Know Your History
IN THE MOOD FOR A LITTLE HISTORY?
Look no further than one of these nearby museums – hubs of history and culture that help make Denton distinctive. These museums honor the heroes of our city, open avenues for explorations and deep dives into our rich yesteryears, and reveal how the creativity of Dentonites past and present. Take a stroll through the hallowed halls of Denton history with one of these establishments.
Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum
The courthouse serves as a reminder of Denton County’s history. It is home to the Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum as well as John B. Denton’s grave. Lectures, exhibits, and community organized events are scheduled throughout the year keeping this local gem an active site for experiencing the past.
The Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum is temporary closed due to HVAC repairs.
Denton County Historical Park
The park is home to the Bayless-Selby House museum and the African American Museum in the historic Quakertown House. Projects are underway on The Woods House and The Taylor Cabin, and below is a map of the future Historical Park Plans.
Click here for more information on the current and future projects.
TWU Library Woman’s Collection
Texas First Ladies Historic Gown Collection
Progressing from the 1800s through industrialization of the 1900s, the First Ladies of Texas showcases 11 gowns on display and includes period piece furniture. Each woman leaves her own legacy, but all share common threads that seamlessly stitch together Texas’ First Ladies’ assorted patchwork of experience.
Cookbook Collection
The collections include books, vendors’ pamphlets, recipe books dating from 1624, conduct and etiquette manuals, household management techniques, and menus from around the world. Primarily donor sustained, the Woman’s Collection strengthens the collection with purchases of foodographies and culinary bibliographies.
Mercury 13
The Mercury 13 collection is composed of individual personal collections from Mercury 13 participants. The digital collection showcases images from Geraldine Truhill, Bernice Steadman, Jerrie Cobb, Irene Leverton, and Wally Funk.
WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) collection
Between 1942 and 1944, more than 1,000 women became the first women to fly for the US Military as civilian pilots. See the archive of WASP memorabilia at TWU on your next visit to Denton.
Denton Firefighters Museum
The Denton Firefighters Museum takes visitors on a journey to honor brave firefighters, past and present. The Museum hosts a collection of fascinating memorabilia from the 1800s to modern day, allowing visitors to step back in time and experience the evolution of firefighting over the last 150 years.
For updated protocols, hours, and exhibition information, please visit their website.
