S.S. Giddings driving tour
Have you been wanting a trip but want to keep observing safe social distancing?
Try our S.S. (Social Spacing) Giddings Driving Tour. See the great sites of Giddings from the safety of your car, or at your own hours to avoid potential crowds.
Download and print our PDF Tour Guide and Map.
Travel at your own pace, learn about Giddings, enjoy your outing!
Historic Giddings
911 Memorial at the giddings fire station
151 W. Independence
Giddings, TX
Outside 24/7
For 4 years the GVFD worked hard to get these beams from the World Trade Center brought to Giddings, as a memorial to the first responders of 9-11.
arnold smith arrowhead collection - a world left behind
Giddings Library & Cultural Center
276 N. Orange Street
Giddings, TX
Mon-Fri 10am-6pm
Sat 10am-1pm
(979) 542-2716
The largest arrowhead collection in Texas. Items from this early American collection date from Paleo-Indian period of about 10 thousand years ago to the late historic and historic periods of 300 years ago. Items range from projectile point fragments which were part of weapons used to hunt larger animals such as Ice Age mammoths and bison. Other items include pottery from the late-historic period. This display is truly a lesson in history.
Bill Longley Historical Marker
Giddings Cemetery, Hwy 290 West
Cemetery open from dawn-dusk
The marker of the final resting place of notorious gunslinger, Wild Bill Longley of Giddings (Evergreen). After being hung 3 times he was finally laid to rest in the Giddings Cemetery (Verified by the Smithsonian)
Businesses of Giddings mural at the Giddings Post Office
279 E. Austin St
Giddings, TX
Outside 24/7
Painted by local artist, Johnny Jones, this mural turned a mundane brick wall into an interactive attraction. The scene depicts several local businesses and townsfolk but cleverly hidden in the mural are 11 items: a mouse, fishing hook, chameleon, penny, clothespin, dime, safety pin, butterfly, eye glasses, cat’s eye marble and a thimble. Visitors are invited to try and find them all.
Answer Key
Depression Era Mural at the Giddings Post office
279 E. Austin St
Giddings, TX
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
Lobby Hours: 24/7
First Presbyterian Church
192 S. Grimes Street
Giddings, TX
Sunday Services 9:30am
The First Presbyterian Church of Giddings, Texas was organized on April 28, 1876 with thirteen charter members under the direction of B.H. Behers, D.D. One of the charter members, Frank Morris, was responsible for constructing the present sanctuary in 1886. The Sanctuary has been in continuous use since that time, making it the oldest church building in continuous use in Giddings.
Hilton Lee Smith Baseball Memorabilia Collection
Giddings Library & Cultural Center
276 N. Orange Street
Giddings, TX
Mon-Fri 10am-6pm
Sat 10am-1pm
(979) 542-2716
Hilton Lee Smith is a Hometown Hero, born in Giddings Texas. He became one of the greatest baseball players. He moved to Kansas City to join the Kansas City Monarchs and played alongside pitcher Satchel Paige. Hilton Lee Smith was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.
Historical Markers of Lee County Tour
Check out the Historical Markers of Lee County!
There are about 40 of them throughout the County, 20 located within the City of Giddings.
Our PDF booklet lists all the markers and their location. Historical Marker Book.
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The Lee County Courthouse
200 S. Main Street
Giddings, TX
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Completed in 1899, this courthouse replaced the original from 1878 which was lost to fire. The architecture is Richardsonian Romanesque. It is said to be octagonal in shape with the four sides facing the four points of the compass.
Visitors Center & Museum at the Schubert-Fletcher Home
183 E. Hempstead St
Giddings, TX
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
(979) 542-3455
This museum in downtown Giddings tells the story of Lee County from Native Americans to present day. Also the home of the Giddings Chamber of Commerce & Visitor's Center
Donations are appreciated
9 MURALS IN GIDDINGS
Various locations throughout Giddings and downtown.
Be sure to see all the murals of Giddings from the Depression Era mural to the Businesses of Giddings with its "hide & seek" game to several others.
Download our list of murals, their addresses and a photo reference.
