Bastrop County African American Cultural Center & Freedom colonies museum
Preserving the Legacy of Freedom Colonies
The Bastrop Freedom Colonies Museum honors the communities built by formerly enslaved people in Bastrop County — their land, their stories, and their enduring resilience.
Our Mission
"Freedom Colonies were not just places — they were acts of defiance, community, and hope. We exist to ensure those acts are never forgotten.
After emancipation, formerly enslaved people across Texas established hundreds of self-sufficient communities on land they purchased or were granted. Bastrop County was home to many of these Freedom Colonies. The Bastrop Freedom Colonies Museum documents, preserves, and celebrates this extraordinary chapter of American history — connecting descendants, educating the public, and honoring the ancestors who built something lasting from nothing.
At the Museum
Events & Activities
From community gatherings to educational programs, our museum is a living center of culture and history.
Mosaic Workshop
Educational Programming for all ages
Mosaic Workshop
Heritage Exhibit
Rotating displays of artifacts, photographs, and documents
Heritage Exhibit
Community Workshop
Educational programs for all ages
Community Workshop
Oral History Project
Recording and preserving firsthand accounts
Oral History Project
A Living History
1865
Emancipation reaches Texas — Juneteenth
1870s
Freedom Colonies established across Bastrop County
1880s–1920s
Churches, schools, and civic institutions built
Preserving artifacts and documents
Community gatherings continue today
Join the Movement
Your membership sustains our mission and connects you to a living legacy.
Community Friend
$25/year
Support the museum and receive our quarterly newsletter.
Heritage Keeper
$75/year
Deeper engagement with programs and exclusive access.
Legacy Patron
$150/year
Champion the preservation of Freedom Colony history.
Museum Shop
Shop the Museum
Take a piece of the legacy home. Every purchase supports our preservation work.
Heritage T-Shirt
Soft cotton tee featuring the museum's freedom oak emblem.
$28
History Book
A comprehensive guide to Bastrop County's Freedom Colonies.
$45
Commemorative Print
Archival-quality print of historic Freedom Colony maps and photographs.
$35