Looking for an interesting day trip?  Then head to Goldthwaite and visit the Mills County Historical Museum.  The museum tells the story of Mills County, which was founded in 1887 by carving land out of four surrounding counties (Brown, Comanche, Hamilton, and Lampasas), some of which were not very happy about it!  The County was named after John Mills, a Justice on the Supreme Court of the short-lived Republic of Texas.

The museum is divided into sections with items from the various towns in Mills County such as Goldthwaite, Mullin, Priddy, and Star, plus some communities that no longer exist, such as Hanna Valley, Williams Ranch, Center City, Ebony, and Regency.  High school yearbooks from years gone by are in the museum, which would be helpful for genealogy research.  There are also displays of old-time things like a schoolhouse, general store, courthouse, doctor’s and dentist’s offices, beauty parlors, etc.

The highlight of the museum is a well-preserved 1906 Cadillac.  It’s open-air, so no air conditioning needed!  Also 1906 models did not have cruise control or cup holders!

Just as interesting is a horse-drawn hearse.

The museum includes natural history, with a nice collection of arrowheads and fossils, including a femur from a wooly-mammoth.

The Mills County Historical Museum is located in downtown Goldthwaite at 1119 Fisher Street, and is open Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.  Admission is free, but donations are gratefully appreciated.  For more information email to: mchm@centex.net.  Also check the website: txmchm.genealogyvillage.com, or the Mills County Historical Museum page on Facebook.