About us
Mission Statement
We are an interfaith organization that believes peace is possible and that in order for a peaceful world to become reality, humanity must engage in a conscious effort to develop peaceful and just solutions to conflict and dedicate substantial resources to finding solutions to injustice and humanity’s impact on the environment of our Mother Earth.
The Crawford Texas Peace House offers a culturally diverse environment for spiritual growth and intellectual understanding that gives hope to humanity by providing peaceful alternatives to the cult of war.
We believe the U.S. should be a leader in the peace movement. We believe the establishment of a Department of Peace would be a mighty stride on the path of enlightenment forged by great spiritual and philosophical leaders of many faiths.
Services
Our facilities include a full kitchen, outdoor barbecue, AC, press room, indoor and outdoor meeting space, and limited overnight accomodations.
We offer a special welcome to alternative and foreign media visiting Crawford when the president is nearby. We offer wireless internet access for journalists and bloggers, who can enjoy a friendly place to file a story and share a meal over a cup of chai.
Media from all over the world, including, but not limited to, Australia, the Netherlands, Japan, the Middle East and Switzerland along with many national, regional and local publications have visited the Peace House.
Labyrinth and Gardens
From its inception, the Crawford Texas Peace House was envisioned as a place for both action and contemplation. We believe the two are closely linked, that effective action for peace can best take place in an environment that promotes a peaceful state of mind. Thus, the first big physical project undertaken at the site was the creation of a 40 feet-diameter labyrinth, a type of public art traditionally used as an aid to contemplation.
Situated between trees in the middle of the yard beside the house, the labyrinth is composed of large river rocks laid out in a complex pattern on a thick bed of crushed granite. It is surrounded by winding pathways and gardens filled with shrubs and a great diversity of flowering plants. A large peace symbol serves as the defining element in the unique design of our labyrinth.
At the center is a Peace Pole. “May peace prevail on earth” is inscribed in English, Hebrew, Arabic and Spanish on each of the four sides of the pole.
In the fall of 2005 a new section was installed adjacent to the house. This section of the garden, christened, The Casey Sheehan Memorial Peace Garden, includes a large sandstone monument carved and donated by Ron Teska of Pennsylvania and a statue of Mary Mother of Peace.
On December 31, 2006, another monument was placed inside the garden to commemorate the 655,000 Iraq civilians who have died since 2003.
Chronicle
The initial idea of a Peace House in Crawford, Texas, in 2002, became reality with a formal opening of the Crawford Peace House on Easter Sunday, 2003. This rural community in Central Texas, where President George W. Bush made his home in 1999, became a key location in formulation of U.S. foreign polity leading to war. The Peace House serves as a vital position in the peace movements powerful voice for justice.
The Crawford Texas Peace House has hosted thousands of visitors in the nearly 4 years of our existence.
Pastors for Peace visit twice yearly on their travels to Chiapas and Cuba.
In 2003 hundreds of peaceseekers came to Crawford during many events including Doug Rokke who gave a presentation on the effects of Depleted Uranium. In July, Military Families Speak Out held a press conference in opposition to the war.
In 2004 over 5,000 people attended events facilitated by CTPH including Ralph Nader who spoke on March 20, and an outdoor giant screen showing of Fahrenheit 911 in July. And in Aug., 2005 over 12,000 came to support Cindy Sheehan and Camp Casey.
An oasis across the railroad tracks from downtown Crawford (population 705 when the president is away), the Peace House beckons visitors with a beautiful stone labyrinth in the courtyard. The lovely garden was planted and is cared for by volunteers. The building and environs provide a place where individuals and organizations can gather for worship, meetings, workshops, and other activities dedicated to an evolving consciousness of peace. send us email.
