101 FUN THINGS: Explore Marble Falls history at Falls on the Colorado Museum
Even the building is steeped in Marble Falls history at the Falls on the Colorado Museum at 2001 Broadway in Marble Falls. The facility is located in the Granite Building, which originally served as the only school in town. It was built in 1891 from pink granite found just up the road in the Granite Mountain quarry.
The museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Because it is located on the campus of an elementary school, visitors must have photo identification to enter on school days before 3:30 p.m.
You might be wondering why “falls” is in the name of both the town and the museum when there are no falls anywhere to be seen. You’ll find the answer at the Marble Falls history museum, but in a nutshell, those falls are underwater. Water rushed over limestone rocks that looked very much like marble located just upriver from the U.S. 281 bridge. The falls disappeared when the Lower Colorado River Authority built Max Starke Dam in 1951 to form Lake Marble Falls.
Occasionally, LCRA lowers the lake to do maintenance or repairs on the dam. You’ll see a silted-over version of the falls then and, depending on the time of year, get a chance to walk around and play in the rapids.
To learn more about Marble Falls history, pay a visit to the museum. You also can visit the museum’s website or call (830) 798-2157.
The Highland Lakes area is steeped in history. In fact, you can plan an entire vacation around museum and historic site visits.
In Llano County, check out the Llano County Museum at 310 Bessemer in Llano. It’s located on the Llano River in the old Bruhl Drugstore Building. Along with many exhibits, a restored log cabin is on the grounds. For more, visit the museum’s website or call (325) 247-3026.
Visit the LBJ National Historical Park in Johnson City, hometown of President Lyndon B. Johnson. To find the former president’s boyhood home, take U.S. 290 east from U.S. 281 in Johnson City to Avenue G and continue south until you see the signs. You also can check out the Johnson Family Settlement. For more, call (830) 868-7128 or visit the website.
The Fort Croghan Museum, 703 Texas 29 West in Burnet, offers a look at the lives of early settlers in the area. For more, visit the website or call (512) 756-8281.