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The self-anointed Cowboy Capital of the World, Bandera is an interesting little town to visit in the Texas Hill Country.
Introduction to Bandera
The name of the town means “flag” in Spanish, referring to a flag placed at the top of a nearby path known as Bandera Pass. According to local legend, in 1732, Spaniards and Apaches fought a battle at the pass. After the battle, a treaty was made and a red flag was placed at the highest peak of the pass as a warning to both parties. Native Americans would later refer to the settlement as Bandera due to the flag.
Bandera was officially founded in 1853 by Charles De Montel (1812-1882), John James (1819-1877), and John Herndon. 16 Polish Roman Catholic families from Upper Silesia immigrated to the town in 1855, and many of today’s residents descend from those families. In the late 19th century, Bandera became a Wild West cowboy town and a staging area on the Great Western Cattle Trail. It was full of saloons and dance halls and hosted the occasional gunfight.
Main Street in Bandera
Main Street is at the heart of Bandera. Walking along the street, we saw plenty of cowboy and Wild West-themed souvenir shops as well as barbecue joints and other shops.
Western Trail Heritage Park
Western Trail Heritage Park commemorates the town’s cowboy roots and pays homage to the Great Western Cattle Trail. The trail began at Bandera and headed north through western Oklahoma. It then crossed Kansas passing through Dodge City until it reached Ogallala, Nebraska. Further branches headed up into Canada and out to the northwestern states.
The Great Western Cattle Trail gave birth to the ranching industry in not only Texas but the entire West. The first herd made the trip in 1874 while the last one left in 1894. It’s estimated over seven million heads of longhorn cattle and thousands of horses were driven up the trail.
Bandera County Courthouse
The Bandera County Courthouse is at the center of town. It was built in 1890 and designed in the Renaissance Revival style by architect B.F. Trester of San Antonio. The limestone used in its construction was cut from a local quarry. The three-story building is topped by a clock tower with a cupola.
Frontier Times Museum
The Frontier Times Museum is the main reason we visited Bandera. It’s got an eclectic collection and an interesting history behind it. Admission is US$8 for adults, US$5 for seniors and military, US$4 for kids age 6-17, and free for kids under 6 (as of September 2025). It’s located a block north of the Bandera County Courthouse and is open daily except Sundays.
History of the Frontier Times Museum
The Frontier Times Museum was founded by J. Marvin Hunter Sr. (1880-1957), the editor and publisher of Frontier Times Magazine and a collector of curiosities and historic items. It’s said that Hunter never turned down a donation to the museum’s collection because if the artifact was important to the donor it should be important to everyone.
With an ever-growing collection, Hunter decided to raise funds to build a new museum by publishing a book, The Authentic History of Sam Bass and his Gang. His goal was to sell 1,000 copies at US$1 each, which would have been enough to erect a stone building at that time. Supporters also got a one-year subscription to Frontier Times Magazine. By mid-December 1932, Hunter had enough founds to break ground.
The groundbreaking took place on January 1, 1933. The building was constructed by stonemason Hough LeStourgeon (1909-2009), who gathered rocks from local ranches, including parts of an old stone fence built in 1878. Locals brought in petrified wood, fossils, and stones to add to the museum wall. The names of each donor who purchased a book were engraved on granite pillars flanking the entrance. The Frontier Times Museum officially opened on May 20, 1933.
Through the sales of another book, The Life of Big Foot Wallace, Hunter expanded the museum in the fall of 1934, and added another gallery in 1935. The museum was sold in 1960, three years after Hunter’s death, to F.B. Doane, a successful businessman and lover of Western paraphernalia. When Doane passed away, his widow and the Doane Foundation funded and operated the museum. She gifted the museum to the residents of Bandera County in 1972 and also added the Doane Gallery of Western Art.
Curiosities Collection
Of all the exhibits at the Frontier Times Museum, the most important is the collection of curiosities. Some of the items include Bibles and journals from the 19th century, artifacts from World War II, a two-faced goat, and a mummified squirrel.
Other items of interest are a birthing chair from the Middle Ages used in an Italian palace, Easter eggs decorated in 1936, coins and paper money from around the world, antique household items, and much more.
Another interesting feature is a fireplace with a shotgun embedded on the mantel along with shells and fossils.
Stalls of Fame
The Stalls of Fame section honors rodeo stars from Bandera. Eight famous rodeo heroes are immortalized with their biographies and personal items placed in different stalls.
Texas Heroes
The Texas Heroes Hall of Honor was established in 2009. It recognizes
the contributions of REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS AND WONDEROUS CHARACTERS who, through their leadership, creativity, example and hard work, keep the pioneer spirit alive and HELP KEEP TEXAS, TEXAN.
The exhibit contains the stories of inductees who are honored on the fourth weekend of July at an annual ceremony.
