The Levi Jordan Plantation is a historical site and building, located on Farm to Market Road 521 , 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of the city of Brazoria , in the U.S. state of Texas . Founded as a forced-labor farm worked by enslaved Black people, it was one of the largest sugar and cotton producing plantations in Texas during the mid-19th century, as well as a local center of human trafficking .
25-405: It was designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1967. The University of Houston's Department of Anthropology and Professor Kenneth L. Brown has done many years of research at this plantation. Levi Jordan (1793–1873), a Georgia -born planter, traveled in 1848 to Brazoria County, Texas , bringing with him twelve enslaved Black people. Previously, Jordan had owned adjoining plantations on
50-619: A State Antiquities Landmark does not prohibit the destruction or modification of such a structure or location. Instead, the designation requires a permit for any modification subject to public review by the THC. The commission has main offices in the Austin Complex in downtown Austin ; the complex includes the Carrington-Covert House at 1511 Colorado Street, Luther Hall, Gethsemane Lutheran Church , Elrose Building, and
75-406: A Texan. From American Indian sites to frontier forts to common and elegant homes and the leaders and statesmen who lived in them, these sites enrich people's lives through history. Fort Griffin is home to the official State of Texas Longhorn Herd. Sponsors may apply for official historical markers through their county historical commissions. The purpose of the markers, which are available in
100-499: A better understanding of their history. More than 600,000 artifacts have been found on the property. The site was owned, until 2001, by several site descendants. The Houston Endowment purchased the 90 acres of the former plantation from Dorothy Cotton and in the spring of 2002, donated it to Texas Parks and Wildlife . It is owned by the Texas Historical Commission and is managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife, as
125-438: A former graduate student of Kenneth L. Brown, worked with the local community to create a web site about the archaeology. Texas proposition 8 (in 2003) allowed for the financing of the restoration of the property. Starting in 2012, the plantation house was restored. As of November 2015, the site is only open to the public for Saturday tours. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark Recorded Texas Historic Landmark ( RTHL )
150-524: A land that would survive many generations and “outlive” him, according to the oral history of the family. During the time that Jordan was traveling back to Arkansas and Louisiana to tie up loose ends, the 12 enslaved people that Jordan took to Texas stayed behind in order to get the land ready for development. After Jordan’s death in 1873, the land was split between Jordan’s grandsons’ J. C. McNeill and C. P. McNeill, according to his will. Jordan had also purchased one of two sugar plantations formally belonging to
175-578: A variety of types (cemetery, building, subject) and sizes, is to educate the public. An application must meet certain requirements to be approved by the THC commissioners as qualifying for a marker. Beginning in November 2006, the Texas Historical Commission adopted a new marker program. The following are some of the major changes to the program: As of 2007, there are over 13,000 Official Texas Historical Markers placed throughout
200-536: Is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the U.S. state of Texas . RTHL is a legal designation and the highest honor the state can bestow on a historic structure. Purchase and display of a historical marker is a required component of the RTHL designation process. Because it is a legal designation, owners of RTHL-designated structures must give 60 days' notice before any alterations are made to
225-587: Is an agency dedicated to historic preservation within the U.S. state of Texas . It administers the National Register of Historic Places for sites in Texas . The commission also identifies Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (RTHL) and recognizes them with Official Texas Historical Marker (OTHM) medallions and descriptive plaques. The commission identifies State Archeological Landmarks and Historic Texas Cemeteries. A quarterly publication, The Medallion,
250-402: Is published by the agency and includes news and advice about preservation projects, Texas' historic sites, and heritage tourism opportunities. The agency also maintains the online Texas Historic Sites Atlas featuring more than 300,000 site records, including data on Official Texas Historical Markers and National Register of Historic Places properties in Texas. The commission has main offices in
275-479: Is to develop private philanthropic resources to assist the Texas Historical Commission with its mission to identify, preserve, and protect our history—providing a lasting legacy for future generations. FTHC secures contributions to support the programs, projects, and activities of the Texas Historical Commission not provided for in the state budget. Despite its name, the Friends is not a membership organization. Over
SECTION 10
#1732772194474300-512: The Levi Jordan Plantation State Historic Site . The Levi Jordan Plantation Historical Society , a local advocacy group and 501(c)3 organization , was created in 1993, and its membership includes site descendants and other community members. This group was founded with the assistance of Kenneth L. Brown (the principal archaeological investigator and a University of Houston anthropologist). Carol McDavid,
325-578: The World's fair in San Antonio, Texas , called HemisFair '68 . After the fair, these trails were all but forgotten. The Texas Historical Commission began its program based on these historical designations in 1998, starting with the Texas Forts Trail . The goal of the program is to promote heritage tourism and historic preservation. The THC divides Texas into 10 heritage regions: In 2005,
