Shrunken Heads and Cowboy Lore: The Frontier Times Museum of Bandera

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Frontier Times Museum Bandera Texas circa 1933

The museum as it stood in 1933—a true Texas survivor.

The Backstory

In 1933, J. Marvin Hunter—a writer, publisher, and historian—opened the Frontier Times Museum to house his growing collection of Texas relics. Hunter was a man who never met a story (or an object) he didn't like. While the museum started as a tribute to the pioneers of the Texas Hill Country, it quickly evolved into a world-class collection of the strange and the sublime.

Located in Bandera, a town that proudly wears the title "Cowboy Capital of the World," the museum is a physical timeline of the American West. The building itself is a work of art, constructed from native stone and petrified wood. Inside, the walls are lined with thousands of items that Hunter collected or were donated by travelers passing through the hills, creating a "cabinet of curiosities" that feels like stepping back into a 1930s roadside attraction.

📍 At a Glance

  • Location: 510 13th St, Bandera, TX 78003
  • Region: Hill Country
  • Typical Timeframe: 1.5 to 2 hours
  • Must See: The "Doane Collection" of international oddities.

From Cowboy Boots to Shrunken Heads

What makes the Frontier Times Museum a true "backroads" legend is the sheer variety of its exhibits. On one side, you’ll find authentic cowboy gear, pioneer tools, and hundreds of photographs of the men and women who settled this rugged landscape. On the other side, things get weird. The museum famously houses a shrunken head from South America, a two-faced goat, and a collection of bells from around the world.

The "Western Art Gallery" features stunning works that capture the spirit of the ranching life, but most visitors find themselves lingering in the Texas Hall of Memory. It’s a place where the history isn't just written in books; it’s carved into the wood and forged into the steel of the artifacts. It is dusty, crowded, and perfectly preserved—a middle finger to the modern, sterile museums of the big cities.

Our Pro-Tip

The museum is just a couple of blocks off the main drag in Bandera. After you browse the oddities, walk over to the 11th Street Cowboy Bar or Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar. Bandera is one of the few places where people still actually tie their horses up to hitching posts outside the saloons. If you want the full experience, visit during one of their weekend "market days" or rodeo events to see the cowboy capital in full swing.

Note: The museum is closed on Sundays, so make sure to plan your Hill Country road trip for a Friday or Saturday to ensure you can get inside.

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