About the Heart of the Hills Heritage Center

The Texas Hill Country, unique in its geography and rich in history, is known as a mecca for people searching for a place to reconnect with nature. Whether you are one of the generations of families who have called the area home, a frequent visitor, or a newcomer to the area, the uniqueness of this place sets it apart from other Texas regions. Kerrville, the county seat, is known to many as the Heart of the Hills. With the Guadalupe River running through downtown and rolling hills distinguishing the landscape from other regions of Texas, the land and its resources inspired American Indians and pioneers to utilize what the land had to offer in this once wild and remote place. The diversity of people who have left their mark on this place has been recorded in various books and publications, but the region lacks a centralized place where residents and visitors can discover the area’s history.

In 2016 several area residents passionate about history and eager to create a place to celebrate the region’s history, gathered community members to ask whether the area could support a history museum. The response was unanimous that Kerr County could support a history museum and that it should be in downtown Kerrville to attract residents and visitors alike. Shortly thereafter, Heart of the Hills Heritage Center began taking shape and a 501 c3 nonprofit formed with an 11-member board to begin planning, raising funds for the project, and searching for the heritage center site.

When the city acquired the A.C. and Myrta Schreiner house at 529 Water Street, HHHC was approached with the opportunity to occupy the house for the heritage center. The City of Kerrville and HHHC entered into a lease agreement soon thereafter. With the support of city funds to renovate the house, bring it up to code, and outfit it with modern-day amenities, HHHC successfully raised money to hire an executive director, develop exhibits, and build a collection to effectively tell intriguing and relevant stories of the region. Construction on the house is planned to begin in 2023 and HHHC is working to develop the vision, operational needs, and exhibition plan to inspire the design of the space. With initial funding secured and renovation plans underway, HHHC is focusing on developing a heritage center that serves the community by reflecting who they are and who came before them.