Historical Museum Guide for Texas

Texas History Museums

Frontier Times Museum

The Alamo

[The Battle of the Alamo]  [Defenders of the Alamo]

[Map of San Antonio de Bexar]

Since I am a native Texan, this has to one of the most significant landmarks in Texas and I have to tell you I did not visit this place until I was in my 40s!  Standing on this spot, I was absolutely awestruck at what took place here.  If you are a Texan, this is a place you MUST visit, however I believe anyone interested in history will experience some degree of  "WOW" as they walk this historic place and hear the story of the Battle of the Alamo which took place here in 1836.  It's story will echo in your memory forever.

Buckhorn Museum

In 1881 Albert's Buckhorn Saloon was opened for business on Dolorosa Street in San Antonio.  Patrons were encouraged to bring in deer antlers and trade them for beer or whiskey.  The collection continued to grow and included rattlesnake rattlers.  Today the saloon / museum is still in operation and boasts having "The Oddest Store in the World".  Located at 318 E. Houston Street in San Antonio, TX.

San Antonio Missions

Old Blanco County Court House   [History]

Built ca 1885-1886, this grand old courthouse has been used for a courthouse, office building, hospital, school, a bank and town meeting place.  At one time, it housed a wild west museum.  Today it stands as a reminder of the past and welcomes visitors to Blanco County.

Round Mountain Stage-Coach Inn and Stable

Brazoria County Historical Museum   [Genealogy]

Found inside the old 1897 Brazoria County Courthouse in Angleton, Texas, the museum preserves and displays historic artifacts which document the history of the area.  The genealogy section offers a free genealogy database of early settlers in Austin's Colony.

Levi Jordan Plantation Archaelogical & Historical Site

[Genealogy of Plantation Families]

Constructed in 1848 by Levi Jordan, the plantation is being studied through archaeological excavation.  This plantation which was built by slaves became one of the largest sugar and cotton plantations in Texas.  Contact the Varner-Hogg State Historic Site at 979-345-4656 for a possible tour.

Museum of the Big Bend

The museum has been preserving and exhibiting artifacts of the Big Bend area for over 70 years.  Located on the campus of Sul Ross State University in Alpine, TX.

Hallie Stillwell Hall of Fame

Focused on the ranching legacy of Hallie Crawford Stillwell, the museum is located on FM 2627 in Alpine, TX on the east side of Big Bend National Park.

Located in the old Brown County Jail.

The site is a Caddo burial mound and the area was home to the Mound Builders of Caddoan origin who roamed the area for 500 years beginning ca A.D. 800.  Exhibits and interpretive trails are featured with reconstructed Caddo dwellings and ceremonial areas.  This site is now operated by the Texas Historical Commission.  Tours are offered.  Located in Cherokee County, just west of Nacogdoches, TX at 1649 State Hwy 21W in Alto, TX.

Heritage Center of Cherokee County  [Photos]

Dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of artifacts and documents related to the history of Cherokee County.  409 North Henderson Street, Rusk, TX.

Historical Markers in Rusk, Texas

Jim Hogg City Park

A memorial to the first native born Texas governor, James Stephen Hogg, this lovely park features a museum, birthplace replica, the family cemetery and historical markers.  Located off Hwy 84 East and Fire Tower Road near Rusk, TX.

Vanishing Texana Museum

Displays of historic artifacts, documents and photos related to the history of Texas and Cherokee County.  Housed inside the Jacksonville Public Library at 502 S. Jackson Street in Jacksonville, TX.

Chestnut Square Historical Park

Collin County Historical Society and Museum

Heritage Farmstead at Plano

Located in the Historical Park of Denton County at 317 W. Mulberry in Denton, TX.

Courthouse On The Square Museum

The museum offers a glimpse into the history and cultures which made the Denton community what it is today.   110 W. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201

Denton County African American Museum

The (soon to be opened) museum is housed in a ca 1900 Quakertown house which was moved to the location adjacent to the Bayless-Selby House in the Historical Park of Denton County at 317 W. Mulberry.

Denton County Historical Museum

Dedicated to the preservation, display and interpretation of Denton's early history, the museum houses collections of pioneer families and offers a reference library for researchers.  Located at the intersection of I-35N and Loop 288 at the Stonehill Center in Denton, TX.

