Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center

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Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center Our legacy began in 1952 when a group called the Bastrop Ladies Reading Circle raised funds to open our current museum in 1953. Call for more information.

Since then, a lot has changed, and we are now a modern museum and visitor center sure to please the whole family. The mission of the Bastrop County Historical Society Museum is to preserve and promote the history of Bastrop County. History: Bastrop County Historical Society (BCHS) and its museum were established in 1952. Since then, BCHS has amassed a unique collection of materials, documents, and artifacts dating before the County’s founding in 1836. Collections: The Society has a collection of approximately 5,000 artifacts and books in addition to 14,000 documents and photographs contributed by members of the community. Collectively, they tell the unique story of Bastrop County. Research: Archives are available for research in our professional research library. Membership: is open to anyone willing to pay modest annual dues. Bastrop Old Town Visitor Center: over 9,000 annual visitors come through our doors for local and regional information. Our dedicated staff of experts knows the area's secrets, and we encourage you to take respite in our climate-controlled spaces. This is the entrance to visiting the Bastrop County Historical Society museum.

10/31/2026

Watch to see which of these legends will win the spider races at Boo Bash 2026! 🕷️🕸️🎃

MORNING STORY 🎃 Happy Halloween, Bastrop! Today’s throwback takes us to downtown Bastrop in the 1980s, where a parade of...
10/31/2026

MORNING STORY 🎃 Happy Halloween, Bastrop!

Today’s throwback takes us to downtown Bastrop in the 1980s, where a parade of little ghouls, goblins paraded their way down Main Street!

The costumes may look a little different today, but the excitement of dressing up, collecting candy, and celebrating with friends and family is still what makes Halloween so special.

We hope you have a spooktacular time celebrating with your own little monsters tonight! And don’t forget to join us for Bastrop’s Boo Bash on Main Street from 2–6 PM! 👻

The Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center will be handing out jumping toads, creepy crawly spiders, and plenty of sweet treats. Stop by for both a trick and treat as well as a photo op with Poco in his Halloween costume!

We can’t wait to see all the creative costumes, spooky disguises, and smiling faces. Have a safe and happy Halloween, Bastrop County!

🕰 Museum Hours: Sunday | 11 AM–3 PM
Monday–Saturday | 10 AM–5 PM

🎟 Museum Admission: Adults $8 | Military, Veterans free | Children 12 & under free | Members free

To use this photo, you must have permission from the Bastrop County Historical Society. See our website for more details.

Follow us for more Bastrop County history and community events!

Due to potential downpour the tour for tonight has been postponed. Participants please check your email for options. Fee...
10/30/2026

Due to potential downpour the tour for tonight has been postponed.

Participants please check your email for options.

Feel free to reach out with questions or concerns. [email protected] or (512)303-0904

🦃 GIVE THANKS, MAKE PLANS TO FALL INTO HISTORY! 🍂November is here, and we have plenty to be thankful for at the Bastrop ...
10/30/2026

🦃 GIVE THANKS, MAKE PLANS TO FALL INTO HISTORY! 🍂

November is here, and we have plenty to be thankful for at the Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center! From celebrating local art and honoring our veterans to exploring Bastrop County history, there are lots of ways to spend a little time with us this month.

Grab your calendar, gather your favorite people, and take a peek at what’s coming up. We’d be thankful to see you! ❤️

🕰 Museum Hours: Monday–Saturday | 10 AM–5 PM; Sunday | 11 AM–3 PM

🎟 Admission: Adults $8 | Military, Veterans free | Children 12 & under free | Members free

Follow us for more Bastrop County history and community events!

MORNING STORY ☀️ Your Voice, Your Vote🗳️ Today is the final day of early voting! To mark the occasion, we’re sharing thi...
10/30/2026

MORNING STORY ☀️ Your Voice, Your Vote

🗳️ Today is the final day of early voting! To mark the occasion, we’re sharing this unique photograph of Bastrop County residents during an election, likely sometime in the 1970s.

While voting practices, polling places, and technology have changed over the years, one thing has remained the same: the importance of making your voice heard.

The right to vote gives eligible American citizens the opportunity to participate in our democracy and help shape the leadership and future of their communities, from local offices all the way to the national level.

Whether you’re voting for the first time or have been casting your ballot for decades, it’s a privilege worth appreciating and a responsibility worth taking seriously.

So if you haven’t voted yet, remember that today is your last chance to vote early! Make your voice count.

📍 Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center

🕰 Museum Hours: Sunday | 11 AM–3 PM
Monday–Saturday | 10 AM–5 PM

🎟 Museum Admission: Adults $8 | Military, Veterans free | Children 12 & under free | Members free

To use this photo, you must have permission from the Bastrop County Historical Society. See our website for more details.

Follow us for more Bastrop County history and community events!

10/29/2026

Hear from Glenda Dayton, one of the authors of Bastrop Literary Knights, as she shares more about the remarkable women who left a lasting legacy on our community.

✨ Pick up your copy at the Museum Store! All proceeds support the Bastrop County Historical Society’s mission to preserve and promote the stories from Bastrop County’s history.

Take home a piece of local history and help keep these stories alive!

