May is National Preservation Month, when local preservation and civic organizations spotlight their preservation programs and heritage tourism. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s theme is People Saving Places, recognizing all those who help preserve buildings and histories. Round Rock has an expansive network of place savers. The city’s Historic Preservation Commission, nonprofits like the Williamson Museum, Round Rock Preservation, and the Old Settlers Association, skilled craftspeople and historic property owners all work to preserve the city’s history.

Preservation Month Events:

• Chuckwagon Dinner, Friday May 5, 6-8 p.m. at the Old Settlers Association. Saddle up for some cowboy fun at the Chuckwagon Dinner under the trees at Old Settlers Association.  Tickets are $30 per person, $25 for members, $15 for children, and include a Dutch oven dinner with all the fixin’s, beer, wine and sodas. Purchase tickets here or call 512-943-1670. The dinner is a fundraiser for the Williamson Museum.
• 17th Annual Pioneer Day, Saturday May 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old Settlers Association. Free. Visitors will be able to dip candles, churn butter, make corn husk dolls and rag balls and wander through reenactment camps and chuck wagon areas. There will be live music, pioneer games, historic house tours and a fully stocked general store. Sponsored by the Williamson Museum.
• Lunch & Learn: William Walsh and the Round Rock White Lime Company, Tuesday May 9, noon to 1 p.m. at the Baca Center. Join Chris Walsh for a history of the Round Rock White Lime Company, a major employer from the 1890s to 1980s, founded by his great-grandfather William Walsh. Bring your lunch, we’ll provide cookies. Co-sponsored by Round Rock Preservation and the Planning and Development Services Dept.
• Historic Downtown Walking Tour, Saturday May 20, 10 a.m. at Centennial Plaza. Join us for a one-mile walking tour through the Downtown Historic District! The tour is free but registration is required and limited to 30. Co-sponsored by Round Rock Preservation and the Planning and Development Services Dept.
• Visit the Preservation Month booth at the Music on Main concerts on May 3 and 17 and pick up some kids’ coloring and activity booklets. Co-sponsored by Round Rock Preservation and the Planning and Development Services Dept.
• Gault Archaeological Site Tours May 13 and May 27, 9 a.m. to Noon. The Gault site is one of the largest Clovis and pre-Clovis archaeological sites. Purchase tour tickets on the Williamson Museum website.

Preservation Month Activities:

• Get to know Round Rock’s historic landmarks with our new interactive Historic Landmarks Map !
• Visit the Center Art Club’s Exhibit featuring local historic subjects all month long at the Baca Center lobby.
• Visit Round Rock Preservation‘s Exhibit in the new library’s top floor display case.
• Watch City of Round Rock social media accounts for posts about Round Rock history, historic landmarks, old photos and more!
• Celebrate Williamson County’s 175th Anniversary!
• Texas Living History Week, May 7-13. This week state historic sites across Texas will host tours and hands-on activities to demonstrate how Texans of the past spent their daily lives. The Texas Historical Commission’s Texas Time Travel site has collected listings of events by region along with suggestions for lodging, dining, and other historic places to visit on your trip.