The Heard-Craig Center, established formally in 1970 as a fine arts hub, provides meeting space, education, artistic opportunities, and tours. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior listed as an official Texas landmark by the Texas Historical Commission, and designated as a local site for Smithsonian Traveling Poster Exhibits, the Heard-Craig Center for the Arts is an elegant, beautifully preserved mansion set in the heart of downtown McKinney, Texas. The Center holds the history of women's leadership and offers many educational events (art history lectures) for the benefit of the community and scholars.
The Mission of the Heard-Craig Center is to promote the fine arts through educational programs and exhibits, provide meeting facilities for educational organizations, and honor the legacy of the Heard and Craig families through the preservation of the historic properties.
The historic Heard-Craig Center was built in 1900 by Stephen and Lillian Heard.
Their daughter, Kathryn, through her vision and philanthropy, gifted the Center as a meeting facility to over 20 non-profit groups. These groups have helped raise money to build new buildings (e.g. the first Library), to donate to the needy, to provide educational scholarships, and to spearhead community improvements.
The Heard-Craig Center has been the hub for women's leadership since the late 1800s. The Center preserves the collection of the City Federation of Women's Leadership as well as the collection from other groups such as the Art Club, the Edelweiss Club, the Owl Club (the oldest in the state of Texas), and more.
The Heard-Craig Center shares the Kathryn Heard-Craig and the Thomas E. Craig collections with the public.
The Heard-Craig Center has an Art Collection (Klepper, Tenant, Stell), an Asian Collection, and a Textile Collection, to name just a few.
We have all of the history of women's leadership for multiple groups in the Collin County area, including the City Federation, En Avant, En Amie, Edelweiss, Owl, Halcyon, Jeanne D'Arc, Art Club, DAR, Delta Kappa Gamma, Garden Club, Rainbow Review, Porcelain Guild, Mockingbird Poetry Society, etc.
The Heard-Craig is a local site for Smithsonian Traveling Poster exhibits such as: sounds of Religion, Women Inventors, A Place for All People, I Want the Wide American Earth, Journey Stories, and Votes for Women. The Center opens art gallery shows 2-3 times per year and the public is invited to attend.
The Heard-Craig Center has three facilities: A Main Museum, A Carriage House, and a large garden.
The Heard-Craig is run by a staff. Oversight of the organization is done by a 7-member unpaid Board of Directors.
Access: Students, Scholars
Appointment required: False
The Heard-Craig Center offers a wide range of services related to its mission of education and preservation of the fine arts.
Gift Shop
Event Rental
Group Tours