The Wimberley Institute of Cultures (a.k.a. WIC)

Click on individual photographs to see them in a large format.

The purpose of the Wimberley Institute of Cultures is to foster interest in the historical, natural and cultural resources of the Wimberley Valley through educational and social programs involving both young and adult members of the community.

Wimberley Institute of Cultures was born of the celebration of the Texas Sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of the 1836 founding of the Republic of Texas as an independent nation separate from Mexico and the United States. The group that formed WIC was responsible for the giving of the Bluebonnet Ball, the first of twelve monthly events designated by the Wimberley Chamber of Commerce to mark the celebration of the Sesquicentennial in Wimberley. Those responsible for the ball saw the need for a proper facility to house such community events and set about to address that need.

As a result, WIC received a State Charter and an IRS number as a nonprofit corporation in 1987. The charter was granted to WIC for the purpose of educating the public in the history and prehistory of the Wimberley area.

Become a Member or Renew Your Membership! Click on this LINK

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How Wimberley Got Its Name

Wimberley started as a trading post settlement near Cypress Creek in 1848, the year Hays County was organized. After William Carvin Winters built a gristmill at the site in 1856, it took on the name “Winters’ Mill”. When the mill was sold in 1864 to the Cude family, its name was changed to “Cude’s Mill”. It was sold again in 1874 to Pleasant Wimberley and took on his name. Over the years, the mill was expanded to process lumber, shingles, flour, molasses, and cotton. The mill is gone, but the Winters-Wimberley house survives.

In 1880, Alfred vom Stein, a postmaster from San Marcos, applied to have a post office established in the community, calling it “Wimberleyville”. The application was granted, but the name shortened to Wimberley.

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Wimberley Valley Museum

Wimberley Valley Museum – created, staffed, and maintained by Wimberley Institute of Cultures volunteers.

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The Wimberley Valley Museum is open with docents on the first Saturday of each month & the Friday before that day.
Hours: 10 AM to 4 PM each Day

The Museum can also be accessed by reservation.
Send an email to: wimberleyvalleymuseum@wimwic.org
State the date & time you want to visit, one of our docents will respond & meet you.
You can also call John Poe at (832) 545-5036 to set up an appointment.

Location: 14068 RR 12, Wimberley, Texas 78676

The museum is open to the public and admission is  FREE!  However, donations are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.

PLEASE DONATE

Donating to Wimberley Institute of Cultures funds the ongoing preservation of the existing historic homes and new projects.

You may select to give a one-time donation or a recurring payment through our PayPal Donation button below.



For information on the Wimberley Valley Museum, click this LINK.

The Winters-Wimberley House, now the Wimberley Valley Museum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. The front room of the museum tells the story of past people and events that were important to Wimberley, from Jacob de Cordova—the original land speculator of the area—to William Carvin Winters to Pleasant Wimberley and beyond.

This museum helps you get to know the individuals who shaped and grew the town that sprang from the limestone terrain of the Texas Hills because a mill was built along Cypress Creek. The grinding stones on display at the museum are from that mill and are on loan from Ozona Bank which is close to where the original mill was located.

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Check out our Calendar for upcoming meetings & events!

Become a Member or Renew Your Membership! Click on this LINK