Dickens Historical Museum

Area Missions in El Paso

The Mission Trail, a history project of the El Paso Community College.  Just follow Soccoro Road and you will find all 3 old missions.  This is great fun.  I have done this myself and have to say, the haunting beauty of these old missions will stay with you forever.  The Tigua Indian Cultural Center is also located on this road and it is a place you must stop to visit and learn about the Tigua Indian Tribe.

Old Photos of Churches in El Paso

Chapel San Elceario   [Virtual Tour]

This chapel is not an actual mission but a military chapel built in 1877.  It has stained glass windows displaying the American flag and the Seal of Texas.

Los Portales Museum and Information Center   [Virtual Tour]

Located in Historic San Elizario, the museum displays 400 years of border history.

Mission Socorro   [Virtual Tour]

An absolutely beautiful old Franciscan mission founded in 1682, the present building was constructed in 1840 to replace earlier buildings.

Mission Ysleta   [History of the Mision]   [Virtual Tour]

Claimed to be the second oldest continuous church in the U.S.

Tigua Indian Cultural Center  [History of the Tigua Indians]  [More History]

Located at 305 Ya Ya Lane at Socorro Road in El Paso, is a lovely place devoted to the history of the Tigua Indians.  Inside, you will find people making lovely pottery and other crafts which you can purchase along with historical information about the Tigua Indian tribe.

Winedale   [History of Winedale]

Located in Round Top, Texas.

Sam Rayburn Library & Museum

Focused on the history and life of Sam Rayburn with exhibits of photographs, letters, personal memorabilia and other items

800 W. Sam Rayburn Drive

Bonham, TX

George Ranch Living History Historical Park

Galveston County Historical Museum

Housed in the grand 1921 City National Bank building, the museum preserves and promotes the heritage and history of Galveston County.  Located at 2219 Market Street in Galveston, Texas.

Great Storm Theater

Shown in the Pier 21 Theater, the movie documents the 1900 hurricane in Galveston which killed more than 6000 people and is considered the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the United States.  Located at Harborside Drive and 21st Street, 2nd Floor.

Texas Seaport Museum - Home of Elissa

Harper Pioneer Museum

Gillespie County Historical Society Museums

A Texas Ghost Town..... they preservation society is asking for help in restoring the old Cole building which once served as the town meeting place and housed the town's drug store, gas station, bank and post office.

Harrison County Historical Society and Museum

Texas and Pacific Railway Museum

Located in the Ginocchio Historic District of Marshall, this railroad depot was built in 1912.  Now serving as a museum, they offer interpretive tours to guide you through this important part of Mashall's history.

Focused on the historic interpretation of the settlement of the eastern Texas Panhandle, the museum features exhibits related to ranching, the railroad, rodeoing, the oil industry and more.  Located at 118 N. 2nd in Canadian, TX.

Crockett Depot and Museum

A 1909 Railroad Depot which is today known as the Houston County History Visitor's Center and Museum.  View exhibits depicting the history of this historic area in Texas.

Mission Tejas State Historical Park

Visitors to this 365 acre park can tour a representation of the Mission San Francisco de los Tejas, the first Spanish mission in Texas.  The Rice log cabin is also located here.  Built in 1878, the cabin is one of the oldest structures to survive in this area.

McFaddin - Ward House  Virtual Tour  History

Texas Rangers Archives & Museum

[The Research Center]   [Texas Rangers History Timeline]

[Texas Rangers Historical Account]

Displays artifacts and historical information about the famous Texas Rangers.  The Texas Rangers Research Center can help you with genealogy and tell you how to locate information about your Texas Ranger ancestor.

McMullen County Historical Museum and Archives

Midland County Historical Museum

The museum features historic artifacts related to the history of Midland.  The collections include photos, saddles, cattle brands, rodeo memorabilia and early Midland newspapers, obituary files and genealogies of early families.  Located at 301 W. Missouri in Midland, TX.

The Petroleum Museum

Focused on the history of the petroleum industry and it's impact on the cultural history of man in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico.  Visitors will also find the western artwork of Tom Lovell on display here.  Located at 1500 Interstate 20 West (Exit 136).

Mills County Historical Museum

Pelham Museum

Pioneer Village

Newton County Historical Commission History Center & Museum

Powell Hotel Museum

Located in Newton, Texas, the hotel was built in 1889 and was originally the W. H. Ford Male and Female College.  It later served as a hotel and eventually deeded to the Newton County Historical Commission.  Today it is home to the Newton County Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center and museum.

