Museum and Visitor Center
of the Bastrop County Historical Society

About Us: Museum History

Founders of the Historical Society dressed
in period costume in front of the museum, 1952

In 1952, members of Bastrop's Ladies Reading Circle felt the need to "awaken an interest in the early history and legends of Bastrop." Thirty ladies, all who became charter members, sponsored and organized the Bastrop Historical Society. They met at the home of Mrs. Powell Maynard in February 1952 and, in that same, year purchased the historic Cornelson-Fehr House at 702 Main for a museum.

The Society began the collection and preservation of materials, artifacts and documents relating to the history of the Little Colony of Stephen F. Austin, Bastrop, County and the town of Bastrop. As the collection grew, the Maynard Room was added to the museum in 1970, a small building was converted into a pioneer kitchen in 1975, and the Wilbarger room was added in 1978.

More recently, the Society has recognized the importance of enlarging its collection of artifacts from the 1900s; however, with site restraints and after 58 years in the same building, further expansion is not possible. The Society has contracted with the City of Bastrop to lease and renovate the historic city hall for a new museum after the City moves to a new location on Chestnut Street in 2011.