350-770: The Capitol Complex in downtown Austin ; the complex includes the Carrington-Covert House , Luther Hall, Gethsemane Lutheran Church , Elrose Building, and the Christianson-Leberman Building. Established in 1953, the state legislature created the Texas State Historical Survey Committee to oversee state historical programs. The legislature revised the agency's enabling statute to give it additional protective powers, expand its leadership role and educational responsibilities, and officially changed its name to
375-452: The Christianson-Leberman Building. The Carrington-Covert House was turned over to the commission to serve as the agency's headquarters in 1971. Gethsemane Lutheran Church was restored to serve as offices of the agency in 1970 and 1971. Incorporated in 1996, the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission (FTHC) is a 501c(3) tax exempt nonprofit organization, further designated as a 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A0(vi) Public Charity, whose purpose
400-593: The Heritage Trails Program won the Preserve America Presidential Award for exemplary accomplishment in the preservation and sustainable use of America's heritage assets, which has enhanced community life while honoring the nation's history. The Texas Historical Commission preserves and operates 39 state historic sites across Texas. These unique places honor the past and inspire an understanding of what it means to be
425-513: The Jordan House. It is believed that by 1860, Jordan's plantation had more than 130 slaves that had worked there and some had been born in Africa. The cabins were used by workers until 1887, when they were abandoned. The cabins no longer physically exist as buildings, however through archaeological excavation researchers were able to find many of the remnants of former workers and piece together
450-616: The Levi Jordan Plantation after the end of the American Civil War in 1865 and during the Reconstruction era . Levi Jordan and Levi Jordan's great-grandsons converted the land into a cotton plantation and employed many of the formerly enslaved people and their descendants as sharecroppers , to work and maintain the cotton fields. The cabins first served as slave quarters, and were located northwest of
475-711: The Louisiana-Arkansas border ( Union County, Arkansas ) with his son-in-law, James Campbell McNeill, however he was not as successful as he wanted to be. Jordan purchased 2,222 acres (899 ha) of Brazoria County land from Samuel May Williams . Levi Jordan was married to Sarah (née Stone), together they had one daughter named Emily. Shortly thereafter, Jordan returned to Arkansas to sell his earlier plantation. He also traveled to Louisiana , where Jordan’s daughter Emily, his son-in-law James Campbell McNeil, and his grandchildren resided, to sell that land so they could all pack up and move to Texas. Jordan wanted to develop
500-542: The Rowe family, which was also left to his grandsons. His granddaughter Annie McNeil Martin was cut out of the will, and she was not allowed on the property without the permission of Jordan’s wife, Sara Jordan. The initial construction of the plantation included the new family home, slave quarters, and ancillary buildings. On the property is Jordan's former residence, the Jordan House, is a two story Greek Revival -style plantation house built between 1849 and 1851. The family house
525-898: The Texas Historical Commission (THC). In 2007, the legislature transferred the management of 20 state historic sites from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the THC. Today, the agency employs about 200 personnel. The Texas Historical Commission leadership is composed of 18 members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, serving overlapping six-year terms. All members must be citizens of Texas, and together represent all geographical areas of Texas. The commission also employs personnel in various fields, including archeology , architecture , economic development, heritage tourism, history , public administration and urban planning. These personnel consult with citizens and organizations to preserve Texas's architectural, archeological and cultural landmarks. The agency includes
SECTION 20
#1732772194474550-419: The exterior of the structure. Changes that are unsympathetic may result in removal of the designation and historical marker. More than 3,600 RTHL structures are spread throughout the state. The Texas Historical Commission awards RTHL designation to buildings that are judged worthy of preservation based on architectural and historical merit. Texas Historical Commission The Texas Historical Commission
575-532: The following divisions dedicated to overseeing the agency's programs: There are several boards associated with the Texas Historical Commission: The Texas Historical Commission administers this statewide heritage tourism program. This program is historically based in the ten scenic driving regions that Texas Department of Transportation and Gov. John Connally designated in 1968 in connection with
600-569: The state. Texas has the most prolific state historical marker program in the United States. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is the highest designation given by the Texas Historic Commission for significant structures in Texas. The THC may designate certain locations as State Antiquities Landmarks provided that they are not located on federal lands. These locations may fall into one of two categories: Designation as
625-519: Was built with yellow long-leaf pine lumber that was imported from Florida. Jordan's enslaved workers hand-hewed the window sills and studs of the house from local oak lumber and they handmade bricks for the fireplaces. Sugar cane was the primary cash crop during the beginning of the plantation. Jordan built the largest sugar factory in Brazoria County, which was used by himself and neighboring planters. Sugar cane cultivation no longer possible at
#473526