While the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is primarily occupied with matters relating to the preservation of sites and buildings in Round Rock, there are many organizations and resources with information relating to the general history of Round Rock and Williamson County. Please contact us at 512-218-5428 if you would like to suggest a link.
Preservation organizations
Government
- Round Rock Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) 512-218-5428
- Williamson County Historical Commission
- Texas Historical Commission 512-463-6100
- National Park Service Heritage Preservation Services
Private
- Round Rock Preservation (501c3) roundrockpreservation50@yahoo.com
Round Rock Preservation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is community advocacy relating to protecting, preserving and supporting historic preservation within the City of Round Rock. - Old Settlers Association 3300 Palm Valley Blvd., 512-388-1733
The OSA was named a 1990 Local Legend. Association grounds include log cabins, historic barn, Fire House Museum, and the Palm Mansion - Georgetown Heritage Society 811 S. Main Street, Georgetown 512-869-8597
- Texas State Historical Association 940-369-5200
- Austin History Center Association 512-974-7499
- Heritage Society of Austin 512-474-5198
Historical museums
- Old Settlers Association 3300 Palm Valley Blvd., 512-388-1733
The OSA was named a 1990 Local Legend. Association grounds include log cabins, historic barn, Fire House Museum, and the Palm Mansion - The Williamson Museum 716 S. Austin Avenue, Georgetown, 512-943-1670
The Williamson Museum offers free and exciting hands-on educational programs through innovative exhibits, tours, and events, in addition to their on-site collections. Refer to their website for an event and exhibit schedule. - Pioneer Farms Living History Park, 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr., Austin, 512-837-1215
Pioneer Farms offers tours and activities of its properties recreating five periods of Texas history, complete with hand crafts and live farm animals. Refer to the website for their schedule of tours, classes, programs, and activities. - Dan Moody Museum 114 W. 9th Street, Taylor 512-352-3463
Birthplace of the Williamson County District Attorney who fought the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s - The Story of Texas: The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, 512-936-8746
- Texas Memorial Museum Texas History Collections/Artifacts, The University of Texas at Austin 512-495-4532
Historic properties and events
- Historic Downtown Walking Guide (2023 ed.) (paper copies available from Communications and Planning Departments)
- A Kid’s Guide to the History of Round Rock (pdf) Kids’ activity book by Abby Robison. Pdf formatted for 11×17 paper
- Sam Bass and the Great Round Rock Shootout of July 19, 1878 (pdf) Formatted for 8.5×14 paper
- Historic Round Rock Cemetery
- Texas Historic Sites Atlas (Texas Historical Commission)
- Texas Historical Landmarks mobile app (content from Texas Historical Commission)
- The Handbook of Texas Online (Texas State Historical Association)
- National Register of Historic Places (National Park Service)
Collections and archives
- Round Rock Library Genealogy & Local History Collection 512-218-7000
- Eugene C. Barker Texas History Collection, Univ. Texas at Austin 512-495-4532
- Austin History Center 810 Guadalupe, Austin 512-974-7480
- Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection, Univ. Texas at Austin.
The collection includes many Sanborn insurance maps that offer detailed information about buildings and property. The maps can be viewed online at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/texas.html
General local historic information
- Round Rock Library Genealogy & Local History Collection 512-218-7000
- Round Rock Library Genealogy Advisor
- Round Rock Library Round Rock History Resources
- Round Rock Library Sam Bass Resources
- Three-Legged Willie (history and genealogy of Williamson County)
- Chronology of burials in Round Rock Cemetery
- Williamson County Genealogical Society (meets at the Round Rock Library)
- Swedes in Texas in Words and Pictures, 1838-1913 (translation of a 1918 history of Swedish settlement in Central Texas)
- Legend of the Hairy Man
- Round Rock Chamber of Commerce 212 E. Main Street, 512-255-5805
- The Legacy of Sam Bass
Books about local history
All are available at the Round Rock Library, and many are available for purchase at local book vendors.
Dan Moody: Crusader for Justice. Ken Anderson, 2008. Biography of the Williamson County District Attorney who fought the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s
You Can’t Do That, Dan Moody!: The Klan Fighting Governor of Texas. Ken Anderson, 1998. Young adult book about the Williamson County District Attorney who fought the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s
The Immortal Ten: the Definitive Account of the 1927 Tragedy and Its Legacy at Baylor University. Ted Copeland. Baylor University Press, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-1932792904 Account of the bus-train accident on Round Rock’s Mays Street that took the lives of 10 members of the Baylor basketball team
Images of America: Round Rock. Bob Brinkman, 2008. ISBN-13-978-0738556413 Historic photos of Round Rock. Available locally and online.
Postcards of America: Round Rock. Bob Brinkman, 2008. ISBN-13 978-0738525480 Available locally and online.
Anna’s Journey: a tale of early Swedish immigration to Texas. Elroy Haverlah, 2014. ISBN-9781494253783 Fictional story by Elroy Haverlah, former pastor of Palm Valley Lutheran Church of Round Rock. Available locally and online.
Historic Williamson County: An Illustrated History. John J. Leffler, 2000. ISBN-13: 978-1893619098
Round Rock Old Stagecoach Inn. Shirley Marquardt, 2019 ISBN: 18188343 available through Round Rock Preservation (www.rrpreservation.org)
Round Rock Old Stagecoach Inn: Preservation through Relocation. Shirley Marquardt, 2020 ISBN: 65061989 available from Round Rock Preservation (www.rrpreservation.org)
Historical Round Rock, Texas: Sesquicentennial 1854-2004. Martin Parker, 2004
Land of Good Water, Takachue Pouetsu: A Williamson County, Texas History. Clara Stearns Scarborough, 1973, 1998 ISBN-13: 978-1571689153 Available from the Williamson County Sun and the Hill Country Book Store, Georgetown.
Road, River and Ol’ Boy Politics: A Texas County’s Path from Farm to Supersuburb. Linda Scarbrough, 2005. ISBN 0-87611-202-5. National Council on Public History’s 2006 Best Book Award
Historical Round Rock, Texas. Karen R. Thompson and Jane H. DiGesualdo, 1985. ASIN: B0006YQURM This book was named a 2006 Local Legend.
Historical Williamson County, Texas: A Pictorial History, 1848-2000. Karen R. Thompson, 2000 ASIN: B0006RFKDY
Round Rock, Texas: From Cowboys to Computers. Karen R. Thompson, 2002 ISBN-13: 978-1571687418
