Permanent Exhibits
Prehistoric Cedar Hill
Prehistoric Cedar Hill covers the period approximately 66 million years ago when the city lay under water as part of the Western Interior Seaway. This contributed to the unique geological layers found here along the Balcones Escarpment that are filled with fossils and mineral-rich soils. The exhibit features ‘Plessy’, a long-necked Plesiosaurus, Cedar Hill’s earliest known resident discovered in the 1930s by T. J. Tidwell.
The fossilized specimen was one of a group of marine reptiles that swam right here in what was, around 220 million years to about 66 million years ago, an ocean. Come visit our museum gallery inside the Traphene Hickman Library to learn more of Plessy’s remarkable story and discover the wonders to be found in our City in a Park.
Discover new perspectives on the city’s founding through the stories of those that influenced the early establishment of the region. Life-sized figures feature audio narratives told by important people in Cedar Hill’s history.
First State Bank of Cedar Hill 1904-1934
Becoming Cedar Hill
Experience the vital role of community, commerce, and education in the growth of Cedar Hill during the latter decades of the 19th century.
A timeline depicting significant events in Cedar Hill’s development shows how the small village began expanding. The arrival of the Grand Central and Santa Fe Railroad, the addition of new businesses, the establishment of official schools, and the increasing number of churches contributed to increased permanence as scattered settlement transformed into true community life. Prospering families and individuals reinvested their money, time, and efforts to service an increasing population and become a leading resource hub for the region.
…and so much MORE to explore!
Tower City since 1955 and Topographical Map
Early Settlement
Cedar Hill was officially established in 1846. People of various ethnicities, origins, and skills helped to cultivate the rugged beginnings of the community. Resilient families and single men were brought into the region throughout the 1840s through land settlement companies, such as the Peter’s Colony, to begin cultivating the region’s resources and provide opportunity for those courageous enough to brave the harsh realities of life in the West. Some traveled to Texas via covered wagons pulled by oxen, on horseback, and long, walking treks along rough trails. By this time, many colonists coming from other states in the U.S. made a good portion of the trip by steamboat too!
