The beautiful historic downtown, with its early Texas historic facades and courthouse square (where MCTD is held every month), is also home to an awesome history museum – with a special section devoted entirely to children! Featuring a hands-on interactive Children’s Museum, your kids will love dressing up and discovering what it was like to live back in the olden days…not to mention getting some great lessons in Texas history…and did I mention all the great shopping in downtown Bay City?

This is a favorite spot of the locals and will feed your thirst for the great outdoors. The friendly folks at the Visitor Center will provide you with a map and you can begin exploring and discover the rare beauty and abundant nature which co-exist along the Colorado River. Great hiking trails and there’s even a spot for launching your kayaks. Chase butterflies, see beautiful flowers and birds and you might even spot an alligator! Pass by ponds, streams, the Colorado River and children will love the many turtles and minnows located along the riverbank. Take a picnic and make a day of it.

When you step out to dine be sure to bring your appetite because, in true Texas style, most restaurants serve generous portions. Whether it’s seafood, BBQ, steak, Mexican or Italian cuisine you’re craving you are sure to find it in town.  Sample some uniquely southern dishes such as grits, okra or buttermilk pie or step out for fried catfish or gumbo. With around forty eateries in Bay City and more opening up all the time you’ll discover something you love, guaranteed.

Holman House at 2504 Ave K – The Texas Historical Marker for the Holman House reads:

Some of the finest examples of historic homes and buildings in the state can be found in Bay City. Preserving and encouraging preservation of historic properties has kept the history of Texas and Bay City viewable to the public. The very act of preservation helps to educate today’s youth, as well as future generations, with a knowledge of local inherited values and treasures. The historic home shown below is a small sampling of what you can expect to see when you visit Bay City in Matagorda County.

The house contains 14 rooms, 3 porches, 3 balconies, an expansive attic, an upstairs hallway, ample closets and 3 original fireplaces. The exterior of the home is of Louisiana cypress weatherboarding, the interior of pine, with wide-plank pine floors. Metal shingles cover the sharply-pitched roof, on which lightning rods with ornamental glass balls are mounted. While on a business trip, Judge Holman spotted 2 carloads of Louisiana cypress on a railroad siding. He bought it on the spot for his new home. Underground concrete blocks are anchor-bolted to solid pillars of red brick, 3-feet in height which were designed to support the house above then recurrent floodwaters. These also provided strength against hurricane force winds and would provide a drying/crawl space under the house.

The front entrance of the home faces east and is protected by a large brick-and-nine-columned porch which was designed to catch morning light and gulf breezes. A large turret covers the southeast corner of the porch, with a multi-windowed tower on the third floor above. An enjoyable balcony is above the main entrance and a dormer on the roof above. The front entrance is stunning with leaded glass above ornamented pine panels on either side of and above the heavy relief-decorated pine and oval plate glass front door. The original hand-turned doorbell is still in operation on the panel to the left.

This is just one of the many beautiful homes you’ll see in Bay City, so be sure and stop by the kiosk next to the Matagorda History Museum located right across the street from the courthouse square for more information on historical sites around Matagorda County.