Follow the authors at their page Bastrop Literary Knights and online https://www.bastropliteraryknights.com/

10/29/2026

Our streets are lined with hometown pride as we honor the veterans who have served our country! 🇺🇸

Thanks to an incredible community response, this year’s banners fill nearly every available pole in Downtown Bastrop! As you explore, be sure to look in the parking lot at the corner of Pine and Water Streets and along Farm Street directly north of the Bastrop Convention Center, too.

A big thank-you to Bastrop Power & Light (BPL) for getting all of these banners hung and helping us honor our hometown heroes! 👏

📍 Find each banner’s location and read about the veterans we’re honoring through our interactive banner map: https://app.seemylegacy.com/community/1990/campaign/9846/map?private=false

Thank you to everyone who participated. We’re proud to honor these veterans’ service and share their stories with our community. ❤️🤍💙

MORNING STORY ☀️ Remembering Phelan: A Community’s Legacy🕯️ Some photographs preserve more than a moment. They preserve ...
10/29/2026

MORNING STORY ☀️ Remembering Phelan: A Community’s Legacy

🕯️ Some photographs preserve more than a moment. They preserve the memory of an entire community.

This photograph of an ornately decorated cross was taken in 1942 by LIFE photographer Charles Steinheimer, who documented Bastrop County during World War II. It tells a story of Phelan, a once-thriving coal-mining village that was home primarily to Hispanic miners, many recruited from Mexico.

By 1914, Phelan had a general store and approximately 800 residents. But as the coal industry declined and oil and gas took its place, the village dwindled. Today, little remains of Phelan beyond foundations on private property.

This cross serves as a memorial not only to one individual, but perhaps to an entire community whose story deserves to be remembered.

As we approach Día de los Mu***os, we’re reminded of the importance of honoring those who came before us and keeping their stories alive.

❤️ Visit the Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center to experience our Día de los Mu***os Community Display, featuring ofrendas lovingly created by local families. November 1 is the final day to view the display!

Join us that evening for a special celebration hosted by the Bastrop Cultural Arts Commission and Downtown Bastrop, TX from 6–8 PM, featuring live mariachi music, complimentary pan dulce, coffee, and hot chocolate. The Honor Walk begins at 7 PM at the museum and continues to other ofrendas along Main Street.

🕰 Museum Hours: Sunday | 11 AM–3 PM
Monday–Saturday | 10 AM–5 PM

🎟 Museum Admission: Adults $8 | Military, Veterans free | Children 12 & under free | Members free

To use this photo, you must have permission from the Bastrop County Historical Society. See our website for more details.

Follow us for more Bastrop County history and community events!

🎟️ MEMBERS, YOUR DISCOUNT IS ALMOST GONE! Just a few days left to snag your Historic Homes Tour tickets for just $20 bef...
10/28/2026

🎟️ MEMBERS, YOUR DISCOUNT IS ALMOST GONE!

Just a few days left to snag your Historic Homes Tour tickets for just $20 before the member discount ends on November 1!

Your exclusive ticket link was sent to your email, so check your inbox and grab your tickets before time runs out. Don’t miss your chance to enjoy one of Bastrop’s most beloved holiday traditions at a special member price!

📅 December 12 | 12–5 PM
🎟️ Member price: $20 through October 31

MORNING STORY ☀️ Five Days Left to Honor, Remember & Celebrate Only five days left to experience our Día de los Mu***os ...
10/28/2026

MORNING STORY ☀️ Five Days Left to Honor, Remember & Celebrate

Only five days left to experience our Día de los Mu***os Community Display!

Throughout October, the Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center has been honored to host ofrendas created by families from across the county, each offering a beautiful tribute to loved ones who have passed.

At the heart of the display is our community ofrenda, where visitors can leave the names of loved ones they wish to honor and remember. Over the past month, the space has filled with heartfelt messages, names, and expressions of love. Each one is a reminder that even when someone is no longer with us, the memories we carry and the love we share continue to connect us.

If you haven’t visited yet, we invite you to stop by before the display closes and add the name of someone special to our community ofrenda. There’s still time to share your love, reflect, and be part of this meaningful community tradition.

And the celebration doesn’t end there! Join us for the Día de los Mu***os Celebration, presented by the Bastrop Cultural Arts Committee, at the museum on November 1 from 6–8 PM.

The evening will feature complimentary fresh pan dulce, coffee, and hot chocolate, along with live mariachi music. At 7 PM, join the Honor Walk, beginning at the museum and continuing to other ofrendas along Main Street.

It’s a beautiful opportunity to come together as a community, celebrate the lives of those we’ve lost, and honor the traditions that keep their memories alive.

We hope you’ll join us for this poignant and meaningful celebration. ❤️

📍 Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center

🕰 Museum Hours: Sunday | 11 AM–3 PM
Monday–Saturday | 10 AM–5 PM

🎟 Museum Admission: Adults $8 | Military, Veterans free | Children 12 & under free | Members free
Dia de Los Mu***os Display is free and open to everyone!

Follow us for more Bastrop County history and community events!

Address

904 Main Street
Bastrop, TX
78602

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(512) 303-0904

Website

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