1930s George Ranch House and Cattle Yard
Mamie George, with her husband A.P.’s assistance, was the last descendent of Henry and Nancy Jones to oversee this ranching operation. Listen to the last chapter of this amazing family story and explore the home and barns which are original to the 1930s and 1940s.
- The George Ranch Home: Take a tour of the George Ranch Home which still stands where it was built at the turn-of-the-century (designed by renowned Galveston architect Nicholas Clayton). The house is still filled with many of the George family furnishings.
- Cowboy Barns and Working Pens: The original barns and working pens set the stage for our interpretive programs on ranching in the 1930s and 1940s. See the cowboys working cattle in the front pens (sorting, roping and more). Also, watch the cowboys tend to the cattle in the chute before sending them into one of the few dipping vats still in existence in the United States.
George Family History
The Davises’ daughter, Mary Elizabeth, affectionately known as “Mamie”, was the last of the family line to inherit the land. In 1896, she married Albert P. George, a boy raised by her grandfather. The young couple chose to go back to the original family homestead to build their life together in the shade of a large oak tree rumored to have been planted by Nancy Jones at the beginning of the family history. As the world rapidly changed around them, the Georges became respected within the community for their deep generosity as well as for their business acumen. At the dawn of the modern beef industry, A.P. created multiple business partnerships ranging from local ranchers to ties with the renowned King Ranch. A humble and gracious woman, Mamie settled deep within the community and rolled up her sleeves to offer help to anyone who needed it. The Georges were beloved for their hospitality and concern for their neighbors.
The discovery of oil on the Ranch in the 1920s changed the fortunes of the family and the community forever. The George’s son and only child died while just a toddler and their beloved cousin and presumed heir Mary died tragically when she was a young woman. With no living heirs and a considerable estate, the Georges established The George Foundation to ensure that their wealth would continue to benefit communities across the county into the foreseeable future. This charitable Foundation still exists and gives back today and helps bring you the story of the remarkable family who loved, grieved, rejoiced and lived on this enduring stretch of Texas prairie.
