About Us
Our goal at The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County is to educate the public about Montgomery County's rich history! The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County features exhibits showcasing the county's roots, from the lumber and oil industries to the everyday lives of Montgomery County residents. The Museum is housed in the historic Grogan/Cochran home, built in 1924. Through a fundraiser and generous donors, the Conroe Service League was able to open the museum in 1985 and served as its administrative branch until the museum grew strong enough to stand on its own financially. In 2005, for its 50th anniversary, the League gifted the museum with a Fountain.
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The Museum is composed of three permanent galleries including Glimpses of Montgomery County, featuring a chronology of the area's history, from prehistoric times to the building of Lake Conroe in the late 1970s. The second gallery, Towns, People & Events, honors those who have impacted the county and distinguishes the first events for the area, such as the first county fair, the first telephone, etc. The third gallery is a Hands-On Children's Room. Here children can explore a log cabin and a turn-of-the-century general store.
The Museum also offers a research room, oral histories of county residents, traveling exhibitions, a gift shop, and several outdoor exhibits. Special events for adults and children are offered regularly.
The Grogan-Cochran Home
The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County is housed in the Grogan-Cochran home. These two families owned and operated 25 sawmills over the years. One of the first to open in Montgomery County was in 1917 where The Woodlands is located today. J. G. Grogan built this home in downtown Conroe. He and his family moved into it in 1924. Four generations of Cochrans occupied the home until the last descendant and owner, Carolyn Meadows Walker, donated it to be used for a museum. The home was moved to Candy Cane Park in Conroe in 1985.
Strake-Gray Oilfield House
1938 portable construction home built by George W. Strake, Sr. for his driller and the first Strake Oilfield Superintendent, Harvey Lee and later Clyde Thomas “Dolly” Gray. Dolly Gray was instrumental in perpetuating the Strake Company Baseball Team which later became the Conroe Wildcats.
Roughneck Bunkhouse
Used by employees working for Strake Oil Company.- At the end of the Roughneck’s shift, he would sleep in the bunkhouse and when they returned to the oilfield, the next group of roughnecks would sleep in the bunkhouse.