Museum and Visitor Center of Bastrop County Historical Society

09/26/2024

🔎Time for another mystery object! 🔍

Let’s see if you can figure this one out!

Two hints: If you’ve been to the museum, it’s one of the first things you see!
It relates to the Quarterly Meeting’s topic - the Camino Real!

Good luck!

And don’t forget we are closing today for renovations and won’t be open until October 10th!

09/26/2024

🚨 Don’t Forget!! 🚨

The Bastrop Museum and Visitor Center will be closing tomorrow, September 27th, for renovations.

The Visitor Center will reopen on October 7th.
The Museum will reopen on October 10th.

This is also your last chance to see Engine #1 at its original home before it finds a new home this weekend at the Bastrop Conference Center!

Come by and check it out before it moves!

09/24/2024

Everyone had a great time with Sledge & Haney last Saturday! It was standing room only by the end - or in the case of the “Wild Women of Bastrop” dancing room only! The dynamic duo was joined for one song by Perry Lowe from Chubby Knuckle Choir!

Join us next month on the third Saturday for Music in the Museum!

09/22/2024

Don't forget to participate in Austin Museum Day today! Museums all over the Austin area are free of charge! This includes the Bastrop Museum which is open from 1-4 today!

09/21/2024

09/21/2024

Sledge and Haney do Depeche Mode!

09/21/2024

More Sledge and Haney

09/21/2024

Sledge and Haney live at the Bastrop Museum!

09/21/2024

Don’t miss out on local legends, Sledge and Haney, RIGHT NOW from 12-2 pm! 🎸🎸🎸

09/21/2024

Hey, Parents! 👋

Looking for a fun way for your kids to dive into Bastrop's rich history and culture? We've got just the thing!

🗺️ Museum Scavenger Hunt: Our FREE scavenger hunt lets kids explore the museum in a fun, interactive way. They’ll feel like detectives as they search for clues, and at the end, they get to pick a prize from the treasure box! 🎁 It’s a great way to make learning memorable!

🐸 Toad Scavenger Hunt: Ready for more adventure? Head to the museum to pick up our Toad Scavenger Hunt! Seek out adorable toad statues hidden around down town, and find out more about this local endangered species. And if you find them all, there’s a prize waiting for you back at the museum! 🎉

Bring your kids of all ages to the museum for a day of exploration and fun. We can’t wait to see you!

📍 Visit us at the Bastrop Museum & Visitor Center!

09/19/2024

Did we finally stump you!?

Did you guess the mystery object from the Bastrop Museum?

It is our oldest artifact by far — a part of a mastodon skulll!🦴 This incredible piece of prehistory was discovered in 1992 on an island within the Colorado River, just south of Highway 71.

Mastodons roamed North America between 11,000 and 125,000 years ago and could weigh up to a massive six tons! Can you imagine coming across one while hiking in the Bastrop State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife !?

09/19/2024

🎸Don't forget to join us for Music at the Bastrop Museum on Saturday at 12! 🎸

This month we have the dynamic local duo of Sledge and Haney! They are going to be taking listeners on a journey through the roots of the blues. This event is free and family-friendly!

09/19/2024

👷🏽‍♂️ The Bastrop Museum and Visitor Center will close temporarily for renovations next Friday! Until then we will not be able to see or help visitors. 👷🏻‍♀️

The visitor center will reopen on October 7th.
The museum will open October 11th.
This means we'll be closing our special exhibit on tattoos early and will be postponing the Junior Volunteer Program.

But we'll still be posting on social media so check back for updates!

09/18/2024

🚨 Are you ready for the next mysterious object from the Museum and Visitor Center of Bastrop County Historical Society ? 🚨

Here's your hint - it's the oldest artifact in the museum!

Come back tomorrow to find out the answer!!!

09/18/2024

Come Join Us for Austin Museum Day!

Austin Museum Day is less than a week away, visit austinmuseumday.org to see
participating museums and plan which institutions you’ll want to visit!

🚨 Our museum will be open Sunday, the 22nd from 1-4 PM for FREE! Don't miss this special opportunity to explore our exhibits, free of charge, before we close for renovations. 🛠️

🚒 This is also your last chance to see our beautiful historic fire engine in its original home before it's moved to the convention center!



We can't wait to see you there! 🔥

09/14/2024

The Bastrop Museum is proud to announce Indigenous Peoples' Day: We All Stay Together!

Join us for this special event featuring guests from local tribes and nations across Central Texas as they share their rich culture and heritage. This is a free, family-friendly event, perfect for all ages to learn and celebrate the Indigenous communities that shape our region. See more information at https://www.bastropcountyhistoricalsociety.com/indigenous-people-s-day

📅 Date: October 12, 2024
⌚ Time: 10 am - 2 pm
📍 Location: Bastrop Museum, 904 Main Street, Bastrop, TX

You don’t want to miss this unique opportunity to connect with history and culture!

# TexasHistory

09/12/2024

Today we remember 9/11

A day when our nation was threatened, and our national character was tested. Many towns across the U.S. have a memorial dedicated to this tragic day, and Bastrop is no different. You can find our memorial outside Bastrop’s City Hall.

If you have time, please take a moment at this memorial to honor the lives lost and reflect on how we can all make the world a better place for future generations.

09/10/2024

🎉 Time for the big reveal! 🎉

This week's mystery object is . . . Bastrop's first organ! 🎶 This beautiful pump organ was originally housed in the 1851 Methodist Chapel, where it remained until 1925. It was generously donated by the Pruett family in honor of their wife and mother, Iva Morgan Pruett. The picture shows the beautifully detailed pedals at the bottom.

And above our organ are pipes from the First United Methodist Church's pipe organ. When the organ was renovated in 2015, the pipes were replaced, and these gems found their permanent home here at the museum. 🎼✨

Barbara Vana our intrepid Office Manager shows off this amazing historical object that brought the gift of music to Bastrop! 🎵

09/09/2024

🔍 Time for this week's GUESS. THAT. OBJECT! 🧐

Can you guess what this historical object is? 🤔 Hopefully, this one's a little more difficult! Drop your guesses in the comments below, and we’ll reveal the answer tomorrow! 🏛️✨