07/10/2026
📣Museum Update📣
As we celebrate 8 years of Texas Through Time, we want to take a moment to reflect on everything we’ve accomplished and share a few updates about who we are, what we do, and what we’ve been working on behind the scenes.
Over the past eight years, our mission has remained the same: to inspire curiosity, preserve history, and provide free educational opportunities for our community.
Together, we’ve accomplished so much:
* Hosted more than 100 free public events
* Welcomed thousands of visitors each year, with attendance continuing to grow
* Hosted countless school groups, homeschool organizations, and educational field trips
* Survived the challenges of the COVID-19 shutdown, when many small organizations were forced to close
* Celebrated dozens of dinosaur-themed birthday parties with local families
* Offered regular educational classes for both children and adults
* Provided volunteer opportunities, including community service hours
* Hosted free fossil hunts for families
* Participated in community events with the Hillsboro City Library, local schools, National Night Out, STEM Days at Hill College, and many other organizations
* Presented educational programs at schools and libraries across Texas
* Operated entirely through the dedication of volunteers, including a Board of Directors that serves 100% without compensation
* Continued operating primarily through donations as a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
* Received grants from organizations including Walmart, the Smith Foundation, the Dorothy Gaines Foundation, and many generous supporters
* Been featured on several television shows, multiple news channels and articles
* Had incredible fossil specimens donated to our Museum and put on display
* Collaborated with the Texas Rangers baseball team to name an excavate a mammoth skull
* Brought tourists, documentary crews, celebrities, and visitors from across the country to Hillsboro
* Remained committed to providing FREE admission to our museum—and we always will.
One thing we’d also like to clarify is that Texas Through Time is not annually funded by the City of Hillsboro. Our daily operations, exhibits, educational programs, preservation work, utilities, insurance, and maintenance are funded through donations, grants, sponsorships, fundraising events, and the incredible generosity of our volunteers and supporters.
Historic Junior College Building Update
In August 2023, Texas Through Time was honored to receive ownership of the historic Hillsboro Junior College building.
When we accepted the building, it had sat vacant and boarded up for nearly 25 years and was filled with decades of abandoned furniture, equipment, and unwanted materials left behind by the district.
As part of the transfer, Texas Through Time paid a large portion of HISD’s legal fees, title fees, and transfer costs, while also assuming responsibility for the building’s insurance, maintenance, preservation, and long-term restoration.
Within less than two weeks, our volunteers spent many hours working through the August Texas heat to build the required privacy fence—a project that cost** more than $10,000** in materials and volunteer labor.
Since receiving the building, we have:
* Hosted three annual haunted house fundraisers that help fund museum operations
* Hosted Solar Eclipse Events & Watch Party
* Opened a meteorite exhibit featuring rare and world-class specimens
* Hosted free lectures by meteorite expert Aerolite Elizabeth of Aerolite Meteorites and Dr. Dominic Benford, NASA astronomer and head scientist for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in Washington DC.
* Hosted free outdoor movie nights
* Organized volunteer cleanup days
* Filmed an upcoming documentary
* Been featured on the cover of The New York Times
Today, Texas Through Time spends approximately $15,000 every year simply to insure, maintain, and preserve the building—costs that are no longer the responsibility of the school district.
Since taking ownership, we’ve also:
* Removed numerous deteriorated boards covering broken windows
* Installed new windows
* Removed countless dumpster loads of debris, furniture, and abandoned materials
* Repainted the front entrance
* Improved the appearance of the property with beautiful murals of prehistoric Texas animals, generously painted by talented local artists volunteering their time and skills
More importantly, we’ve helped preserve one of Hillsboro’s most significant historic landmarks from continued deterioration and possible future demolition.
We accepted this responsibility knowing restoration would take years of planning and millions of dollars in funding. Although much of our work isn’t always visible from the outside, we’ve spent the past two years fundraising, applying for grants, meeting with preservation specialists, developing architectural plans, and preparing for the next phase.
Even though the building was removed from local preservation requirements prior to our ownership we have voluntarily committed to following the preservation guidelines established by the Texas Historical Commission throughout the restoration process.
We’ve also been working closely with Architexas and JRJ Construction to develop renovation plans and prepare for construction.
We’re incredibly excited to announce that we anticipate beginning the first phase of restoration before the end of this year.
Why Restoration Takes Time
Before museum operations can permanently move into the historic building, three major infrastructure projects must be completed:
1. HVAC – The building currently has no functional heating or air conditioning.
2. Restroom Facilities – Existing restrooms require complete renovation before the building can be fully occupied.
3. ADA Accessibility – An elevator must be installed so visitors with disabilities and mobility limitations can access the building.
These improvements are among the reasons the building was ultimately retired from use as a school.
Originally built in 1923, the building opened as Hillsboro Junior College after being funded by Hill County. It received its Texas Historical Marker in 1967, and today remains one of the community’s most important historic landmarks.
Around 1999, the district ceased using the building because it no longer met the educational needs of students. Even while vacant, however, the district continued paying for maintenance and insurance.
Today, those expenses are the responsibility of Texas Through Time. We continue to meet all requirements of HISD and our contract while planning for its restoration—all through private funding rather than taxpayer dollars.
At the same time, we continue operating our museum at 110 N. Waco Street, where we provide free admission, educational programs, community events, classes, and volunteer opportunities while maintaining both facilities.
Thank You
As we celebrate our eighth anniversary, we simply want to say thank you.
Texas Through Time was founded to educate, inspire, preserve history, and serve the community we love. None of what we’ve accomplished would have been possible without our volunteers, members, donors, sponsors, grant partners, and every person who has walked through our doors.
We are incredibly excited for the next chapter as restoration begins on one of Hillsboro’s most treasured historic landmarks.
It is both an honor and a privilege to serve as caretakers of the historic Junior College building. Our vision has always been to restore this incredible landmark to its former glory and transform it into a place where history, science, education, and our community come together once again.
If you would like to support our mission and help preserve this remarkable piece of Texas history, please consider making a donation. Every dollar brings us one step closer to restoring this historic building for future generations.
🔗Donate https://texasthroughtime.org/donate
