Denton County Office of History & Culture

06/11/2026

to Ponder Drug Co. in Ponder, Texas, c. 1920.

The back of the photos reads "Robertson (Robinson?) Drug. Ponder, Texas about 1920."

06/09/2026

Learn the Denton lore behind the "Bufo Alvarius: the Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert" pamphlet published in 1984.

During the 2025-26 school year, the Denton County Junior Historians created short informative videos about local history topics for their end-of-the-year project.

Video by Star Couture.

06/06/2026

Photos from Denton County Farm Heritage Day on June 6, 2026.

06/05/2026

Our June newsletter is out now!

Be sure to subscribe for the latest news and events from the Denton County Office of History and Culture!

06/02/2026

Bring-a-Blanket Storytime is back this summer on the lawn of the Courthouse-on-the-Square! Public Library will share fun songs and stories on June 8th and July 13th at 9:30 AM.

After Storytime, come inside to visit the Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum!

05/29/2026

Join us for a special event during Preservation Month for the second annual Vintage Short Film Fest on Friday, May 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the UNT CoLab in downtown Denton!
 
Portions of the following films will be shown:
* Denton 1913
* Day at the Park (1951)
* Dynamic Denton (1968)
* Denton Convention and Visitors Bureau Movie Clips (1987-1991)
* The PriceMaster (2001)
* Bohemia Rising: A Walk-Through Fry Street (2000s)

This event is FREE and open to the public.

05/28/2026

05/26/2026

⭐️Board Member Spotlight⭐️

With a love for history and a passion for museums and heritage tourism, Kelsey Jistel has served the Denton County Office of History & Culture for 11 years. As the Curator of Educational
Programs, she plans and facilitates various educational programs, events, and tours, and provides interpretive planning and exhibit curation for the Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square
Museum and the Denton County Historical Park.

She has established several annual events and programs including PARK AFTER DARK at the Bayless-Selby House Museum, Denton County Farm Heritage Day, and the Denton County Junior Historians program. She is part of the collaborative team that established Denton Revealed: Preservation Month, an annual month-long series of events during Historic Preservation Month in May, creating engaging opportunities for residents and visitors to learn more about local preservation in Denton and the surrounding areas.

Kelsey grew up in Austin, Texas and after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a BA in History, and the University of Kansas with an MA in Museum Studies, she found
her way back to Texas and settled in Denton.

Kelsey has proudly served on the Board of Directors for the Texas Lakes Trail since 2024, supporting efforts to promote and preserve the rich heritage of communities across the region.
__________

The Texas Lakes Trail Region is proud to have Kelsey as a dedicated Board Director and happy to have the Denton County Office of History & Culture as a new Heritage Partner!

Want to become a Heritage Partner? Would you like to include your city, community, or museum in our new Regional Map? Message us directly!

05/22/2026

2025 Volunteer Appreciation

Written by Erin Farnam, Museum Assistant 2025 was a busy year for the Denton County Office of History and Culture! In 2025: Volunteers contributed 3,327 hours in 2025 – over 300 hours more than hours served in 2024. Denton County Museums saw over 4,500 visitors last year. There were over 1,300 tours given at the Historical Park including 16 school tours....

Written by Erin Farnam, Museum Assistant 2025 was a busy year for the Denton County Office of History and Culture! In 2025: Volunteers contributed 3,327 hours in 2025 – over 300 hours more than hou…