The oldest surviving downtown Bastrop buildings from the 1862 fire are among the stops along this year’s Downtown Historic District walking tour. The tour is part of the Bastrop Museum’s celebration of Historic Preservation Month.

Local historian and former Mayor Ken Kesselus will lead the tour at 10 a.m. May 4. An additional tour will be led by Judy Enis, a former local history teacher and a board officer of the Bastrop County Historical Society, at 10 a.m. May 18.

“Bastrop is full of stories that I gladly share with others, especially about these historic buildings, which are all survivors of floods or fires, even time,” Enis said.

What you need to know

Tours start at the Bastrop Museum and Visitor Center, and are 45 minutes long.


“Learning about a town's history through a walking tour is particularly valuable because they take place within the actual historical setting,” said Nicole DeGuzman, the executive director of the Bastrop Museum and Visitor Center, in an April 18 news release. “Standing in front of a historical building or landmark to learn its past allows you to visualize it in a way that can't be replicated by a quick online search.”

The walking tour is an engaging and interactive way to experience the town’s history, DeGuzman said.

“[The tour makes Bastrop’s] history more personal and [gives] you a deeper connection to the place,” DeGuzman said. “Just be sure to bring water and wear your comfortable walking shoes for a great way to learn about the most historic small town in Texas—Bastrop.”