About the Hays County Historical Commission
Preserving Central Texas Heritage Since 1953
The Hays County Historical Commission (HCHC) is a group of volunteers appointed by the Hays County Commissioner's Court to preserve the history and cultural resources of Hays County. Since its establishment in 1953, the commission has erected historical markers at important sites across the county, inventoried every cemetery in the county, and conducted comprehensive surveys of historic locations. The commission implements the State Historical Marker program of the Texas Historical Commission at the local level and actively nominates properties to the National Register of Historic Places.
Historic Sites and Museums
The commission promotes the preservation of significant historic resources throughout Hays County, including the Historic Hays County Courthouse Museum located on the first floor of the courthouse at 111 E. San Antonio Street in San Marcos. The museum is open on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The commission also oversees the Kyle Depot and Heritage Center. Among the most significant 19th-century buildings in the county is the 1884 Hays County Jail, featuring a distinctive Italianate design by Edward Northcraft and B. F. Donaldson—one of the few surviving examples of this architectural style remaining in Texas.
Community Involvement and Research
The HCHC maintains committees focused on oral history, natural heritage, Tejano history, and the historical courthouse, each working to document and preserve different aspects of Hays County's diverse heritage. Monthly meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month. Members must be residents of Hays County and are expected to participate in ongoing preservation efforts. The commission serves as a resource for researchers, genealogists, and anyone interested in the history of this Central Texas region.
Plan Your Visit
The Hays County Historical Commission office is located at 111 E. San Antonio Street, Suite 104, in San Marcos. The Historic Hays County Courthouse Museum, on the first floor of the courthouse, is open the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. For information about historical markers, preservation efforts, or research assistance, call (512) 216-0500 or visit hayshistoricalcommission.com.
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