BANDERA, TEXAS — At the top of “Delightful Hill,” tucked in the heart of the Cowboy Capital of the World, stands one of Texas’ most curious and beloved historical institutions: the Frontier Times Museum. Founded during the Great Depression by local newspaperman and self-taught historian J. Marvin Hunter, Sr., the museum has delighted and puzzled visitors for over 90 years with its eccentric and eclectic collection of artifacts from the American West.
Built in 1933 with funds raised by the sale of a self-published book on the outlaw Sam Bass, the original limestone structure is a piece of Hill Country history in itself. Embedded with fossilized coral, petrified wood, and crystals, the building is as much a work of nature and memory as the objects it holds within.
Hunter believed every donation had value—if it mattered to the donor, it belonged in the museum. That ethos created an unmatched blend of exhibits: from a barbed wire collection and vintage Western hats to a Texas Heroes Hall of Honor that pays tribute to rodeo stars and ranching legends.
In 1935, Hunter expanded the museum with Chisholm Hall, named after the famed cattle trail. After his passing in 1957, ownership passed to local businessman F.B. Doane, whose family foundation eventually gifted the museum to the people of Bandera County in 1972. The museum continues to thrive thanks to the support of the Doane Foundation, remaining a cultural keystone in this storied Texas town.
Today, the Frontier Times Museum not only preserves relics of the past but also champions the voices of the present—and the future. This summer, the museum will host J. E. Weiner, author of The Wretched and Undone, for a Meet & Greet on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Weiner’s Southern Gothic historical novel, set partly in Bandera and beginning inside the very walls of the museum, tells the haunting multigenerational saga of the Anderwald family. Inspired by real-life figures and Hill Country lore, the novel has earned critical acclaim as a Killer Nashville Top Pick and Claymore Award Finalist.
The event, free and open to the public, will feature wine, refreshments, and book signings. Visitors can explore how Weiner wove Bandera landmarks like St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and the Medina River into her tale of immigrant settlers, outlaws, camel wranglers, and spirits of the past. Attendees might even find their own family names featured in the fictional drama.
Fun Facts About Bandera, Texas:
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Known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World,” Bandera was once a staging area for the Great Western Cattle Trail.
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The city was settled in part by Polish immigrants in the 1850s, a heritage still visible in its churches and festivals.
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Bandera is home to authentic dude ranches, honky-tonks, and weekly rodeos that draw visitors from across the globe.
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The name “Bandera” means “flag” in Spanish—said to reference a peace treaty flag raised by Spanish and Indigenous tribes along the Medina River.
Plan Your Visit:
Frontier Times Museum
510 13th Street, Bandera, TX
Open Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
(830) 796-3864
www.frontiertimesmuseum.org
Follow and Share:
Instagram: @frontiertimesmuseum
Facebook: Frontier Times Museum
Twitter: @FTMuseumBandera
Whether you’re a history buff, fiction lover, or weekend traveler, the Frontier Times Museum invites you to step back in time, connect with the spirit of the West, and discover the stories—both true and imagined—that make Bandera a Texas treasure.
