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Events continue with National Day of the Cowboy celebration
BASTROP – Downtown Bastrop’s small but mighty museum announced its selection July 17 as a top three contender in one of Austin’s most prestigious public-voted awards.
The Bastrop Museum and Visitor Center’s position as a finalist in the Austin Community’s Choice Awards places the historical center ahead of renowned institutions like the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin. Award winners will be announced Sept. 4, 6 p.m. at Hyatt Regency Austin.
“We are incredibly humbled and thrilled to be recognized as a top finalist in the Austin Community’s Choice Awards,” Nicole DeGuzman said, museum executive director. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our staff, volunteers and the unwavering support of our community. We look forward to continuing our mission of preserving and sharing Bastrop’s rich history with all who visit.”
The award recognizes over 480 businesses and organizations and relies heavily on community participation. It begins with public nominations, followed by a voting round that determines the top finalists and winners from the five highest-nominated candidates in each category.
This honor comes after recognition from the Texas Historical Commission earlier this year, with the statewide Excellence in Museums award. The organization’s awards committee praised the museum as the anchor facility in Bastrop’s historic downtown, attracting over 14,000 visitors annually and preserving more than 18,000 artifacts.
The museum hosts year-round public events, including the Music in the Museum concert series, the Yesterfest pioneer celebration and the Lost Pines Historic Homes Symposium.
The local site will be welcoming guests back again July 27 for a National Day of the Cowboy celebration. This year’s face of the event will be fifth generation Bastropian and celebrated third generation cowboy Ishmael Harris.
Participants can experience the rich traditions of Texas cowboys, cowgirls and vaqueros with a lineup of activities – authentic cowboy poetry, lasso roping demonstrations by Harris, campfire storytelling and a big-screen showing of “Workin’ From Can’t to Can’t,” a documentary that chronicles the lives and legacies of Texas’ first black cowboys.
According to representatives, the Bastrop Museum & Visitor Center is not only a repository of local history but also a hub for community engagement. With its comprehensive research facilities, dedicated staff and a blend of permanent and rotating exhibits, it serves as an exemplary model of what a community- focused museum can achieve.
For more information about the Bastrop Museum and Visitor Center call 512-303-0057, yearly memberships start at $25.
