.png)
The sounds of blacksmithing, live music and children digging through mock archaeological sites filled the grounds of the Pound House Farmstead this weekend. It was a lively return for a historic event that was held for the first time in years this weekend.
Pioneer Day at the historic farmstead in Founders Memorial Park marked the revival of a longtime community tradition that had not occurred since the COVID-19 pandemic following major restoration work at the property. Organizers said the event served both as a fundraiser for the museum and a way to reconnect the growing community with its history.
“We celebrated Pioneer Day 2026. We haven’t had one since I think 2018,” Jeanne Polk, president of the Friends of the Pound House Foundation, said. “It’s nice to slow down and see that this is a part of the actual history of Dripping Springs.”
Throughout the day, visitors stepped into what organizers described as a living snapshot of 19th century Texas Hill Country life.
The event featured historic demonstrations, candle dipping, quilt making, loom weaving, blacksmithing and children’s activities. Guests also toured the historic house, took hayrides and visited vendors selling food, sweets and vintage items. A Buffalo Soldier reenactor showcased historical artifacts and interacted with children throughout the day.
The Pound House Farmstead traces its origins to 1854, when Dr. Joseph Pound and his wife Sarah settled in what would become Dripping Springs. The original log room of the house still stands today.
According to the museum’s historical records, Joseph Pound first came to Texas in 1847 during the Mexican-American War before returning with Sarah in the early 1850s. The Pound family became one of the founding families of Dripping Springs and helped establish many of the area’s earliest community institutions. Polk said the property once stretched across roughly 700 acres and served as far more than just a family home.
“The house served as a community meeting place, it was a church, it was a hospital,” Polk said. “It served as a school.”
The farmstead is believed to be the last remaining historic farmstead in Dripping Springs. Today, about five acres remain preserved as a museum property.
The house never underwent major modernization during the decades it remained occupied by descendants of the Pound family. According to the museum, indoor plumbing was never added, and electricity was not installed until 1947.
The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Texas State Historical Landmark in 1965. It officially opened as a museum in 2003. Polk said Pioneer Day had historically been one of the community’s signature heritage events before a series of setbacks interrupted the tradition. A 2019 event was canceled because of rain, followed shortly afterward by the pandemic and a lengthy roof replacement project at the house.
“We’ve been trying to get back in the community’s presence, trying to get folks to remember,” Polk said.
She said organizers hope the return of Pioneer Day will help reconnect residents, especially newcomers, with the area’s roots as Dripping Springs continues to grow rapidly.
“People have to get connected with history again, with the history of the community, especially as large and fast growing as Dripping Springs is,” Polk said.
The Pound House Farmstead is open Saturdays and Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Organizers said the museum relies heavily on admissions, donations and grants to continue operations and preservation efforts. Visit phfmuseum.org to get involved with the history of Dripping Springs.
