The Mills County Courthouse combines distinctive architectural history with carefully crafted details in the courtroom. The present building was constructed in the Classical style in 1913; it has three stories and a basement. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000, followed by designations as a State Antiquities Landmark and Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 2002. During the courtroom’s restoration, plaster coffers, ornate pilasters, and seating in a gallery were uncovered. The year it was built, its architectural style, and these design details offer different ways to explore the history of the building.
Buildings and Places of Remembrance
The Palmer Building also tells a story of architectural change: built in 1893 as a single-story building, it gained a second story in 1906. Today, it houses the Mills County Historical Museum. Its exhibits explore, among other topics, early communications, a post office, a bank, a farm and schools, as well as jails, a general store, and a drugstore. The examples span everything from public institutions to everyday life in rural communities and commerce.
Built in 1888, the Mills County Jail stands on the Courthouse Square in Goldthwaite. It is considered the city’s oldest government building and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Goldthwaite Memorial Cemetery adds another perspective on regional history, with memorials to veterans buried there. Together, these places reflect different forms of remembrance: a historic government building, a museum with a wide range of exhibit topics, and memorials dedicated to individuals.
River Landscape and Open Country
The historic Regency Suspension Bridge spans the Colorado River amid a riverside woodland of oaks, hackberry trees, and pecan trees. This woodland is surrounded by a mesquite-oak savanna. The riverbanks’ wooded areas and the more open landscape sit side by side. For your explorations of Mills County, this contrast offers a change of focus from architectural and local history: here, the river, trees, and savanna together shape the landscape.
Gardens, Markets, and Events
The Texas Botanical Gardens are located within Legacy Plaza in Goldthwaite. They offer educational programs for children and adults, including on-site presentations and interactive experiences, as well as off-site field trips. If you’d like to plan around a specific program, check the schedule in advance.
The Goldthwaite Area Farmers Market takes place on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon at Goldthwaite City Park. The official State Championship BBQ and Goat Cook-off is held annually in late April at McMahan City Park. Specific dates may vary, so check the market hours and event date if you’re planning your visit around them. Two other stops offer different highlights: the Goldthwaite Welcome Center provides information about nearby attractions, businesses, and events, and is open seven days a week. As opening hours may change, it’s worth checking the latest information before making a special trip.
Golf and Air Travel
The Goldthwaite Municipal Golf Course has nine holes, each with two sets of tees, making it possible to play a full 18-hole round. The course is next to Goldthwaite Municipal Airport T-37 and is promoted as a golf destination for travelers arriving by plane. The airport is about 2.5 miles south of Goldthwaite, has a 3,200-foot runway, and is intended for daytime operations only. As operating information may change, check it before flying.
The golf facility brings together two clearly defined themes: a specific course format and the nearby option of flying in. If you’re more interested in history, the courthouse, museum, and other places of remembrance take center stage; those seeking nature will find a different perspective on the region in the river landscape.
Discover more destinations: Goldthwaite, Hall County, Refugio County, Bastrop, Burleson County, Tom Green, Lubbock, Hutchinson County.
View the full travel overview: Texas.
