Hillsboro, Texas
History, Recreation & Shopping

Hillsboro is located on Interstate 35 less than an hour south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and only 35 minutes north of Waco. This north central Texas city is home to sensational shopping, historic attractions, quality accommodations, excellent outdoor recreation and a variety of dining options. With numerous activities from which to choose, Hillsboro welcomes visitors to experience our friendly hometown and all that it has to offer.

Historic MKT (Katy) Depot

Begin your Hillsboro visit at the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce/ Convention & Visitors Bureau located at 115 N. Covington - just off the square in downtown Hillsboro. Offering free brochures on Hill County and surrounding areas and souvenirs for purchase, this office is open 8:30am - 5pm weekdays. It is located in the beautifully restored Historic MKT (Katy) Depot, which is filled with railroad artifacts and memorabilia.

Hillsboro is rich with the history of its founding fathers and offers a variety of historic sites including the Hill College-based Texas Heritage Museum - commemorating the experiences of Texans during war times - and includes the Confederate Research Center featuring a library of over 5,000 volumes plus original manuscripts, diaries and letters dealing with the War Between the States.

Hill County Courthouse

The Hill County Courthouse was fully restored following a devastating New Year's Day 1993 fire. It reopened to the public after a pain-staking six year, $9 million dollar restoration of the original 1890 courthouse structure. Weekend tour information is available from the Chamber of Commerce.

Built in 1893 and used as the county jail until 1983, the Hill County Cell Block Museum includes a tribute to Hill County native Willie Nelson, a Native American Artifacts Room and an actual Cell Block that was used until the 80s. Other historic exhibits are on display.

The Texas Musicians Museum contains a rich heritage of Texas music showcasing unique displays of actual stage outfits, awards, original recordings, posters, authentic autographs and instruments from many of Texas' greatest music legends.

Hillsboro's residential historic district features homes built from 1890 to 1930 representing architectural styles from Queen Anne to Prairie Style. This area is the location of the 1895 Tarlton House Bed & Breakfast.

Outlets at Hillsboro

Shopaholics will enjoy visiting the 50-plus outlet stores at Outlets at Hillsboro, located off I-35 Exit 368, as well as the unique retail stores, antique shops and art galleries located on and near the downtown square.

For outdoors' enthusiasts, many scenic opportunities await in and around the area. From fishing and water sports to golfing and enjoying our municipal parks with family and friends, Hillsboro has it all. These include Lake Whitney - just 20 minutes from Hillsboro - one of the most popular water recreation areas in Texas and Lake Aquilla located only a few miles west of town. The Hillsboro Country Club offers a nine-hole golf course in the heart of Hillsboro while both Wallace Park and City Park offer full recreational activities.

Overnight accommodations are available at Best Western, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Days Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, La Quinta, Motel 6, Super 8 and Thunderbird Motel.