Karen and Linda are such a pleasure to work with. They are very organized, responsive and appreciative of any assistance we can provide.
Both my sons have done volunteer work for this organization and it has been a great experience. Our favorite was building raised garden beds at the Heard-Craig so the McKinney Garden Club can grow vegetables for the Hugs Cafe and local families in need. This was a Boy Scout Eagle project that the organization supported.
This shows that this organization is focused on benefiting the local community.
The Heard-Craig Center for the Arts is a wonderful organization. It allows many organizations to use the beautiful home for meetings. Karen and Linda are so professional. I am a member of the McKinney Garden Club and we have partnered with them and Hugs Greenhouse to help beautify their grounds. It is a treasured historical home for people to enjoy for many years to come.
This facility hits on multiple fronts. First it is a beautifully restored historic home with an amazing family history. The rooms are meticulously decorated with original furniture & décor and other period pieces. Additionally the Heard-Craig continues their mission of having a place for women's groups to meet and to entertain. I have attended for club meetings, gathering of artists on the porches, art exhibits and even afternoon teas.
The dedicated staff continues to make this an integral & relevant part of the community.
We thoroughly enjoy having the wonderful Heard Craig house in Mckinney, Texas. My granddaughters and I try to never miss one of the tea parties held there. They love being special and hearing the stories about life in the house when it was first built. This house is a Mckinney treasure.
I recently toured the elegant Heard-Craig Center and loved seeing the original furniture and artwork throughout the museum. It is a beautiful venue that holds many different events, clubs, and educational experiences for the community.
I discovered the Heard-Craig Center for the Arts as a participant in an art exhibition. Since then I have served as an intern and a volunteer for this wonderful organization and museum. As a teenager from the area, I never even knew a place with such a deep history and artistic background was so closely and widely available to me. If you’re ever in the area, I would highly encourage you to engage in one of the Tour and Teas; for $10, it is a very affordable and educational experience. If you are someone interested in arts, especially if you’re a student, I would encourage you to volunteer. As a former employee, I can proudly say that the staff at the Heard-Craig is always welcoming, friendly and helpful. They do everything they can to upkeep the house for future generations, as the founder intended.
I came here on an afternoon trip with some friends while exploring the downtown, historical McKinney area.
The tour of the house and its history was extremely interesting and we learned so much about the local history that we didn’t know about! Each room and the contents are well-preserved and beautiful to look at as well. We finished the tour with tea and pastries, which were delicious and a great memory for our friend group.
The house itself and gardens are beautiful as well, and it’s set right in the historical district of McKinney. It’s a great opportunity to take the day and explore the area and the shops, and learn about local history. I had a great time discovering this part of town that I didn’t know about!
I really recommend a visit to the Heard Craig Center for a unique, fun experience!
I am currently President of Rainbow Reviews, one of several McKinney Women's Clubs who have the privilege of holding our meetings in the Heard-Craig Carriage House as part of the Women's Trust. Our organization meets on the third Thursday of each month for brunch, and a book review performed by one of the metro area's many talented professional book reviewers. The venue is perfect for our meetings, and the staff professional and accommodating.
The Heard-Craig house is a fascinating look back at the history, not just of McKinney, but of a bygone era. The 'Tour and Tea' offered for a voluntary donation is a good investment of time for anyone who is interested in learning about one of the founding families of McKinney. The facilities are well maintained, and would be a beautiful backdrop for any special event.
Delta Kappa Gamma an International teachers organization has been meeting at the beautiful Heard Craig House for over 20 years. Our Gamma Beta chapter meets once a month in the Carriage house which is behind the beautiful original home of the Heard family. We have also held several special functions inside the home which makes them very special and elegant. McKinney is very lucky to have this special place for meetings and other events.
Judi Carvajal, president
The Mockingbird Poetry Society is the Collin County chapter of the Poetry Society of Texas. For 49 consecutive years, we have sponsored the Collin County Poetry Contest which recognizes poets and aspiring poets throughout the County at every grade level and adults. We sponsor open microphone events each spring to celebrate National Poetry Month and each fall to commemorate National Poetry Day. We have been meeting in the Heard-Craig's Carriage House on the first Saturday afternoon of each month for more years than any current member can recall.
The Heard-Craig Women's Club Trust allows us to use this wonderful facilities free of charge. In fact, they support numerous community groups like ours with nearly $200,000 worth of donated meeting space each year. We have our meetings in the open meeting room of the Carriage House and end with refreshments and socializing using the kitchen. In December of each year, they welcome us into the big Heard-Craig House/Museum for our annual holiday luncheon for a truly opulent gathering. Staff on hand for the December meeting are always welcoming and give our members tours of the house/museum. Their support for the arts and the community are manifest is myriad ways, and they bend over backwards to accommodate us with their outstanding facilities. They invite the heads of all the various groups that use their facilities free of charge to an annual luncheon where they make sure that everyone understand their guidelines and invite feedback to ensure that there are open lines of communication.
