Current Exhibits

Temporary Exhibits

The Chisholm Trail: Driving the American West
(on exhibit through June 17, 2023)

The Chisholm Trail began in 1867 as millions of cattle were driven to Abilene, Kansas. Explore the cattle drive that helped create the image of the cowboy through sculptures, interactive elements, and more!

This exhibit also features fun interactive elements for kids of all ages.

The Beauty of Nature: A Nancy McGowan Showcase
(on exhibit through June 24, 2023)

View the amazing drawings, watercolor paintings, and greeting cards created by Nancy McGowan. Nancy is the featured artist of Bell Fine Arts, Belton. She has created commissioned art for the TX Game, Fish & Oyster Commission and the Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Permanent Exhibits

Discover Bell County

Located in our 1904 Historic Carnegie Library, this exhibit takes visitors on a journey through Bell County History. Explore four themes of Bell County's past: The Land, Agriculture and Ranching, Transportation and Industry, and Education and Culture. Each theme covers part of the story of Bell County, Texas.

Enjoy historic photos on our interactive touchscreen, the famous Moustache Teacup Collection, paleolithic era artifacts, and more!

This exhibit also features fun interactive elements for kids of all ages.

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The Gault Site: A Wealth of New Archaeological Evidence

This permanent exhibit includes large murals, discovery drawers, microscopes and the film, "The Gault Project: An Adventure in Time," funded by the Texas Historical Foundation.

The Gault Site has been home to human beings for over 13,000 years. It is strategically located in the Balcones Ecotone, the boundary zone of the Edwards Plateau and the Black Prairie/Coastal Plain Ecozone. The analysis of materials at the Gault Site provides archaeologists with a unique look into the lifestyles of the earliest people in Texas and, by extension, the earliest peoples in the Americas.

This exhibit also features an interactive dig pit, a chance to be an archaeologist, a chalkboard for cave drawings, discovery drawers, and more!

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Little River Log Cabin

The Little River Log Cabin was built in the 1850s near Little River/Academy, the area of earliest Anglo settlement in Bell County. The cabin features half-dovetail notching, and was originally a “single-pen,” or one-room house, with side-facing gables.

In 1995, Grant and Jeanny Smith purchased the cabin and had it dismantled by Salado artist Lonnie Edwards. In 2001, the Smiths donated the cabin to the Bell County Museum.

The cabin is not the original size, nor are all of the stones and logs placed in their original positions. However, the logs and stones are original to the 1850s cabin.

It can be seen from the museum exterior, or by tour groups. Ask staff about scheduling a tour!