Last updated: 5/30/2017
Denton, Texas
Address
110 West HickoryDenton, TX 76201

Hours

Courthouse on the Square Museum:
Monday - Friday
10 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
11 AM - 3 PM

Admissions

Admission is free to all of our sites every day! This includes any exhibits on display at the Courthouse-on-the-Square as well as our various sites at the Historical Park. We are Handicapped accessible and provide guided tours upon request.

Parking on the Denton Square is limited to 2 hours. Longer term parking can be found just off the square on Hickory Street at the Williams Square public parking lot behind the Wells Fargo building.

Free

Staff

Peggy Riddle
phone:
e-mail:
Kim Cupit
phone: 940-349-2853
e-mail:
Gretel L'Heureux
phone: 940-349-2850
e-mail:
Description

Groups are encouraged to schedule ahead of the requested date. The months of October, November and early December, March, April, and May are especially busy, so we encourage you to plan ahead so that we can schedule the requested time. For example, many schools now make their requests in September for much later in the school year.

The tours are suitable for teaching about different aspects of Denton County as well as other artifacts:
Denton County Communities
Historic African American Families of Denton County
Historic Hispanic Families of Denton County
Folk Art, including Pecan Art by B. W. Crawford
Decorative arts, including the American Pressed Glass from the collection of Nettie Jo Cummings and Thimbles from the Collection of Dr. Bethel Caster
Folk and decorative arts, including the dolls from the collection of Gustine Weaver
Ceramic arts including the Southwest American Indian Pottery Collection including pottery from the Casa Grandes area in Mexico, prehistoric pottery from Mexico and the southwestern United States, Pueblo pottery from New Mexico and Arizona, and pottery from Texas
Weaponry including weapons similar to those used in historic Denton County, World War I and World War II, Texas Rangers, and a section of the Berlin Wall.
Decorative arts including furniture and artifacts from early Denton County
The tours can be adapted for grades K-12.

History

The first courthouse in Denton was a two-story frame structure on the north side of the downtown square. The building burned in 1875, destroying most of the county records. A brick courthouse was then built in the center of the square, a two-story building with a tall central tower. Lightning damaged that building and it was condemned and demolished in 1894. Construction of the present Courthouse-on-the-Square began in 1895. The cornerstone was laid in 1896, and the courthouse was dedicated in 1897.

Artifact Collections

American Pressed Blue Glass 1860 - 1960; Dolls 19th and 20th centuries; Indian Pottery; Denton County Pottery, mid 1800s-early 1900s; Denton County Photographs; Furniture, 1845-1930's, Weaponry, 1600s to present; Denton County Memorabilia,1860s - 2000; Toys early 1900s; Pecan Art Figurines; Pecan Folk ArtThimbles and Sewing Collectibles; Denton County research material and cemetery records from 1857 - present.

Research Collections

Denton County Research material and cemetery records

Educational Programs

Gallery tours; docent program; on-site and outreach lectures; and exhibitions

Governance

The Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum is operated with significant support from Denton County, the City of Denton, and the Denton County Historical Commission.

Publications

Quarterly flyer with monthly lectures and notices of changing exhibits, museum brochures, Denton County history brochures; website with virtual tour of museum.

Services
Facility Rental

The Office of History and Culture also provides various county owned spaces to be rented for events, such as weddings and reunions. For more information on how to request the use of one of Denton County's facilities, you can click here or you can contact Cheryl Knight at 940.349.2830.

Museum Office & Gift Shop

Located in the Museum Office on the first floor of the Courthouse-on-the-Square, our shop features books on local history, fine art prints, t-shirts, coasters, playing cards, and a variety of postcards with local historical themes.

Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Special Event Rental
Group Tours
ADA
Wheelchair Accessible
Exhibitions
Museum Events
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

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