About Us
From its founding by a group of determined women to its role as an award-winning museum today, the Bastrop County Historical Society remains committed to preserving and promoting Bastrop County history.
Members of the Bastrop Ladies Reading Circle and other women in historical costumes, 1952
BCHS Collections
Our Mission
BCHS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Bastrop and Bastrop County.
The Society is a group of energetic trustees, volunteers, and staff who operate the Society’s museum with monies from the City of Bastrop, from dues paid by individual and business members, and from sponsors who generously underwrite the Society’s annual events and activities.
How We Began
Members of the Ladies Reading Circle on the opening of the museum, 1952
BCHS Collections
In 1952, members of Bastrop's Ladies Reading Circle recognized the need to "awaken an interest in the early history and legends of Bastrop." Thirty women came together as charter members to organize the Bastrop Historical Society, meeting at the home of Mrs. Powell Maynard in February of that year. Later in 1952, the Society purchased the historic Cornelson-Fehr House at 702 Main Street to serve as its museum.
From its earliest days, the Society focused on collecting, preserving, and sharing artifacts, documents, photographs, and stories related to the history of Stephen F. Austin's Little Colony, Bastrop County, and the City of Bastrop. As the collection expanded, so did the museum. The Maynard Room was added in 1970, a small building was converted into a pioneer kitchen in 1975, and the Wilbarger Room was added in 1978.
The original Bastrop County Museum in 1953 when the Ladies Reading Circle purchased it
BCHS Collections
By the early 2000s, the Society recognized the need to expand its collection to better represent the twentieth century and continue serving a growing community. However, after more than 60 years at the Cornelson-Fehr House, the site could no longer accommodate additional growth. In partnership with the City of Bastrop, the Society leased and renovated the historic City Hall building to create a new museum and visitor center. The Society moved into the facility on December 1, 2012, and officially celebrated its grand opening on January 26, 2013, with its inaugural exhibit, The Colorado River.
Bastrop County Museum, 2018
BCHS Collections
Bastrop City Hall, 1947
BCHS Collections
The Bastrop Visitor Center was established by the Historical Society in 2006 to promote historic downtown Bastrop and welcome visitors to the community. Over time, the Visitor Center expanded its focus to include the entire city and surrounding area while maintaining a strong emphasis on the history and heritage that make Bastrop unique. Today, the Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center serves as both a museum dedicated to preserving local history and a resource for visitors exploring Bastrop County. The Visitor Center is funded by the City of Bastrop and area business sponsors.
Bastrop City Hall, 2025
BCHS Collections
More than seventy years after its founding, the Bastrop County Historical Society continues the mission first envisioned by those thirty determined women --- preserving and promoting Bastrop County history for future generations.