By Tori Bellos, Visit Boerne
Step back in time while exploring historic Boerne, Texas! You’ll find glimpses of our past around every corner. Make plans to visit one of the many historic sites and museums around town. Also, be sure to snag a copy of the free Historic Walking Tour to use as a reference while shopping and dining on the Hill Country Mile.
Most of our downtown businesses are housed in historic buildings so you’re sure to learn something new about these charming spaces when you pull out your historic walking tour map! Pick up a copy from the Boerne Visitors Center or download it to your phone before heading out.
Historic Herff Farm Homestead
The farm property has been reimagined and is now home to the weekly farmers market, inspiration gardens, and walking trails that meander through fields of wildflowers and hug the Cibolo Creek. However, the homestead itself, many of its outlying buildings, and original features have been lovingly restored and brought back to life. Plan to spend “A Day at the Farm” to embrace a taste of the past. Check out the Herff Farm Facebook page for what’s going on at the farm each week.
Old Jail Museum
The newest addition to the Boerne History Scene is in the Old Kendall County Jail. Guests can take a tour of the museum, its exhibits, and even “get locked up” in one of the old jail cells. Check out the graffiti that has been left behind by some of their former residents while you’re there too! They are open for tours on Saturdays.
Kuhlmann-King Historical Complex
Open every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, this complex includes the King Family’s former home, the detached kitchen, as well as the relocated Graham Building in the back. The team of docents up on “Historic Hill” offers tours showing how early Boerne residents lived “way back when”. They regularly host special educational programs like Beer Brewing, Sauerkraut Making, Chicken Poop Bingo, Historic Antique Firearms (this July), and Boerne Ghost Stories (this October). Keep an eye on the Kuhlmann-King Historical Complex Facebook page for upcoming programs and events.
The AgriCultural Museum and Arts Center
There’s always something going on at The AgriCultural! Witness a blacksmith in action (weekly) while listening to the sounds of bluegrass from a picker’s circle (every 2nd and 4th Saturday) or sit in the stands while cheering on your favorite antique tractor in a regularly scheduled tractor pull event. It’s not uncommon to see a local or visiting artist painting En Plein Aire while you walk the grounds, learning about the role that agriculture played in the history and heritage of the Texas Hill Country. Check out the AgriCultural Facebook page for upcoming activities and come out on a Saturday for a visit.
The Family History Place
Serious historians will LOVE this treasure! If genealogy is something you crave, The Family History Place has an abundance of resources that you can use and access at no cost, including Ancestry.com, Fold3, My Heritage, Find My Past, Newspaper Archives, Alexander Street Press, Paper Trail, 19th Century British Library Newspaper Digital Archives, and more. They also have a bookstore with an assortment of selections from local and regional authors.
Guests love the charm and heritage that is preserved in these unique spaces and smiling faces that you can find while making your own Boerne memories.
