The Blanco area was first settled in 1853 by Captain James Hughes Callahan, Eli Clemens Hinds, and their families. The pioneers built homes along the Blanco River and, in 1854, formed the Pittsburg Land Company with General John D. Pitts and others.

When Blanco County was formed in 1858, about 120 acres of land left to the Land Company in Captain Callahan’s will was used to establish the city of Blanco for the county’s seat.

The historic courthouse on the town square, the third courthouse built in town, was completed in 1886. When the creation of new counties south of Blanco changed the shape of this county, an election was held to move the county seat to the more central Johnson City. The building on Blanco’s square served only four years as the courthouse.

The town square, and the Old Blanco County Courthouse, form the center of town and a perfect place to walk around. Parking is available around the square, where the tour begins.

Old Blanco County Courthouse

The Old Blanco County Courthouse was constructed in 1885-1886 as the first permanent courthouse for Blanco County. After the county seat was moved in 1890, the courthouse become privately owned and served a variety of uses, including a school, bank, offices, barber shop, Blanco County News office, opera house, hospital, museum, and barbecue restaurant.

The building was sold to an area rancher in 1986 with the intention of moving it his ranch. The Old Blanco County Courthouse Preservation Society (OBCCPS) raised enough money to purchase the courthouse in 1991 and begin restoration. A visitor’s center is located on the first floor.

On The Square / Cranberry’s Antiques

On The Square was constructed in 1929 for Bindseil’s Red and White Grocery store. In 1947, additions were made and the store was expanded. Cranberry’s Antiques, right next door to On The Square, now occupies the addition. The basement, which is open to the public in Cranberry’s, was used as a hardware store.

Roland & Viola Bindseil City Park /

Byars’ Live Oak Co-Champion

The city park, located next to City Hall, connects the square to the Blanco State Park. The area was once used as the only way to ford the Blanco River in town. The Wheels & Feet Task Force redeveloped the park to add sidewalks, sloping hills, picnic tables, and a garden area. The Keep Blanco Beautiful organization maintains the garden and plants at the front of the park.

Walk into the park to see an amazing view of the co-champion for largest live oak tree in Blanco County.

Follow the sidewalk to the other end of Bindseil City Park to reach the Blanco State Park.

Byars House

This building is known as the Byars House or General Telephone Building, built sometime in the late 1800s. The house was renovated in 1915 to turn it into a residence and telephone office. From 1923 to 1951, members of the Byars family operated the Blanco telephone switchboard while living in the house. The building is now used for city council meetings and municipal court.

Blue Building

This building was built in 1952 and served as the post office until the current building was completed in 1975. The Blanco Library was on the square for 49 years, starting out as one shelf, and grew to use both the this building and the Chamber of Commerce building before moving to its current location at Main and 12th streets in 1999. The Blanco County News was located here until its move to 714 4th St. in 2008.

Blanco Chamber of Commerce

Next door, the Blanco Chamber of Commerce building was built in 1937 and served as the post office until the Blue Building next door was completed. The Chamber of Commerce has been in this building since November 2004. The Chamber is open as a visitor’s center.

Strickland Drugs

The Strickland Drugs building was completed in 1900 for the Alexander and Speer drug store. Strickland Drugs began operating here in 1976.

The first owners, Rufus Alexander and Joe Speer, studied books from a traveling druggist, went to Austin, and got licensed to be pharmacists. They later studied books about photography, bought camera equipment, and started the photography studio.

Blanco Star Antiques

Blanco Star Antiques was constructed in 1985 for a air conditioning company. The site was previously a Mobil service station built in 1930. The building has undergone major remodeling to better accommodate their business.

Blanco Bowling Club

The Blanco Bowling Club was built in 1947 by Roland and Viola Bindseil. This building houses a restaurant, 9-pin bowling alley with six lanes, and a bar.

Riley’s Bar-B-Q / Rockin’ R Steakhouse

This building, once known as the Byrom and Wright Garage, was a Ford Model-T dealership when it was built circa 1920. It served as a car dealership through to the 1940s, then as an automobile garage, and at one time as an auction barn.

Redbud Cafe / Brieger Pottery

This building was constructed in 1937 by Charles Crist for Blanco Hardware and Lumber. Charles Boon started a grocery business in a frame structure on the site in 1881. Charles’ father, Robert, partnered with Boon and they expanded the business to include tinware, hardware, watches, and jewelry.

By the 1930s, Robert Crist owned the business and offered dry goods, farm equipment, and leather goods in three adjacent buildings. Charles Crist assumed control and added hardware, lumber, grain, wool, and mohair.

A sidewalk filling station and Chevrolet dealership were located in the eastern part of the building, where Brieger Pottery is now. The two frame buildings burned in 1937 and the current building, which houses Redbud Cafe, was constructed in their place.

Brieger Pottery has been in business for over 15 years. Next door, Redbud Cafe has been serving tasty food for a year. The rainfall record, which has monthly rain totals dating back to 1900, is on the display inside on the west wall.

Walk toward the highway to see the Blanco National Bank and the Old Confectionery buildings.

Blanco National Bank

The Blanco National Bank building was constructed circa 1923, expanded in the 1960s, and remodeled in 1985-86 to incorporate an adjoining building to the west. The bank also has offices next door in the Old Confectionery Building, which was built circa 1920.

Cross the highway and walk up to 5th Street to stop in at REMAX Genesis.

West Side of the Square

The block on the west side of the square is owned by Uptown Blanco, which has worked to renovate the buildings and construct a courtyard and pavilion on the western half of the block.

Cage Building

Long known as Lindeman’s Grocery, was built in 1908 for Jack Cage’s general store. Now the entrance to Uptown Blanco Restaurant.

Old Theater Building

The old theater was built in 1938 by W.D. Glasscock, who owned a traveling circus. The theater showed movies every weekend, and was full for every show. An entire family could pay 50 cents for a day’s admission.

Glasscock Buildings

Before these two buildings were constructed by W.D. Glasscock in 1938, a cement slab at this location was used as a large, outdoor roller skating rink. Both buildings have housed various businesses.

Uptown Blanco Restaurant /

Comparet Building

Mrs. Comparet had a building in this location; she bought land from the county and expanded around 1880 to build the current structure. Many times, two businesses operated here, each using half of the structure.

Uptown Blanco Restaurant operates here, with the two adjoining Glasscock buildings serving as kitchen and restrooms.

Masonic Building

Constructed on the site of the second county courthouse, which burned in 1876. The Old Blanco County Jail is behind this building. Built in 1907 and the upper story was used as the Masonic Lodge. The lower story was used as a hardware store and then a department store.

Old Blanco County Jail

Commissioned by County Judge A. W. Moursund on November 15, 1876.

Uptown Blanco Art Center / Bremer Hotel

The current building was constructed on the site for the Bremer Hotel. Teachers who were brought in to teach students at the school lived in the hotel. This building is now the Uptown Blanco Art Center.

Sources: Interviews, “Blanco County Heritage,” “Memories of Blanco” by Leroy Klinger, National Parks Service Narratives.

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