Bullard museum showcases presidential artifacts, military history under one roof

BULLARD, Texas (KLTV) - As the United States of America prepares for its 250th birthday next year, the American Freedom Museum on the campus of Brook Hill School displays signed documents from every president and an impressive collection of military artifacts.

The museum is the brainchild of school founder Steve Dement, whose passion for history began in high school.

“I had a history teacher, Bob Wyche, at what was then Robert E. Lee High School, now Tyler Legacy, who really instilled in me a love for history,” Dement said. “My father served in the South Pacific during World War II, and his stories also fueled my love of history.”

That love of history led Dement to start collecting artifacts from auctions and military dealers, now on display inside the museum.

“We began collecting things all the way from the American Revolution to present times, and that’s been a real joy to go through that process,” Dement said.

Hall of Presidents features Washington’s hair, LBJ’s hat

Inside the Hall of Presidents, visitors will find a lock of George Washington’s hair, cut by his wife Martha as he lay on his deathbed. This section of the museum features something signed by every president, along with artifacts like LBJ’s Stetson hat.

Next to the Hall of Presidents is the Hall of Freedom.

“And it’s a chronological journey, literally, through the American Revolution all the way to our current war on terror,” Dement said.

Displays span American Revolution to modern conflicts

Displays immerse people in everything from the American Revolution to life in the trenches for soldiers in World War One. The museum also features a World War Two soldier’s bullet riddled helmet and sand from Omaha Beach. There’s even a Huey helicopter used in the Vietnam War.

“One of the things that’s kind of interesting, the helicopter that’s inside the museum, we had to move it in before the building was built,” Dement said. “It was literally brought in when the slab was here. And they built a plywood crate around it and then put the steel up and finished the building around it.”

Visitors also have the chance to board a C-47 as if they were a paratrooper on D-Day.

The 15,000 square foot museum is home to more than 650 artifacts, meant to educate and honor.

“I’d like for them to leave with an appreciation for our history,” Dement said. “So many people are clueless about what got us to this point. And so at least leave with a somewhat of a knowledge of where we have come from and an appreciation for that. Also, I would like for them to leave with an appreciation for our veterans. Those that have fought and died and sacrificed for our country. If they can come away with those two things, then I think we would be a success.”

Museum hours and admission

During the school year, the museum is only open to the general public on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission for adults costs $8, while veterans and active military get in free. Click here for more information.