Summary
Organization name
Old Town Keller Foundation
other names
Keller History Museum
Causes
Arts & Humanities
Operating Budget
Less than $100,000
Counties Served
Dallas, Denton, Parker, Tarrant
Address
133 BATES STKELLER, TX 76248
About
Past Events
The Old Town Keller Foundation is a 501(C)(3) public charity. The Foundation’s annual 990-N tax filings may be found at https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/allSearch.
The mission of the Foundation is to support the development and enhancement of Old Town Keller and of other areas of the community of similar historic age and consequence and to promote an awareness and appreciation of the history of the Keller area.
With community support, the Foundation opened the Wild Rose Heritage Museum which has served Keller and the surrounding area as a local museum, historical repository, and activity center. It houses actual Keller artifacts and historical documents from the city’s past, and welcomes visitors to its life-sized dioramas depicting an 1880s formal Parlor. To the delight of our young visitors, our exhibits feature and focus on railroad memorabilia from Keller's early years as a railroad community, including a miniature train. Through photographs, documents, and displays, visitors to this unique museum are immersed in Keller’s history, and Keller’s place in the history of greater Tarrant County.
The Foundation is supported by donations from the public. Thank you for donating to keep this hometown museum open.
Mission
The mission of the Foundation is to support the development and enhancement of Old Town Keller and of other areas of the community of similar historic age and consequence and to promote an awareness and appreciation of the history of the Keller area.
Needs
We are asking for donations from the Community through the North Texas Giving Foundation in order to continue and expand our efforts to preserve Keller history as well as promote historical interest and education within the Keller community, especially with children.
Ten years ago, the Old Town Keller Foundation moved an historic Keller home to its present location and created Keller’s Wild Rose Heritage Museum to provide a place where visitors can learn about the history of Keller; preserve artifacts and information that support local history; provide a venue of learning about the families who founded the area, perhaps their own relatives; encourage research by students; and promote interest in history in general.
The Foundation has supported the Wild Rose through visitor and Foundation member donations, and through donations received during special events and lectures. But because of forced closures during the past three years, the Foundation has experienced a dramatic decline in financial support. The closures were due to the covid-19 pandemic, and then the reconstruction of Bate’s Street, our location’s street, by the City of Keller as part of its rejuvenation of the Parks System.
Without visitors, and the flow of donations, the Foundation had to drain its limited resources in order to pay utility bills and property insurance. All resources were used to keep the museum intact and the utilities turned on. Funds that we receive through the North Texas Giving Day will allow us to re-start our outreach programs that connected with our community -- including lectures, and educational programs aimed at our young community members.
Equity Statement
Old Town Keller Foundation celebrates the rich history of Keller and the surrounding community. We recognize and embrace the diversity of its heritage and of its modern community. We serve and honor that community by fostering, cultivating and preserving Keller’s history, as well as promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in our presentations, exhibits and programs, and in how we welcome visitors to our museum, the Wild Rose. All who visit our museum or inquire about our archives are respected and valued for who they are and what their unique contributions to our community may be.
Media gallery
Organization Data
KELLER, TX 76248