Friends of Garland’s Historic Magic 11th Street is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation as defined by the National Trust for Historic Preservation based in Washington, D.C., and also to the redevelopment of the traditional central core of downtown Garland, TX. The organization believes the history of Garland should be told in creative and innovative ways that not only inform citizens of their city’s heritage but also inspire them to build a better future for ALL Garland citizens. Annually the organization sponsors a number of events, including historic home tours, history-focused dramas and musicals, Monarch Buitterfly walks, and activities designed to help tell the story of ALL of Garland’s people groups. During 2019, the Magic 11th Street organization sponsored a locally written and produced musical, Becoming Garland Avenue, the 2019 Christmas Candlelight Home Tour—two extremely successful activities that both inspired and uplifted the Garland community. During 2020, the Magic 11th Street organization will sponsor the Becoming Garland Avenue Revival—2020 at Garland’s Plaza Theater at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19. On May 18, 2020, the Magic 11th Street organziation will sponsor the city’s first-ever Latino Heritage Festival honoring the city’s dominant Latino population (41% now, up from one family in 1928). During the festival, the organization will release for sale its new Latino Heritage Cookbook, which tells the story of the Latino population through the recipes representing the various Hispanic cultures from around the world and represented in Garland today. Friends of Garland’s Historic Magic 11th Street cooperates with and works with the City of Garland, but its board is independent and operates with a free-enterprise model of community engagement and leadership. The organization was founded in January 2018 after the Travis College Hill Historic District in Garland, TX, became the first site ever to be named to the U.S. National Parks Service’s prestigious National Register of Historic Places. The honor was bestowed on the neighborhood by the U.S. Department of the Interior six weeks before Garland’s downtown area was entered on the National Register. The Travis College Hill National Register Historic District is a collection of 11 Craftsman style homes dating from 1900 to 1960—the «period of significance». The neighborhood was platted in January 1913 as part of the early growth of Garland, formed from a merger of two small communities known as Duck Creek and Embree. By choosing either Trailblazer, Pioneer, or Settler membership, you will contribute to the expanding role of Friends of Garland’s Historic Magic 11th Street in the Garland community as well as helping to underwrite its many current and future programs. Here are membership levels and what each provides: Trailblazer Membership—$30 •$5 off purchase of two tickets to «Becoming Garland Avenue» musical drama 2020 Pioneer Membership—$100 •$5 off purchase of 6 tickets to «Becoming Garland Avenue» musical drama 2020 • Acknowledgement in Play Companion, «Becoming Garland Avenue» 2020 Settler Membership—$350 • 4 free tickets to «Becoming Garland Avenue» musical drama 2020 • Invitation to cast party after April 2020 play • Acknowledgement in Play Companion, «Becoming Garland Avenue» 2020