The Hill Country Heritage Trail Brochure launch was a lively, history-making, fun event and 340 people came to enjoy it! The Uptown Blanco Arts and Entertainment Courtyards were beautifully decorated for the event. The morning was overcast but the Jeremy Miller Band played on despite the weather conditions. Daryl Whitworth, the emcee for the day, announced a special song written and produced by the band. The song honored Blanco’s founding father, James H. Callahan, who was a Texas Ranger. The theme for the event was Lonesome Dove/Texas Ranger, and there were many Texas Rangers present. both active and former Rangers. During the event, the Rangers reenacted the Sam Bass bank robbery and performed the One Riot/One Ranger.

Blanco’s American Legion Post #352 presented the colors and Dorothy Dillon sang the National Anthem. Blanco County Judge Bill Guthrie welcomed the audience to Blanco County with a brief history of the formation of Blanco County. Executive Director of the Texas Historical Commission, Mark Wolfe’s speech about the ten Heritage Trails in Texas told how Heritage tourism has brought millions of dollars into the economy of Texas yearly.

Finally, the time came for the unveiling of the brochure, which had been a guarded secret! Patricia Moore, Chair of Hill Country Trail Region, Nell Krueger, Chair of Blanco County Historical Commission, and Mark Wolfe, Executive Director of Texas Historical Commission, lifted the black cloth and revealed the brochure. Next, each audience member was given a copy of the new brochure.

The Texas Rangers did their reenactments. The children present had their eyes glued to the scene but the adult audience enjoyed it just as much as the children. It was at this time that Representative Patrick Rose honored the Texas Rangers with a proclamation for their service to Texas.

The program continued with Nell Krueger of the planning committee for the event thanking all the participating volunteers and vendors of the delicious foods for a “Taste of Blanco County.” Nell thanked the Texas Historical Commission Hill Country Heritage Trail Region for the opportunity to host the unveiling of the brochure. Daryl Whitworth concluded the program by inviting everyone to enjoy the rest of the activities and the “Taste of Blanco County.” The Taste of Blanco County was an opportunity to showcase the epicurean skills of food outlets in Blanco County for a large audience of dignitaries from across the state of Texas. Music during the rest of the event was by R.K. Woods (Camp Cookie). There was a display of Texas Ranger memorabilia and Blanco County’s pictures of early years in the old Lindeman building for visitors to enjoy. Rangers in 1836 costumes gave everyone many photo opportunities against the background of the old jail and other buildings. It was a great event at Uptown Arts and Entertainment Courtyard and will be remembered by the community for many years to come.

If you would like a brochure, it can be downloaded or ordered at: http://www.txhillcountrytrail.com/index.aspx?page=1112