Hillsboro Texas - Another county seat, courthouse, and town square

There are numerous counties in the state of Texas in which the counties in the late 1800s seemed to have had a competition for who could build the most awesome courthouse. Many of them are on a square with shops and restaurants surrounding the area. Of course, a century plus of time can take its toll on buildings. Fortunately, the state of Texas has grants they award every year for the restoration of these courthouses. This often brings a restoration to the town square and the economy. The courthouse in this photo is about a 45 minute drive south of my house. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven through the town on I-35, but have never stopped in downtown. Well, all this quarantine and shelter-in-place stuff can get a little old and I needed to go somewhere and so I took a few hours to go visit the Hill County courthouse in Hillsboro and a paleontology museum called Texas Through Time. The museum is not large. But, they have some fascinating acquisitions and models. It’s very kid accessible and it’s free admission. The town also has a museum called Roadside America which is near the town square. It looks interesting. But, I’m saving that one for a little road trip with Cindy when she can go.