Plans to renovate the Ghirardi House began taking formation in 2002. At that time, Mrs. Rita Ghirardi decided to donate the families’ homestead to the City of League City, planning to make it into a museum. The Ghirardi House has a long and rich history, deeply embedded in the heritage of this city. It was owned by J.C. League until 1911, when it was bought by J.F. Kelly. Only seven years later, Kelly sold the property to Sebastian Ghirardi, the son of the first Italians to immigrate to League City. The house remained in his family until 2002, when Mrs. Rita Ghirardi decided to donate the homestead to the City of League City and the Butler Longhorn Museum. She envisioned a place dedicated to the stories of the twelve Italian families who migrated here (for more information on them, check out our article on the Twelve Families). Unfortunately, the project was unable to be completed at that time and the Ghirardi house sat empty on a hill in Heritage Park.
However, in 2018, the city council voted to move forward with the conversion of the Ghirardi house into a museum. The Butler Longhorn Museum is proud to incorporate the Italian Family Heritage Farmhouse. With the help of Cervelle Homes, Sherwin Williams, Dannebaum Engineering, HomeTown Bank, GAF Shingles, and Hurricane Construction we will be able to restore this home to its former glory and complete its transformation into a community landmark and museum. The City of League City has graciously agreed to partner with us on this project, and we at the Butler Longhorn Museum are thrilled to work with them. We would like to extend a special thanks to all the supporters and contributors who are helping make this project possible.
On August 16, 2019, Rita Ghirardi got her first look at the construction. Through tears, she explained to the construction crew that they were helping her realize her late husband’s dream. The transformation of the Ghirardi house to the Italian Heritage museum has been a long one, but we couldn’t be more excited to open it to the public. The home will feature exciting new exhibits, and interactive, modern displays that visitors from near and far will enjoy. When it opens, this new museum will provide a place for us to celebrate the complex and compelling Italian history of our city. We expect this project to be completed in the near future. Until then, please visit our Get Involved page to see how you can become a part of this amazing endeavor.
