The Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street exhibit opens in
 Bandera on June 21, 2025
Bandera was selected by the Texas Historical Commission as one of seven towns to host Museum on Main Street, a program of the Smithsonian Institution that brings traveling exhibits to rural communities across the country. The exhibit, Crossroads: Change in Rural America, will arrive in Bandera on June 21st. The Texas Heritage Trails Program, The Bandera Convention & Visitors Bureau, The Bandera County Historical Commission and The Frontier Times Museum partnered together to bring this traveling exhibit to Bandera.
The exhibit will be on display at the Bandera Middle School Cafetorium through July 26, 2025.  Interactive displays explore how rural communities evolved when residents began moving to larger cities in the 1900s.
 Alongside the Smithsonian exhibit local organizations have developed exhibits focused on Bandera history. Exhibits include Rural Electrification by Bandera Electric Cooperative, Stompede Days and the Free State of Bandera led by Carita Jundt of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, Music History of Bandera led by Patricia Moore of the Bandera CVB, 100 Years of Rodeo in Bandera by Linda James and Tessa Kolodny, Schoolhouse Memories: From the One Room Schoolhouse to Today, Dudes, Dances & Delights: Bandera Birthplace of the Texas Dude Ranch and Living off the Land: From Ranches to Travelers by the Frontier Times Museum, Tejano Son of Texas: The Life of Policarpio Rodriguez~a traveling exhibit lent by Texas Tejano.
Around the community exhibits and programs will be held at the Arnold-Tyron Cemetery, Bandera Kronkosky Library, Bandera Natural Natural History & Art Museum, Frontier Times Museum, Lakehills Area Library, Medina Community Library, Pipe Creek Community Center, Pipe Creek General Store, Pollys Chapel, Pollys Schoolhouse, River Oaks Courts and the Sheepwalk Ranch. As you walk along Main Street look for the  “If These Walls Could Talk” participation signs.  These businesses will have on display their own unique history.
A ribbon cutting will be held at the Bandera Middle School at 9:30am on June 21st  opening the exhibit to the public before ceremonies begin at 10:30am.

June 21st to July 26, 2025 Monday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm