"Caldwell County was established in 1848 and named after Mathew "Old Paint" Caldwell, Indian fighter and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

"Caldwell County was created from part of Gonzales County and is also bounded by Hays, Guadalupe, Bastrop and Travis Counties. The county line with Hays still boasts faint traces of the old Spanish Camino Real. Lockhart, the county seat, lies about 30 miles from Austin, the state capital, and 18 miles from San Marcos, Texas.

"The last major Indian raid in Texas history was successfully defeated in Caldwell County at the Battle of Plum Creek on August 12,1840. White settlers aided by Tonkawas permanently ended Comanche raids on the settlers of this area.

"Caldwell County was home to many Confederate soldiers, and later became a major source of investors and drovers for the massive cattle drives north to the Chisholm Trail. These cattle barons included J.J. Myers, A. L. Brock, and others. Later, the era of cotton growing provided the impetus for the building of some of the larger historic homes in the county. In the '20s and '30s an oil boom in Luling created wealth based on Black Gold. Luling has created the Central Texas Oil Patch Museum to commemorate this era in our county history.

"Lockhart and Luling form parts of both the Independence Trail and the Chisholm Trail tourism initiatives. in Texas. Chisholm Trail Days in June in Lockhart and the Watermelon Thump in Luling are just two of the many celebrations that entertain visitors. And last, but not least, most hungry travelers visit the county for a taste of sausage and barbeque, for which the county is justifiably famous.

"The Historical Commission sponsors the Caldwell County Museum and Visitor's Center located at 315 E. Market Street in Lockhart. Various aspects of county history are portrayed here. The castellated building, one block off Highway 183, is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. and by appointment for special tours.

"The Caldwell County Historical Commission was created as an arm of county government in 1974 and has since won many awards for historical preservation. Meetings are open to the public and are held on the third Thursday of every month except August and September in the public meeting room at the First Lockhart National Bank, on San Antonio Street. For more information on programs and activities please consult this site or write to P.O. Box 297, Lockhart, TX 78644."