Panhandle Plains Historical Museum 

The Depot Museum

Historic Sabine County Jail Museum   [History]

Old Jail Museum - Located in Old Town

San Jacinto Monument and Museum of History   [The Battle]

Shelby County Historical Society & Museum   [History]

Located in the Weaver-Gates House.

Fort Worth Stock Yards Museum

Fort Worth is well known as Cowtown and was once full of wealthy cattle barons.  A visit to the stockyards museum will allow you to explore the colorful past of Fort Worth, it's stockyards, and the meatpacking industry.  Located at 131 E. Exchange Ave in the historic Livestock Exchange Building.

Log Cabin Village  [History]

This village opened up near my home when I was only a child of 11 and even then I had a fascination with historical places and things, as I asked my father to take me there.  I was enthralled with it and it has grown a lot since then.  More cabins and historical structures have been moved to the village which offers a glimpse into early pioneer life in North Texas.  Today the village offers interpreters and volunteers who depict the lifestyle of our early pioneers, making this a living history museum.  Located in Forest Park on University Drive at 2100 Log Cabin Village Lane in Fort Worth, TX.

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame

The only museum in the entire world dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit in their trail blazing efforts.  The museum which opened in 2002 is in a beautiful new building with a huge mural of horses and cowgirls painted by Richard Haas.  Featuring a hall of fame, three galleries, a theater and research library, the museum itself is an inspiring work of art.  Located in the Fort Worth Cultural District at 1720 Gendy Street.

Thistle Hill   [History]  [Virtual Tour]

A beautiful cattle baron's mansion.  Built in 1903, this is one of the most beautiful homes in my native home town of Fort Worth.  The house has been called home by Electra Waggoner and Winfield Scott.  Today, tours are offered and rental is available for weddings and events.  1509 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas.

White Settlement Historical Museum

George Washington Carver Museum   [History]

Whitehead Memorial Museum  Exhibit Photos

[County History]

Historical Monuments, Markers and Sites in Victoria

McNamara House Museum

A Greek Revival style house built in 1876 for William J. McNamara.  The home is a museum today and furnished with some of the family's original furniture.  Exhibits and artifacts related to Victoria's history are featured in the museum.  Located at 502 N. Liberty in Victoria, TX.

Museum of the Coastal Bend

Devoted to the cultural history of the mid-coastal region of Texas, the museum offers many exhibits related to the French exploration in Texas and is a member of the La Salle Odyssey Project.  Located on the campus of Victoria College at 2200 East Red River in Victoria, Texas.

The Nave Museum

A collection of art by Royston Nave is housed in a neo-classical style temple built by his wife in 1932 as a memorial to her husband.  Located at 306 W. Commercial in Victoria, TX.

Star of The Republic Museum   [Virtual Tour]

Kell House Museum

Built in 1909, the home of Frank Kell (a founding father of Wichita Falls), features original family furnishings, textiles, and artwork.  Guided tours offer insight into the history of the settlement of Wichita Falls and the Kell family.  Located at 503 Eighth Street in Wichita Falls, TX

Williamson County Historical Museum

[History]

Housed inside the 1910 Old Farmers State Bank Building, the museum features artifacts and objects related to the history of Williamson County.  Located at 716 Austin Avenue in Georgetown, TX.

A 1927 Texaco Gas station, located at the corner of U.S. Hwy 81 and 287 is listed as a historical site.  Used today for movies and photo shoots.  Read more history.

Wise County Heritage Museum

Housed in an old Baptist College building at 1603 South Trinity in Decatur, Texas, the museum contains a large collection of genealogy research materials along with historical artifacts of the area. 

Woody Cabin

This log cabin located in Wise County near Deep Creek Cemetery, was built by Sam Woody ca 1854.  The cabin is surrounded by a fence and can only be seen, not entered.

Governor Jim Hogg City Park

At first glance this seems to be a lovely but ordinary city park.  However, if one looks a little closer, you will find a beautifully restored home which was built ca 1869.  Home to the James A. Stinson family, a daughter: Miss Sallie Stinson married Texas Governor James Hogg in the parlor.  Also located inside the park is a "Honeymoon Cottage", Miss Ima Hogg Museum and a large pavilion.  Located on Highway 37 in Quitman, TX.

Museum Index for Other States

Texas Census Records