The Freeman Center is a plot of land between San Marcos and

Wimberley, Texas Wimberley is a city in Hays County, Texas, United States. It is still predominantly a ranching area. The population was 2,839 at the 2020 census. History Wimberley started as a trading post settlement near Cypress Creek in 1848, the year Ha ...

. It was founded in 1941 by weekend ranchers Harold M. "Harry" Freeman and his brother Joe. The Freeman Center houses the Texas State University Forensic Anthropology Center's

body farm A body farm is a research facility where decomposition of humans and animals can be studied in a variety of settings. The initial facility was conceived by anthropologist William M. Bass in 1981 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn ...

, where the deceased are used to study the various stages of body decomposition and their effects on the soil.

History

Freeman Brothers

Harold M. "Harry" Freeman and Joe Freeman, brothers who made their living dealing in oil, cotton, Chevrolet dealerships, and ranchland, bought the land from Mr. E.J. Jameyson in 1941 and continued to add several parcels over the years. The two brothers would utilize the land for weekend getaways which included: hunting, hiking, and iconic poker games. Per perpetual trust, Harold Freeman bequeathed 3,485 acres of ranchland to Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State University) for farming, ranching, game management, educational, and experimental purposes. Joe Freeman's land, located adjacent to the university's site, was eventually managed by Frost National Bank.

Research

Researchers conduct experiments and studies at the center, including

forensic anthropology Forensic anthropology is the application of the anatomical science of anthropology and its various subfields, including forensic archaeology and forensic taphonomy, in a legal setting. A forensic anthropologist can assist in the identification ...

Facilities

Since 2008, it has been the site of the 26-acre

Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State The Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State (FACTS) is a 26-acre forensic anthropology research facility located on the Freeman Ranch in San Marcos, Texas. It is one of the seven extant body farms in the United States and the largest such for ...

References

External links

Freeman Ranch
Buildings and structures in Hays County, Texas Ranches in Texas 1941 establishments in Texas {{Texas-struct-stub