many awards and given their students opportunities to learn from Broadway’ s best. Some of their students have even gone on to become professional actors.
With two art galleries, adults and children alike can enjoy the displayed art work and take various classes on site. JN Long Cultural Arts Center provides adult and children’ s classes in painting, pottery, wood carving, photography, junk journaling, music, tai chi, martial arts and Zumba. Their annual Art & Music Fest is one of Cleburne’ s favorite events.
If you prefer museums, our small town boasts five. Layland Museum, housed in the old Carnegie building, features everyday life in days bygone. It also offers children’ s programs during school breaks and monthly adult educational field trips. The Lowell Smith History Center serves as the primary collections care and storage facility for the Layland Museum artifacts. It also includes teaching and demonstration space, as well as an exhibit on the impact of the automobile on American home life.
Cleburne was once home to the largest Santa Fe Railroad repair shop in the nation. Hence, the Cleburne Railroad Museum highlights our railroad models, history and schedules fun events for children. The Gone with the Wind Museum, one of only two in the world, does not disappoint either.
Showcasing Texas life in the 1800s, the state-of-the-art Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum is nestled on Lake Pat Cleburne at the original Wardville courthouse site that includes the oldest log courthouse in Texas. Family and corporate outings enjoy the one room school house, saloon, jail house, teepees, blacksmith barn, and a stagecoach used in two John Wayne movies. You will also find the original mule barn that was used as a way stay station for stage coaches passing through. On the grounds are two other museums: Big Bear Museum features Native American artifacts and the Douglas Harman Artifacts Museum offers immersive experiences. Throughout the year, Chisholm Trails offers bluegrass festivals and other events highlighting life in the 1800s. Visitors from all over the world consider this museum a must-stop in their Texas travels.
Concerts are also aplenty in Cleburne. Songbird Live features first class musicians every month. Jazz, rock, classical, big band, blues and more— whatever you like. It’ s the best little listening room in north central Texas. If you prefer more formal musical experiences, the Brazos Chamber Orchestra, the Chisholm Trail Community Chorale and Community Band perform various concerts throughout the year.
Cleburne is a charitable community with dozens of agencies and churches offering help to those less fortunate. One of my favorites is East Cleburne Community Center, which provides programs and meals for at-risk school age children and the elderly. Cleburne’ s big heart opens its arms wide with food banks, teen mentoring programs, services for abused women and children, utilities and rent help, assistance with higher education, homeless support and more. Do you love baseball? Cleburne is home to the Cleburne Railroaders, an independent professional baseball team affiliated with the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official partner league of Major League Baseball. The team plays its home games at La Moderna Field, which the locals have nicknamed“ The Depot.” With pre-game entertainment for kids and adults and fireworks following the game, crowds fill the stadium for home games.
For families opting out of public school, Cleburne’ s homeschool community has been thriving since 1983 with the formation of the first home school support group for several surrounding counties. Cleburne Home Educators provides field trips, park days, and holiday parties. Since 2013, T. E. A. C. H. Cleburne, a university-style school, offers a la carte classes for homeschoolers. From pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, students can take one class or several from an array of electives and core classes. However, if families prefer a full time private school,
Courtesy photo A mural on the side of Bennett’ s Printing & Office Supply on Chambers celebrates the uniqueness of Cleburne. there is Cleburne Christian Academy. Public school teens can participate in Cleburne High School’ s Career and Technical Education Center, which offers an impressive selection of career paths. In fact, the culinary arts department boasts a fine dining restaurant that’ s open to the public. Many students graduate with certifications that allow them to enter the workforce as skilled employees.
If you are looking for organic food and other products, Cleburne enjoys numerous options. Grass-fed beef? We’ ve got it. Organic produce? Right here. Free-range eggs? No problem. Toxic-free skin care and supplements? Readily available. All our locally owned venues offer top-notch goods.
Our community slogan— Better Together— perfectly describes Cleburne. Indeed, we are always better together. Community: a tapestry of interwoven relationships that enriches all our lives. I love Cleburne.
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