The Smithville Heritage Society, established in 1975 and located at 602 Main Street, is known locally as the headquarters for Smithville's history. The Society sponsors programs open to the public each year that focus on our area history. In addition, the Museum is open by appointment to visitors including vacationing guests, researchers, historians, and school children—both home-schooled and public school students. The Society enjoys holding open houses at the Museum for civic events and occasionally hosts local organization meetings.
Behind the Heritage Society Museum is a small metal building housing the "Archives." Residing within this climate-controlled structure are archival-safe boxes that hold a treasury of historic documents, photographs, and other historic items. Visitors or residents may obtain research assistance and information about their historic home or business, a family member who lived here and/or worked for the railroad, or a historic event which happened in the Smithville area. The Archives contain early Smithville newspapers, files about citizens, residences, businesses, and organizations such as churches, schools, and clubs. Files are kept not only about Smithville, but also for surrounding towns such as Kovar, Cistern, West Point, Pin Oak, and several other communities.
Although we are not able to keep the museum or the Archives open regularly, we are happy to arrange an appointment—whether you want a tour of the house/museum or you'd like to research a family member or a home. Please call Carol Snyder at 214-673-2223 for details. We also accept research requests via mail at Smithville Heritage Society, PO Box 332, Smithville, TX 78957, or via email at smithvilleHeritageSociety@gmail.com and will be delighted to mail the copies of information we may find in our files.
