WISE COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM

The Wise County Heritage Museum in Decatur is located in the home of the former Northwest Baptist College, a four-year institution. The frst classes were held in the new administration building in September 1893 and the school went bankrupt in 1896. The following year, the Baptist Convention bought the property and turned it into Decatur Baptist College. The home of the world’s oldest junior college, the school was a preparatory school for Baylor University until it moved to Dallas in 1965 and became Dallas Baptist College. After the college moved, a Decatur businessman, Coke L. Gage, bought the property and then donated the building and approximately one acre of land to the Wise County Historical Society, Inc. for a museum. It now houses one of the best family research facilities in the area, an auditorium, and a museum. Today the museum highlights Wise County’s past. The museum is the headquarters for the Wise County Historical Commission and the Wise County Historical Society, Inc. Together they educate citizens about the past. The museum is operating by donations, admissions, sales from the gift shop and various fund-raising events throughout the year. Members attend conferences and work to keep the archives updated. The Museum is open 10am to 3pm Monday through Saturday and Sundays by appointment only. Admission is $2.00 for 13 and up, $1.00 for children 6-12, under age 5 is free. Please call ahead to ensure the museum is open (940) 627-5586.