Official Sesquicentennial Book
The Elgin Sesquicentennial Year was proclaimed by the Elgin City Council on January 4, 2022. The celebration of Elgin’s 150th birthday provides an opportunity for reflection of the city’s important accomplishments and milestones. A book was prepared by volunteers who are interested in local history. Its purpose is to describe how Elgin was formed as a municipality, provide information about significant events, and capture stories about community leaders. “Milestones: Elgin, Texas History” offers historical facts interspersed with accounts about its citizens and numerous photographs.
Sydna Davis Arbuckle started writing the book at the beginning of 2022. She experienced health problems mid-year and enlisted help from friends and colleagues to complete the work. Together, the writers achieved the purpose of this sesquicentennial publication—to memorialize significant events of the last 150 years that have shaped the community and will guide its future.
The events and stories are offered as milestones, not as a full history of the City of Elgin. Other events and stories could have been told. This book’s milestones were selected to provide an overview of Elgin’s history and to inform and hopefully entertain future generations. The books will be available for sale at the Depot Museum, Elgin Recreation Center and Dorothy's Fine Jewelry & Gift Shop. “Milestones: Elgin, Texas History” retails for $20.
Art Walk Self-Guided Tour
Black History Self-Guided Tour
Mary Christian Burleson Home A rare example of an early Texas Frontier home, the Mary Christian Burleson homestead site has the potential to explore the stories of early Anglo settlement in Mexican territory, life in the early Texas Republic, and the undertold stories of women on the Texas Frontier. Mary’s chronicle is one of immigration, hardship, and success. As one of the earliest settlers, she established close relationship with some of the most championed characters in the history of Austin’s Little Colony, the Republic, and early Statehood. She was a woman unique in her time and not uncommon of the Texas Frontier, self-reliant, bold and brave, believing in the in the strength of women.
Thus far, research conducted by community volunteers has uncovered documents that give a glimpse into the dynamic life of a woman that advocated for religious freedom, invested in the education of women, was a successful business woman on a unsettled, notoriously dangerous northern tract, who raised a family that would go on to be entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders that helped to build Texas.
Elgin Depot Museum
Elgin History Through Light Pole Banners 150 years of Elgin History on display
Elgin Oral Histories (Audio & Transcripts) COMING SOON!
Short Story Histories of Elgin, Texas
2023 Year In Review