We are a relatively small group, too large to meet in anyone's home, but too small to afford to rent space. It would be extremely difficult to survive, let alone thrive, without the support of the Heard-Craig Women's Club Trust.
I am a student who has been to the Heard-Craig Center several times to volunteer and help out for events. The museum is pristine and people like me and my classmates are proud to volunteer for such a great organization. We volunteer in the garden, help with event set up in the Carriage House, and do some painting or odd jobs that are needed to maintain its great presence. I have also volunteered at the Heard-Craig check-in desk during the Oktoberfest weekend when tours run every hour. The Center provides Service Hours for school volunteers and, for students who are home schooled, it's a dream volunteer job.
The Heard Family has been influential in Texas since the mid-1800s. Kathryn Heard and her husband, Thomas Craig, were an important part of the fabric of Texas, serving on multiple Boards, including Austin College. The Craigs funded at least 6 scholarships in Art, Science, and Economics and they also funded a Fine Arts Wing (Craig Hall) at Austin College. For professional women, it should be noted that the Heard-Craig Center has been women-led (Board and Executive Staff) for 50 years. Women have funded the historical center, operated the historical center, and donated countless hours of skill and talent to it's sustainability.
The deed to this historic property continues to offer it as a conduit in McKinney cultural development. Women's groups activities elevate potential and new opportunities as well as network with other regional forces in cultural experience. The calendar also has room to celebrate the joyful occasions in life as a venue or just be an elegant place to drop by for the art of conversation over tea and go on a historic tour.
The minute you walk in the Heard-Craig house you can feel the history and love for art! Sometimes you don’t always know what amazing treasures are right in your own hometown backyard! Luckily for me, I had a friend introduce me to the events and tours offered at this historic site and soon after I became a member. One of my first events that I attended with my mother and daughter was the Alice in wonderland “Granddaughter Tea”. My mom and I have always enjoyed a nice tea room but this event was beyond anything we have ever attended! The details of the luncheon theme were carried throughout, the staff was right there to educate and serve! The tour at the end of the luncheon was a added bonus! Walking throughout the house seeing the history and culture right in Downtown McKinney as it was in 1900! The stained glass window in the dining room is a must see! And this doesn’t even begin touch on everything the Heard-Craig has to offer and all they do to give back to the community! My advice, explore this historic treasure... schedule a tour today!
The Heard-Craig Center for the Arts, as it is known in the community, is a historical asset to the City of McKinney, Texas. Known for its presence in the art community through its many exhibits and extensive private collections, the Heard-Craig House (as it is also referred to) hosts annual events such as Art Meets Floral (during the city's Arts in Bloom festival) and weekly art history lectures facilitated by local college professors. The center also houses a unique Art-O-Mat amenity, which is a machine fashioned out of an antique cigarette vending machine that dispenses miniature works of art.
My girls and I love to have tea at the Heard every chance we get! Tea is offered with tours of the house, special events such as annual Tea & Conversation and Granddaughters Tea, and private events such as my twin girls’ 13th birthday party.
McKinney Texas is a city with much history. Part of that history is the Heard Craig Center for the Arts and Museum. Not only is it one of the most beautiful homes still maintained in it's original condition. The beautiful china and its distinct cabinet that was handmade is an awesome site. Some of the china was actually painted by Mrs. Craig herself.
It is with great pride, that I am a member of the Heard Craig Center. Actually, our Son first told me about this beautiful piece of history. He remains compelled, as part of his dedication of serving the surrounding counties in North Texas. He is a current Board Member of the Heard Craig center and many other organizations. He also serves as the Mayor of Anna , Texas. I would not enjoy the many clubs that hold their meetings there, if it not for the center. There are over 20. The house is a historical beauty that should be visited by any travelers or local people. Tours are available most days of the year.
As a member of the Rainbow Reviews Bookclub we are so fortunate to have this beautiful facility for our meetings. We use the Carriage House for our meetings but the facility is used by many clubs and organizations as well as for weddings, art shows and many other uses. McKinney is so blessed to have this gorgeous home, carriage house and grounds!
I love old houses and I still get goosebumps every time I go into this home. I love this place and their programs.
The Heard Craig Museum is a wonderful asset to our community. As a member of the Gaslighters book club and The Art Club of McKinney of which both are able to use this facility for special activities, such as celebration luncheons, I personally see the benefits we derive from its availability to these and many other clubs and families.
The surroundings are most pleasant and the staff could not be more cordial and helpful.
We are appreciative to have such a beautiful and professionally run venue at our disposal.
Sincerely,
Judy Blakemore
The Heard-Craig Center for the Arts is steeped in history. Built in the 1900's it is an amazing example of period architecture and furnishings. Did you know this was the first museum in McKinney? And that the Heard-Craig is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary this year!
The inside of this museum is absolutely stunning! Incredible staircases, a huge built-in china cabinet and beautiful gardens and venues for weddings, parties and other events.
I rented the Carriage House for a birthday party and the space was perfect! I got to decorate it with my theme and the staff was great to work with. It's a must see!