Robert E. Howard Museum
History
The T-shaped white frame home was built c.1919, by Mr. and Mrs. J.M.Coffman. Dr. Isaac M. Howard and his wife Hester Ervin Howard bought it shortly thereafter and moved in with their son, Robert. The sun porch was converted into a bedroom for their son, and a new porch and bathroom were built onto the home by Dr. Howard. in 1936, Robert E. Howard committed suicide in his 1935 Chevrolet sedan in the driveway using a .380 Browning pistol. His father later sold the house in 1944 to Mrs. Nancy Elizabeth Grisham.
Museum
The Robert E. Howard Press Association and the non-profit Robert E. Howard Foundation sponsor an annual event in June to celebrate the author's legacy. Many of the local businesses are involved in the annual Robert E. Howard Days event. The local library extends its hours during the event to showcase their collection of original typescripts and first editions. The Cross Plains Review, where Howard once worked, also operates their own gift-shop and showcases some of his original belongings. Also involved is the local post office, which provides their specialized cancellation stamps in honor of the late author. The museum is filled with things like Howard's father's bible, a bust of Cleopatra that Howard purchased, books he owned, original manuscripts, data about his writing income, correspondence with HP Lovecraft, bibliographies, maps of the fictional land of Cimmeria, movie posters, pictures of Howard's family and friends, pictures of Cross Plains, various reprintings of his stories, poetry compilations, and personal documents like his canceled checks.
Hours, admission
Admission is free only by pre-arrangement or during the Howard Days annual event.
Further reading
See also
- List of museums in West Texas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Callahan County, Texas
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Howard's Heroes". Conan Properties International. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ Dreher, Rod (12 February 1997). "A Writer Loves and Dies in Texas". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "REH World". Savage Studios. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "NRHP Howard House" (PDF). Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- ^ "Robert E. Howard Home Restored by Project Pride". CrossPlains.com. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ Graham, Don (2011). State of Minds: Texas Culture and Its Discontents. University of Texas Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-292-72361-0.
- ^ "Cross Plains Review". Savage Studios. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Visiting The Robert E. Howard Museum In Cross Plains, Texas". ourlittlelifestyle.com. 2024-07-04. Retrieved 2024-08-09.