Leonard’s Museum

I’m a sucker for old photographs, and this museum did not disappoint. I love stepping back in time. My husband and I toured the museum together. We went on a weekday and there was a curator there for any questions. Come to find out she was a relative of the Leonard brothers. It was cool to see products from the past. We spent about 45 minutes in there but took our time reading everything. As much as I enjoyed it, I’m glad we did not bring our three kids. I think they would’ve looked at The displays and be done in less than 10 minutes. There is a cute train track that the curator plugged in for us that kids might enjoy watching. The museum is also connected to a hamburger joint. The burgers looked delicious but pricey. Would like to come back and try the burgers.

In Fort Worth character counts — just ask any local. If you would like a glimpse into the past to see what true entrepreneurial Texans look like who are «determined, dedicated and devoted» to bettering the lives of the communities they serve, you need only stop here for a FREE tour of the Leonard Brother’s Museum.
I’d been meaning to stop in here for a while and I’m so glad I did! (Just couldn’t figure out where the front door was or what the hours were. Hint: It’s just to the right as you step inside M&O Station Grille and see hours on Unilocal.)
This museum is dedicated to the life and legacy of Marvin and Obie Leonard. Lauren Leonard, the charming great-​granddaughter of Obie Leonard and sweet Dorothy a long-​time loyal Leonard Bros. employee will gladly give you a tour and offer you a FREE Leonard Brothers souvenir cup and brochure.
Trivia Time: Do you know who began the first super-​mall where the whole family could go; dad could get the car fixed and mom could get her hair styled while the kids played on the monorail? Or who started the generic store brand goods trend? How about who issued the first version of a store currency (pre-​gift card) to be used for merchandise purchases at that store? Well, surely you know who had the very first private subway to shuttle customers from the parking garage to the six block mall to shop? Well, you just might be surprised to learn that these were all firsts right here in Fort Worth, Texas dating back to 1918. That’s right. Pretty amazed myself.
You will leave with a newfound appreciation for Marvin and Obie Leonard who helped shape the great city of Fort Worth through their humble, heartfelt dedication to the people of this fine hard-​working city. This compact museum is still expanding (they are adding their original Lionel train collection display this week). The family funds this museum themselves and staffs it themselves. It is full of original items from the store. Items are donated by the family, as well as from previous employees like Dorothy who saved her son’s baby shoes in the original box from 1955 with the price tag, his baby rattle, hair brush and other baby items in a cedar chest for all those decades.
There are pictures of the original store throughout the years, a timeline with items dating from each era on display starting in 1918, spanning the great depression, World War II, and progressing through the monorail in the sky that many Fort Worth natives recall fondly riding as children which transversed the store where the children could see all of the toys and Santa at Christmas and ending when the store was sold to the Tandy corporation in 1974.
What caused me pause was not all of these incredible innovations or the wonderful pictures, collectables, antiques, or the one-​of-​a-​kind men’s hat and ladies bonnets with the original hat boxes not even the Detroit Tigers headline grabbing original newspaper — and any sports memorabilia can usually impress me!
What actually brought tears to my eyes was what these two brothers did «when no one was looking». These men left a legacy of silent philanthropy and this is what Fort Worth is all about — it’s heart, folks. These two humble brothers took action when basic human needs were right before their eyes. Not once. Not twice. But so many times. During the Great Depression, the banks were given a «Banking Holiday» by the government to stop a run on the national currency (people like you and me couldn’t cash their paychecks). So most people in Fort Worth were left with no way to buy food or necessities. The Leonard Brothers jumped into action. They created their own currency and cashed those checks for people with both their currency and US currency so that folks could buy food and other items to survive.
Then, in 1933 the government-​financed school lunch program went flat broke. It left all of these kids without meals. Marvin Leonard donated $ 35,000 (that’s in 1933!) to ensure that children received school lunches and continued to support the program until it could become viable on its own again.
If that wasn’t tugging on your heart strings already, the city was soon forced to issue I.O.U.‘s to the city’s teachers. Marvin and Obie cashed those I.O.U.‘s for the teachers.
They saved lives during a devastating flood. Took a stand during desegregation.
What an amazing story of true Americana! These are real hometown heroes! Stop in and take a tour, pick up your Free souvenir cup while you read the notes left by the those kids who once rode the monorail in the sky. Enjoy!