"The Folkart Preservation Project was created to offer a comprehensive study of the folk life culture of Rusk County and to teach the skills practiced by weavers, spinners, quilters, blacksmiths, knife makers and others." said museum director Susan Weaver. In 1996 the program was awarded a certificate of commendation for its folkart program by the American Association of State and local History. The AASLH award program is the nation's most prestigious competition for achievement in local, state, and regional history.

The Project has been in operation for over 20 years. It began with an annual quilt show and has grown to include all facets of cultural folkarts. Education and preservation are the goals of the project. The museum, through its classes, demonstrations, tours, internships and reference library, strives to have an impact on cultural preservation throughout the East Texas Region.

Margaret Minton, the museum's Volunteer Folkart Coordinator enlists the assistance of folk artist to teach skills to a younger generation. Minton notes that with each passing year the Museum loses people due to illness or death. " With the passing of each folk artist we lose a little of our history and culture. Therefore it is necessary to recruit younger people and train them." said Minton.

The Heritage Syrup Festival offers the museum an opportunity to educate a large group of people. "The museum thinks of the event as an all day class room," said director Susan Weaver. Held the second Saturday in November the folk life event highlights the making of ribbon cane syrup plus 50 other folk arts. Period museum and story telling round out the cultural event.

Heritage Folkart Day

In the Spring of each year, the Depot Museum sponsors Heritage Folkart Day for school children. 1600 school children will attend the two day event. This educational experience was created as part of the museum's Folkart Preservation Project. The folkartist who demonstrate are selected to enhance the students curriculum by allowing the youth to see first-hand skills used by their forefathers. Among the skills featured are spinning, weaving, rope making, wood carving, blacksmithing, broom making and printing on an old press and linotype machine.