"This (museum) was one of the highlights of our three days along the Colorado."
-George G. Austin, Texas via TripAdvisor
Welcome to The Falls on the Colorado Museum, nestled in the charming community of Marble Falls. Visitors often describe our museum as a hidden gem, a place that would make town founder Adam Rankin Johnson proud.  Housed in a historic university building, which Johnson helped establish in 1891, our museum offers a glimpse into the rich history of the area.

Spanning nearly 6,000 square feet, our museum proudly showcases artifacts from the prehistoric era to modern-day events. Step into the past with our extensive collection of pictures depicting life in the early 1900s. Experience a simpler time with our kitchen display, showing life without electricity. 

Our exhibits cover a wide range of topics, including farm and ranch life, the history of Marble Falls schools, geology, lakes, rivers and dams. Don't miss our collection of Native American artifacts or our beloved Rockie, a 700-year-old bison.

Discover the history and beauty of Marble Falls and the surrounding communities at The Falls on the Colorado Museum. 

Happenings & Highlights

​New Traveling Exhibit: Texas America250

The Museum is pleased to host Texas America250, a traveling exhibit from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary, the exhibit showcases historically significant documents, photographs, and artifacts that highlight Texas' role in shaping American history—from Spanish missions and frontier settlement to innovation and the space race. 

Come discover how Texas has contributed to the story of the United States over the past 250 years. ​

Sponsor a Window!

At our Night at the Museum event on May 29, two sisters chose a special way to honor their dad’s memory by sponsoring a window in the historic Old Granite School. Thank you for your generosity and for helping preserve a building that has meant so much to so many generations.

We're also excited to share that every upstairs window now has a sponsor! Thank you to everyone who has supported our "Buy a Window" campaign.
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Next up: the downstairs windows. We still have 19 windows available for sponsorship at $3,700 each. Sponsors are recognized with a commemorative plaque displayed by their window, creating a lasting tribute while helping restore this beloved community landmark.

Extended Summer Hours

Good news! The museum is extending its hours during the summer. As we continue important building restoration work, some exhibit areas may be temporarily unavailable at times, but there's still plenty to discover. Thank you for your patience and support as we work to preserve this historic space for future generations.

Summer Hours (through July 31):
​Monday-Saturday 10:00am-3:00pm  -- Closed Sunday

Restoration Update: Final Upstairs Windows Being Installed & Donation to Beautify Museum Grounds

Work continues on the Old Granite School restoration, with the final 16 upstairs windows now being installed. The photo to the right shows one window completely finished. This major milestone brings us one step closer to fully restoring the building’s historic appearance and opening the second floor for expanded exhibits and programs.
Thank You to Backbone Valley Nursery!
We extend our sincere thanks to Backbone Valley Nursery and Ben Robertson for generously donating three 5-gallon Crossvine plants to enhance our arbor. This gift not only beautifies our grounds but also carries special meaning—Ben attended kindergarten in this very building, and both he and his father went to school here. We are grateful for this contribution and continued connection to the Old Granite School’s legacy.

Beautifying the Museum Grounds

A beautiful new addition is taking shape near the museum's entrance. Thanks to the hard work of James Reimer and Tom Oostermeyer, a rustic cedar arbor—framed by Rod Oberhaus—has been completed using donated vintage wood and metal panels. The finishing touch is still to come, as vines will soon be planted to create a natural canopy while providing valuable food sources for bees, birds, and butterflies. This feature enhances the landscape and reflects the museum’s commitment to supporting the local environment.

Congratulations to Dr. Tom Hester on Statewide Archeology Award

We’re excited to share some wonderful news about our emeritus board member, Dr. Tom Hester. Dr. Hester has been named the 2025 recipient of the Curtis D. Tunnell Lifetime Achievement in Archeology Award from the Texas Historical Commission, recognizing more than 50 years of outstanding work in archeological research, preservation, and education in Texas. Throughout his career—including many years at The University of Texas at Austin—Dr. Hester has helped shape the field of Texas archeology and mentored generations of researchers. We’re proud to celebrate this well-deserved honor!