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Photos by Theresa Doyle Nelson
June 30, 2025
The Smithsonian on Main in Pipe Creek
By Theresa Doyle Nelson
The Bandera Prophet
While enjoying the many historical sites through the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street program in Bandera this summer, be sure to tap into some of the treasures in Pipe Creek. There are plentiful historical artifacts and stories to dig into there as well.
Pipe Creek Community Center
Slightly tucked away from the road, you can find this old two-room-schoolhouse-turned community center. The main assembly room holds an abundance of displays presenting old photos, tales of historic Pipe Creek, timelines, a homestead deed, Pipe Creek artifacts, and more. Be sure to look for the two doors in the back used to separate the Pipe Creek school children into two groups. Try to imagine meeting in the large assembly room for festivities and schoolwide activities. Learn how Pipe Creek got its name, and be sure to ask your docent what his/her favorite historical Pipe Creek relic or story is.
10162 Hwy. 16 S., Pipe Creek
Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sundays 12:00-4:00
Pipe Creek General Store and Dance Hall
A guided tour of this iconic building offers a valuable dive into the history behind both the General Store and the adjacent Dance Hall. Many today remember the General Store as the Pipe Creek Junction Cafe—where a lot of delicious catfish, burgers and homemade pies were enjoyed for many years. Digging back further, we learn that the site was attached to the Schott Ranch for many years. You can see evidence of Adolph Schott having been a practical man, having built his General Store with repurposed pieces of wood found around and about, creating some intriguing portions of multi-colored walls—their various shades still visible. You can also find the name Schott carved in stone if you look out of one of the front windows just so. The tour guide can show you marks of an old walk-in-refrigerator, now a cozy sitting area. And, it’s great fun to hear about the Dance Hall; it has been readapted to once again serve for dancing and a variety of events. The old wooden floors are visible and still creak a bit, helping visitors to image old time dancing, Mormons holding meetings, court in session when an extra courtroom was needed, roller skating, and other miscellaneous goings-on. Whether you take a five-minute or a 30-minute tour, your appreciation for Pipe Creek history will fee enriched.
9878 Hwy. 16 S., Pipe Creek
Tours are usually available upon a drop-by, or you may call 210-854-6577 to make an assured appointment.
Although Pipe Creek doesn’t have the volume of traffic and sites as Bandera, its quieter setting nonetheless offers plenty to observe, think about, and ponder. These two sites are 1/10 of a mile apart and bestow plentiful history for the imagination to enjoy.
~ Once you’ve explored the treasures of the Pipe Creek Community Center and the Pipe Creek General Store, if you’re up to a few more enlightening and cultural sites in Pipe Creek, swing by Polly’s Schoolhouse at 2320 Bear Creek Road, Pipe Creek, 78063, and Polly’s Chapel and cemetery at 359 Polly’s Chapel Road, Pipe Creek, 78063. There’s loads of history to spark the imagination at these Pipe Creek gems as well.
~ More sites to see during the Smithsonian in Bandera Exhibits
June 21 – July 26
www.BanderaCowboyCapital.com/p/Smithsonian
Pipe Creek Community Center
Slightly tucked away from the road, you can find this old two-room-schoolhouse-turned community center. The main assembly room holds an abundance of displays presenting old photos, tales of historic Pipe Creek, timelines, a homestead deed, Pipe Creek artifacts, and more. Be sure to look for the two doors in the back used to separate the Pipe Creek school children into two groups. Try to imagine meeting in the large assembly room for festivities and schoolwide activities. Learn how Pipe Creek got its name, and be sure to ask your docent what his/her favorite historical Pipe Creek relic or story is.
10162 Hwy. 16 S., Pipe Creek
Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sundays 12:00-4:00
Pipe Creek General Store and Dance Hall
A guided tour of this iconic building offers a valuable dive into the history behind both the General Store and the adjacent Dance Hall. Many today remember the General Store as the Pipe Creek Junction Cafe—where a lot of delicious catfish, burgers and homemade pies were enjoyed for many years. Digging back further, we learn that the site was attached to the Schott Ranch for many years. You can see evidence of Adolph Schott having been a practical man, having built his General Store with repurposed pieces of wood found around and about, creating some intriguing portions of multi-colored walls—their various shades still visible. You can also find the name Schott carved in stone if you look out of one of the front windows just so. The tour guide can show you marks of an old walk-in-refrigerator, now a cozy sitting area. And, it’s great fun to hear about the Dance Hall; it has been readapted to once again serve for dancing and a variety of events. The old wooden floors are visible and still creak a bit, helping visitors to image old time dancing, Mormons holding meetings, court in session when an extra courtroom was needed, roller skating, and other miscellaneous goings-on. Whether you take a five-minute or a 30-minute tour, your appreciation for Pipe Creek history will fee enriched.
9878 Hwy. 16 S., Pipe Creek
Tours are usually available upon a drop-by, or you may call 210-854-6577 to make an assured appointment.
Although Pipe Creek doesn’t have the volume of traffic and sites as Bandera, its quieter setting nonetheless offers plenty to observe, think about, and ponder. These two sites are 1/10 of a mile apart and bestow plentiful history for the imagination to enjoy.
~ Once you’ve explored the treasures of the Pipe Creek Community Center and the Pipe Creek General Store, if you’re up to a few more enlightening and cultural sites in Pipe Creek, swing by Polly’s Schoolhouse at 2320 Bear Creek Road, Pipe Creek, 78063, and Polly’s Chapel and cemetery at 359 Polly’s Chapel Road, Pipe Creek, 78063. There’s loads of history to spark the imagination at these Pipe Creek gems as well.
~ More sites to see during the Smithsonian in Bandera Exhibits
June 21 – July 26
www.BanderaCowboyCapital.com/p/Smithsonian