Old Blanco County Courthouse
Blanco, Blanco County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Designed in Victorian style by architect F. E. Ruffini. Erected in 1886 as first permanent county courthouse, building served only four years--until 1890. County seat then moved to Johnson City. Purchased by Chas. E. Crist, the structure entered varied career as school, Blanco National Bank, office of "Blanco County News," opera house, Farmers' Union Hall, and hospital (1936-70). Now houses Blanco Museum of Early West. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark -- 1972
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Designed in Victorian style by architect F. E. Ruffini and built in 1886, this was Blanco County's first permanent courthouse—but it served only four years before the county seat moved to Johnson City in 1890. Sold into private hands, the sturdy stone building led a remarkably varied life as a school, bank, newspaper office, opera house, union hall, and hospital. It now houses a museum of early western history.
Why it matters
Few buildings so vividly show how frontier communities repurposed their landmarks as county fortunes shifted across the Hill Country.
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Related people
- · F. E. Ruffini
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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