Columbus Historical Preservation Trust - CHPT

08/28/2026

☀️ A little Texas heat couldn’t slow down our friends from Lee College in Baytown!

We were so glad to welcome this wonderful tour group to Columbus and loved their positivity, curiosity, and genuine interest in all the little historical details — and a few mysteries! — tucked throughout the CHPT Historical Complex. ❤️

Their Columbus adventure didn’t stop there! They enjoyed Santa Museum Texas, took in our beautiful Colorado County Courthouse, had lunch at Schobels, and spent some time shopping along Milam Street.

Thank you, Lee College Senior Activity Group, for spending the day with us in Columbus! 🌳💕

08/26/2026

✨ We asked and you said YES! And now we need your help…

We’re planning casual weekday Game Days at the 1️⃣8️⃣8️⃣6️⃣ Stafford Opera House — and we want to choose a day that works for you! 🎲

Cast your vote by commenting below: Monday or Tuesday? AM or PM? Bonus points for tagging your team and naming your game. ⏰🗳️

MAHJONG FRIENDS — while we figure out the details, we encourage you to spend Thursday nights at beautiful Live Oak Art Center! We hear there are some pros over there and even have an upcoming Mahjong class! 🀄

More info. coming soon! ✨

08/25/2026

✨🎲 Game play at the Opera House… anyone?!

We want to get in on the fun! We’re thinking about starting casual weekday group games at the 1️⃣8️⃣8️⃣6️⃣ Stafford Opera House — with daytime and/or early evening play!

🀄♟️ Mahjong, bunco, dominoes, cards, chess, bingo… whatever you love to play.

We’ll supply the tables. You supply the games!

If there’s enough interest, we could even add refreshments, organized groups, lessons, and special game nights down the road. 🍷🧀

Would you come?
What do you play?
What day and time?

Tag your friends and tell us in the comments! ✨

08/20/2026

✨ CHPT is so lucky to have such wonderful community partners!

This lovely tea and luncheon at The Carriage Step was generously donated to our spring auction by Amber Leigh Becerra, who prepared an absolutely incredible table and meal—every bite was delicious! 🫖 🍰

🤩 Even better, it was purchased by the Colorado County Habitat for Humanity Events Committee! We even had the opportunity to celebrate a special birthday while together. 💕

We are so grateful for partners who support CHPT, support one another, and make our community such a special place! ✨

08/11/2026

🏛️ Who deserves to be recognized for preserving Columbus’ history?

Nominations are now open for the 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Laura Ann Rau Historic Preservation Award, presented by the Columbus Historical Preservation Trust.

Each year, we honor a local individual or preservation project that helps protect the history, character, and legacy of Columbus. 🌳✨

Do you know someone restoring a historic property, championing a local landmark, or quietly working to preserve our community’s story?

Nominate them. ❤️

📅 Nominations due: October 16, 2026
🏆 Award presented: October 26 at the Annual History Forum
💰 $500 cash honorarium

To nominate, submit:
📝 A brief statement about the nominee or project
📸 Photographs of the project

Nomination form: https://www.columbushpt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/LAR-Award-Nomination-Form-2026.pdf

📩 Questions? [email protected] | 979-732-5135

08/06/2026

✨ History and heritage never go out of style.

Around here, we think it's kind of chic to preserve the places that tell Columbus' story. Thanks for being part of a community that values the past while investing in the future. 💕

08/04/2026

🎬 We’re excited to share the final video from the Houston-Galveston Area Council featuring the incredible stories and landscapes of our region!

💡As HGAC says, “This is not a tourism video. It’s an invitation to imagine your next story.”

Columbus offers endless inspiration. 😍🏛️🌳

Journey through castles, frontier settlements, charming small towns...

08/01/2026

🤩 We’ve recently welcomed visitors from the Harris County Public Library, Clear Lake, Kerrville, Seabrook, and even Japan to Columbus! 🚌 They’ve explored the 1️⃣8️⃣8️⃣6️⃣ Stafford Opera House, the CHPT Historical Complex and, of course, our beloved Santa Museum Texas! 🎭🎅🏼🏛️

✨ One thing we heard again and again? “Columbus is such a charming town!” Well, we couldn’t agree more! ✨

Our tour groups also enjoyed shopping and dining at some wonderful local favorites including Schobels, The Dewberry Cafe, Lambertos, Lucy’s Wine & Coffee, and Against the Grain. 🍰🛍️

👏🏼 Thank you to everyone who visited and those that helped make their time in Columbus so special! 💕

07/29/2026

✨🪑 A big thank you to the Weimar Independent School District maintenance team—Matt Belota and David Klesel—along with Superintendent Chase Seelke and School Board President Steve Williams for giving the 1️⃣8️⃣8️⃣6️⃣ Stafford Opera House chairs a wonderful new home! 💕

For decades, these chairs have been part of countless Columbus celebrations—from proms and weddings to memorials and showers—we’re thrilled they will continue to create memories for generations of students in Weimar! 📚✨