Updated: 5/30/2017 
Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum
Denton, Texas
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

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.

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
Event Rental
Group Tours
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.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

RECENT UPDATES

Museums

04/09 Museum of Man in the Sea

Panama City Beach, Florida

04/09 The Mariners' Museum and Park

Newport News, Virginia

04/08 Roundhouse Museum

Egg Harbor City, New Jersey

04/08 Lake Wales History Museum

Lake Wales, Florida

04/04 Taylor Museum of Waco and McLennan County History

Waco, Texas

Museum Associations

04/03 Florida Association of Museums

Tallahassee, Florida