Bug's Guidebook to Texas.

[Bugman]

130 million years ago, much of Texas was a shallow sea with a flat sea floor. As plate tectonics created what is now Central Texas the waters began to recede or evaporate. Vegetation began to take hold, and soon land dwelling dinosaurs moved into the area.

In 1984, a man and his wife bought some land in Comal County, planning to start an RV Park. Investigating the property one day, they discovered almost 400 footprints of dinosaurs in the limestone rock. Paleontologists
from the University of Texas and Purdue were called in to study the site, and plans for the park were shelved.

In 1994 some county residents formed and chartered a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, The Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country to serve as custodians of the land. Their mission is twofold: The protection and preservation of the footprints, and the preservation of the history and culture of daily life of the Hill Country. The Museum opened to the public March 2, 2000.

 

[Bugman]

Due to the nature of limestone, many of the footprints have disappeared and it is hoped this shelter will at least slow the process. Only about 200 remain that are recognizable. Limestone is also the reason no fossilized dinosaur bones have been found in the region.

First picture: those dark, faint trails in the rock were left by giant snails that could grow up to four feet long.

Second picture, with the somewhat rounded heels were left by Iguanodons. Plant eaters, these dinosaurs had a horny, toothless beak, four fingers and a two to six inch conical thumb spike on the front hands. They grew up to 30 feet long and weighed four to five tons.

Pictures four and five. These darkened prints were left by Acrocanthosaurus (High-Spined Lizard.) Fierce meat eaters, they had 17 inch spikes from neck to tail, and 68 sharp, serrated teeth. Growing up to 40 feet long and 5,000 pounds, they walked on the back legs and could reach up to 25 mph.

Last picture: This Ammonite impression is estimated to be 100 million years old.

 

[Bugman]

The Visitor Center houses a gift shop and small museum.

Left to right: These artifacts were used by tribes native to the region.

Left rear corner: A Molcajete (mixing bowl.) The other items are more modern reproductions but were made using traditional methods.

Some of these arrow and spear heads are thousands of years old.

Third shelf from the bottom: Fossilized oyster shells (pearl producing) from the period.

Last picture, bottom shelf right: Part of a Mastodon tusk. Middle shelf left, some Mastodon molars.

 

[Bugman]

First picture: An authentic Moonshine still, used by the same family from the early 1900s to around 1935. In 2006 they restored and donated the still to the museum.

This switchboard was used into the 1950s.

Some old telephones. Sorry this one is a bit blurry.

 

[Bugman]

This small room is filled with 19th - early 20th century furniture and artifacts.

 

[Bugman]

The museum has many farm implements from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Left to right.

A wagon typical to the period. To the right, a blacksmith forge.

A hay rake.

A road grader.

A disk harrow, used to break up hard ground.

 

[Bugman]

Left to right.

Double and single disk plows, used to reach deeper into the ground.

A cultivator.

A drill planter.

 

[Bugman]

Some foliage typical to Central Texas.

 

[Bugman]

The last pictures. With the exception of the hay rake, I don't know what purpose these implements served.

 

[paracarl44]

Thanks for the pictures.

 

[milagros317]

I missed this when it was first posted. Very interesting museum, from dinosaurs to moonshiners.
😀