Past Events
Eddie Durham Jazz Fest 2022
The Calaboose African American History Museum presents a FREE CONCERT Saturday, October 15, 2022, celebrating San Marcos native, Eddie Durham, a legendary swing-era jazz guitarist, trombonist, arranger and composer.
The 2022 Eddie Durham Jazz Fest will feature a concert from 11a.m. to 5 p.m. with special guest and MC, ‘Topsy’ M. Durham, Eddie Durham’s daughter and biographer. Hays County Food Bank will be there so bring donations and canned goods to fill the van. Food trucks, arts and crafts booths and jazz all day promise to make this a wonderful way to spend an October Saturday. Book your HOTEL ROOM here. You don’t want to miss it!!
Free Drumming Class
We had a very engaging FREE DRUMMING class on Saturday,
June 11, 2022 at 1pm at the Cephas House, 217 W. Martin Luther
King Dr. San Marcos, TX 78666
The drumming class last SATURDAY sought to UPLIFT LIVES THROUGH RHYTHM & DRUM! We drummed for radical joy with the facilitated guidance of Austin Rhythm & Drum through a one-hour interactive Rhythm & Drum Program to support African American Music Appreciation Month. We offered 20 FREE spots for community members in attendance to drum with facilitator Deborah Peyton . www.austinrhythmanddrum.com #africandrumming
National Preservation Day 2022
A day of learning, storytelling, preserving histories, and bridge-building around the rich collective and beautifully diverse heritage of San Marcos, Texas!
National Preservation Day 2022 was celebrated at the Cephas House with our amazing community members including City of San Marcos, Dunbar Heritage Association, Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, San Marcos Public Library and many more!!
Our resident archivist & historian Dr. Elvin Holt gives a localized geography and museum tour to community members for the Preservation Day event in honor of National Preservation Month.
The Dream Continues
The Virtual Martin Luther King Jr Event
The Calaboose African American History Museum designed this wreath with humble but heartfelt intention. In the center, there are three photos of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. streaming down the center on a black and gold ribbon to symbolize his Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. membership. The wreath also contains black roses throughout the wreath that symbolize his encircling posthumous legacy. The evergreen wreath itself symbolizes MLK's everlasting dream, which we aim to continue in action and spirit.
Dr. Skyller Walkes, Calaboose African American History Museum President
Eddie Durham Tribute 2020
The 5th annual Eddie Durham Jazz Fest took place on August 22, 2020. Normally presented at the Eddie Durham Park in San Marcos-was held virtually in 2020 with a fabulous mix of musical and spoken word entertainment, recorded live for this event, and vintage footage and recordings of interviews and performances shared by 'Topsy' M. Durham, Eddie Durham's daughter, and the Eddie Durham Estate