(COLLIN COUNTY, Texas) – Texas has many legendary heroes, but you may not be familiar with one of them. Collin McKinney, the namesake for Collin County and the City of McKinney, the county seat, was well known and revered in his time, but is practically unknown today. One of five men tasked to draft the Texas Declaration of Independence, McKinney also helped draft the Texas Republic’s Constitution. Legend has it that he was presented with the quill and inkwell used to sign the declaration by the other delegates as a sign of respect and honor. He was a statesman, prominent businessman, lay preacher, outfitter and guide, and frontiersman, as well as a peer and mentor to many other prominent Texans responsible for making Texas the state that it is today.
Why are we talking about Collin McKinney now? April 17th is his 250th birthday, or the sestercentennial, and he will be celebrated county-wide all year long. The sestercentennial kicks off with a big birthday celebration in downtown McKinney on Saturday, April 16th, and includes the grand opening ceremony for a special new exhibit about Collin McKinney at the Collin County History Museum, 300 E. Virginia Pkwy. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m.
A barbecue competition and tasting, and live entertainment, will take place in the green space located at S. Tennessee and Davis Streets. The public is invited to taste barbecue prepared by local barbecue aficionados from 4 to 7 p.m. The cost is $2 per taste. Cash or credit will be accepted.
Visit historic Chestnut Square for the acclaimed farmers’ market from 8 a.m. to noon. Participate in tours of the property, which include a Collin McKinney exhibit, from 3 – 6 p.m.
Download the Eventzee app and participate in the free, family friendly Eventzee scavenger hunt, which will have historic munzees scattered about the downtown McKinney area.
View ornamental birthday cakes displayed in local businesses during the entire month of April and use the Eventzee app to vote for your favorite. A complete list of participating businesses is available at www.collinmckinney250.org.
All media is invited to a special reception on Friday, April 15 for the descendants of Collin McKinney, who will be gathering in McKinney for the birthday weekend. The event will take place at the Collin County History Museum from 4 to 6 p.m.
For more information about Collin McKinney’s 250th birthday and the activities happening around the county this year, go to www.collinmckinney250.org, the official sestercentennial web site. On the web site you may also view a five-minute video about Collin McKinney produced by the multi-Emmy Award-winning Video Biography Company, and find information about a new novella written specifically for the sestercentennial.
The Collin McKinney Historical Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization formed to promote historical preservation, education and heritage tourism in Collin County. The alliance, along with its partners, sponsors and partner cities, are hosting the county-wide celebrations for the Collin McKinney sestercentennial.