Holiday Breaks and Openings

Alas, the holidays are here. The museum will be closed the week of December 23 through January 1 to allow staff some time to rest.

We will be open again on January 2. Be sure to come in on First Friday, January 4 to check out the artwork featured in the museum for a Celebration of the Arts!

Holiday Events and Activities!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Night Before the Stroll and Cocoa with Cowboys! We had a great crowd and lots of fun!

This week will also be busy for the museum, we hope to see you around! Friday December 7th: Georgetown: Join us at the museum for First Friday. All of the shops on the square will be open late, we will be serving light refreshments, and the Sun City Dulcimers will be performing for your enjoyment. We will be open additional hours from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Round Rock: If you are in the Round Rock area, we are pleased to announce the museum will participate in Christmas Family Night downtown on Main Street. We will have hands on activities making Swedish Dala horse ornaments in front of the Palm House. It all starts at 6:30!    While you're downtown in Round Rock, also check out the photo exhibit celebrating Round Rock's upcoming 100th Anniversary at the Round Rock Public Library. The exhibit features photographs from the Williamson Museum collection and explores Round Rock history. Saturday December 8th: Back at the museum we will have our monthly Hands On History from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. This month, we will be making holiday light necklaces and garland.

The Georgetown Stroll

The Georgetown Stroll takes place on December 1, 2012. We will be open after the parade, with hands on activities for the kids.

Plus, don't miss Cocoa with Cowboys from 6 - 8 pm
in front of the museum. Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies! We hope to see you there. 

You can also check out our new Vintage Toys exhibit in time for the holidays! Meet 'Maggie', a 100+ year old handmade doll, and see crayons, pull toys, and other ephemera from our collections.

Lighting of the Square

The museum will open at noon to share our new vintage toy exhibit case. Bring the family by to see the toys and play with a few things from your past as well!

Then, the Lighting of the Square festivities begin at 5:30. You won't want to miss this - there are more lights this year than ever before, turning our historic square into a fairy-tale wonderland.

We too have been busy decorating our historic building front in preparations for the People's Choice Holiday Light Contest. We want your vote!

Then, come back by the museum afterwards for the kids to make their own paper lights garland to decorate your home.

We will join the other shops in being open until 8 pm for you to enjoy the magic of the evening.

There will also be photos with Santa in the courthouse to benefit Brown Santa and a movie on Main Street sponsored by the City of Georgetown. There is truly no place like home for the holidays in Georgetown!! Click here for more information about the Lighting of the Square.

Round Rock Cemetery Tour

Come and meet "residents" of the Round Rock Cemetery on this Saturday, November 3. Tour of the historic resting place of Sam Bass, A.W. Grimes, and Barbette! You don't have a tour group and are free to come and go as you please.

Saturday, November 3, 2012
Round Rock Cemetery (off Sam Bass Rd)
4pm to 6pm


View Larger Map

Tickets cost $10 and may be purchased at this week at the museum, via phone (512-943-1670), or at the cemetery. 

Also, join us for First Friday from 6pm to 8pm. Roam around the historic Georgetown Square and stop by to check out some local history and to get your Cemetery Tour tickets!

A Ghastly Good Time

Thanks to all of the sponsors, volunteers and visitors who made this year's Chisholm Trail Days events a success!

Now, join us this week for Ghost Tours in downtown Georgetown!

Hear the ghostly tales of the past, told by costumed docents, as you travel the historic square on Friday, October 26, and Saturday, October 27.

Tours leave the Museum at 7:30, 8:00, 8:30 and 9:00. Tickets cost
 $10 per person, $8 for Museum members.

Limited tickets available, so call today to reserve your spot!

512-943-1670 or www.williamsonmuseum.org

Chisholm Trail Days Are Here!

Chisholm Trail Days have arrived! Our largest annual event will kick off in the style of Denim and Diamonds at our first Cattleman's Ball honoring Jim Schwertner of Capitol Land and Livestock on Friday, October, 19th. You can still purchase tickets here or stop by the museum.

Festivities continue on Saturday with a Children's Corral full of activities like stick horse rodeos, face painting, and bandana stamping. Also join us for live bands, history re-enactment groups, and western art. The day ends with a longhorn cattle drive up the banks of the San Gabriel and a BBQ Cook-Off Awards.

Friday October 19- Community Center
      Cattleman's Ball- 7 pm to 11 pm

Saturday October 20- San Gabriel Park
     Events start at 9 am- for a full schedule check out www.upthechisholmtrail.org
     Cattle Drive- 4 pm

So get on your boots and join us for some cowboy fun! We'll see you there!

Williamson Museum's Memoir/Lifestory Course

Have you ever wondered what a day-in-the-life of your great-great-grandparents would be like? or what one of their most special memories was? How valuable would such stories be to you now?

From August 9th - September 13th, The Williamson Museum will be holding a Memoir/Life-story preservation course. Compose your own history for your future generations! Put your past on paper and ensure that your life story is available for your grand-children's curiosity. Let your life enlighten the future through historical documentation.

-No writing skill is needed. This is about stories, not writing skills.
-We teach you how to: get started and organized with your work, prompt your memories and create your story collection.
-We provide a FUN, supportive environment.

Instructor: Beverly Scott--former teacher and corporate trainer, historian and public speaker.

Registration is $75 for museum members, and $95 for non-members

Thursdays August 9 - Sept. 13, 10-12 noon.

http://williamsonmuseum.org/

Macy's Shop For a Cause!

On Saturday August 25th Macy's will be hosting its annual Shop for a Cause. For only $5, you are now able to pick up a special shopping pass at the Williamson Museum. This pass will be redeemable for 25% off all regular, sale and clearance items, and 10% off furniture, mattresses, electronics and rugs. All customers with a special shopping pass will also be eligible for a $500 gift card.

All funds raised through sales of the passes will go directly to the Museum, or any participating charitable organization! Stop by the Williamson Museum today and get your pass before they're gone!

Learning about the Spanish Conquistadors exploring Texan lands, and forging our own coat of arms!

Garrett, Jace and Ralston: Brothers in Arms

The Williamson Museum Membership Drive:

The Williamson Museum, the preservers and caretakers of our local
history, is a non-profit organization that relies on memberships to
sustain its communal outreach. We need you--anyone who has interest in
preserving our cultural heritage should consider joining us!

The Williamson Museum and its members are a small yet dedicated team
of history enthusiasts all working together to preserve and understand
the genealogy of our home. Our interests pertain specifically to the
history of Williamson County, and we strive to preserve and exhibit
knowledge and items relating the culture of the entire county. With
the strong support of our members, we are able to hold and participate
in a number of events across the county to promote our shared history
and to cultivate interest in our youth.

The museum provides insight and develops exhibits historical
information based of first-hand sources and experiences of people who
represent how the county has had its impact on the nation, and the
world. We collect stories as much as artifacts, and dedicate ourselves
to educate, entertain, and enlighten our community.

Thanks to our members' contributions, the museum has been able to
serve nearly 10,000 students in the county's schools as well as
welcome more than 12,000 visitors to the museum free of charge. We
have also been able to provide free public events--Chisholm Trail
Days, Pioneer Days, and Archaeology Day--as well as provide traveling
exhibits throughout the county.

http://www.williamsonmuseum.org/GetInvolved/tabid/2570/language/en-US/Default.aspx