9 Murals of Giddings
Texas Wendish Heritage Museum & St Paul Lutheran Painted Church
In Serbin (7 miles outside of Giddings)
1011 CR 212
Giddings, TX
Tues-Sat 1am-5pm
(979) 366-2441
The Texas Wendish Heritage Museum preserves the history of the Texas Wends, Slavic immigrants from Lusatia, an area in eastern Germany.
The 1871 St. Paul Lutheran Church and cemetery are next door to the museum. The present Church is one of the painted churches of South Central Texas.
Veterans Honor Memorial
In Veterans Park, one block off Hwy 290 at the intersection of N. Montgomery Street.
Outside 24/7
The start of a new Veteran's Honor Park section, this memorial remembers our military branches, MIAs and POWs.
fun things to do
giddings Golf Course
On CR 227, just off Highway 290
Giddings Gold Course is 9 holes of improving excellence, in a family oriented relaxed atmosphere where you can come play an enjoyable round of golf at your leisure. Beverages for all ages and snacks including lots of chocolate! Complimentary coffee and hot chocolate.
LeeSure Lanes Bowling Alley
2249 W Highway 290
Giddings, TX
Fri-Sat 6pm-12am (midnight)
Leesure Lanes is a 16 lane bowling center, offering bowling, arcades, bar, a snack bar and a meeting room / entertainment room (with 120" TV)
Sheriff's Posse Rodeo Arena
2591 West Hwy 290
Giddings, TX
(3 miles west of town)
A covered Rodeo Arena of 100x300. Events are held throughout the year including sortings and barrel races. The Gidding Rodeo happens the 3rd weekend of April and the PBR Bullriding on July 4th.
parks & nature
Firemen's Park
The park, a fifty-acre site available for parties, events and entertainment. The manicured grounds offer a covered rodeo arena, show barns, dance pavilion, food court, entertainment stages, a rental hall, BBQ pits, and an RV park. Location of the Lee County Fair on the 3rd weekend of May and the Giddings Rodeo.
Giddings Veteran's Park
One block off Hwy 290 at the intersection of N. Montgomery Street
Home to the Lee County Little League, city swimming pool, playgrounds and tennis courts.
Simmang Park
800 W. Independence
Giddings, TX
Contains the Hilton Lee Smith Field, Lee County Soccer fields, covered basketball courts, walking trails and picnic pavilion.
close to Giddings
Bastrop State Park at Lake Bastrop
100 Park Road 1A
Bastrop, TX
Open daily 6am-10pm
You can camp at the campsite or historic cabin, picnic, swim, ride bikes, hike 7 miles of trail, fish in the 1/2 acre Lake Mina, geocache, take in a nature program, and look for wildlife. Ranger programs include nature hikes and other activities for all ages.
Buescher State Park
100 Park Road 1E
Smithville, TX
Hike 6 miles of forest trail, bike, mountain bike, fish from kayak or canoe and take a leisurely paddle around the lake, then stay overnight at a variety of campsites. Be sure to see the Big Tree, a former state champion cedar elm.
dime box heritage museum
CR 141
Dime Box, TX
Fri-Sun 1pm-5pm
Artifacts donated by local residents, including German and Czech quilts and a miniature Czech First Communion book.
1850 lexington log cabins
524 4th Street
Lexington, TX
Call 979-773-8400 to schedule a tour
Your guides costumed in period clothing will demonstrate pioneer crafts. The Heritage Center highlights two log cabins and a corncrib, once instrumental in the lives of early pioneers in the region. The log cabins feature authentic furnishings and artifacts of the era including tools, kitchen utensils, firearms, furniture, and tack.
Nails Creek State Park on Lake Somerville
6280 FM 180
Ledbetter, TX
Open daily 8am-5pm
Fishing, boating on 11,000 acres, paddling, swimming, camping, picnic, hike on 40 trails, ride mountain bikes, play horseshoes or volleyball, geocache or go birding. Horses are allowed on most of the trails. Explore miles of multi-use trails. Somerville Public Hunting Land is nearby, also on the lake. Camp at a variety of sites. Canoes and kayaks for rent, Birch Creek rents volleyballs and horseshoes too.
stuermer store
100 E Hwy 290 at FM 1291
Ledbetter, TX
Fri-Sat 10am-2pm
Considered a working museum that provides a look into the past. The original saloon now serves hand-dipped Blue Bell, shakes, and malts along with hamburgers, fish baskets, and deli sandwiches.