IMA HOGG'S BIRTHDAY : Celebrate the birth anniversary of 
this Houston philanthropist at a property she left to the 
people of Texas ... details on Passport To Texas.
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Throughout its history, Varner-Hogg Plantation, in 
Brazoria County, has been home to well-known Texans -- 
including the family of James S. Hogg, the first native-
born governor of Texas. 
 
The Hoggs purchased the property in 1901. They bought it and 
made a cottage, a country home for them to go and retreat to. 

 
Kandy Taylor-Hille, is Varner-Hogg site manager. 

James Stephen Hogg also bought it because he very personally 
felt and thought after his involvement in Beaumont with 
Spindletop there was oil on the property. And he was right! 
Never found this out unfortunately in his lifetime, but by the 
1920s this land was giving over $40,000 a day up in oil to the 
Hogg family. That's where their real riches came from. He made 
some money in politics, but his children, this three sons and 
daughter, Miss Ima Hogg, were the ones who really prospered 
from it. All the wonderful things they did for Houston and for 
Texas was because of the oil they received from this property and 
the money from that.

The home remained in the Hogg family until in 1957, at 
which time Ms. Ima Hogg donated the renovated property 
to the state. It was dedicated and opened for visitation 
on her father's birthday in 1958. 

And this Saturday Varner-Hogg celebrates Ms. Ima Hogg's 
birthday from noon to 2 and you're invited. Find a link to 
park information and directions at passporttotexas.org.
 
That's our show for today ... with research and writing 
help from Loren Seeger...For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm 
Cecilia Nasti