Artist and retired landscape architect Beth Francell will present a public program later this month at the Overland Trail Museum, highlighting the deep historical roots of her family and their connection to the Fort Davis area.
The presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. at the museum, located at 511 North Fort Street. The event is being hosted in partnership with the Fort Davis Historical Society and is open to community members and visitors.
During her talk, Francell will explore multiple branches of her family’s history, beginning with early regional figures and tracing their influence on commerce, agriculture, and civic development in West Texas. Her program will examine the role her ancestors played in establishing key institutions and businesses that helped shape Fort Davis and surrounding communities.
The presentation will also cover family ties connected to early trading companies, banking operations, transportation routes, and hospitality ventures, as well as large-scale agricultural projects near Valentine. Together, these stories illustrate how generations of settlers and entrepreneurs contributed to the region’s economic and cultural growth.
Organizers say the program offers a unique opportunity to connect personal family narratives with broader regional history, providing insight into how individual lives intersected with major developments in Jeff Davis County.
Francell’s background in design and the arts is expected to bring a visual and interpretive element to the discussion, helping audiences better understand how landscape, industry, and community evolved over time.
The event is free and open to the public. Residents and history enthusiasts are encouraged to attend and learn more about the people and enterprises that helped shape the Fort Davis area.
