Williamson County Historical Museum

Today, we visited a little museum in downtown Georgetown.

This TIME CAPSULE was found during the renovation of the dowtown courthouse. Back in the 50's, someone had stuffed this jar with old postcards and some other gadgets. If you look closely at the postcard on your right, you can see the cowboy gutting a rabbit.

Over the years, the museum used to be a saloon, a barber shop, bank, and dentist office... During the renovations, they discovered under the wooden floors artifacts under the building. I have never been in a museum before that left a window on the floor showing what was underneath. You can see old time bottles and everything else poking from the dirt. How neat!

The kids enjoyed a hands-on opportunity to create native indian toys.

Pamela designed a native indian rattler.

For whom our county was named after --- Robert Williamson (Three-Legged Willie) A former Texas Statesman and judge. At the age of 15, due to an illness, he had lost one of his legs.

Robert Williamson – "Three-Legged Willie"

Williamson County was named after Robert McAlpin Williamson (1804–1859), one of the most colorful and respected figures in early Texas history. Known throughout the Republic of Texas as "Three-Legged Willie," he earned the nickname after a childhood illness left one of his legs permanently disabled. Using a wooden leg attached beneath his bent knee, it appeared as though he had three legs.

Despite this challenge, Williamson also became a lawyer, Texas Ranger, soldier, newspaper editor, judge, and later a Justice of the Republic of Texas Supreme Court. Very inspiring! He fought alongside many of Texas' early heroes and participated in both the Battle of Gonzales and the Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution.

Williamson was a contemporary of Stephen F. Austin and lived during the turbulent years when Texas was fighting for independence from Mexico. His service to the Republic of Texas earned him widespread respect, and when Williamson County was established in 1848, it was named in his honor.

Today, visitors to Georgetown can even find a bronze statue of "Three-Legged Willie" standing near the historic courthouse square. After learning more about his life, it's easy to see why the people of Texas chose to remember him. His story is a reminder that some of the state's most important pioneers overcame tremendous hardships while helping shape the Texas we know today.

A chocolate factory next door to the museum. Everything handmade on site. How could I pass up taking a peek? I got to sample a chocolate covered rice crispy treat.

Williamson Couty courthouse (where time capsule was found) across the street.

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