Explore the Past!
Sonora was one of last communities in our region of Texas to be settled due to the dry climate and lack of surface water. Our community got its start from an Apache raid on the southern Texas coast. A trailing army official found a hidden exposed pothole that the Apache's were using on their retreat. This was a colorful start to a colorful history!
In the early days Sonora was a little less than civil. In fact the early days resembled something like a wild western movie. We had six saloons on Main Street where the cowboys would come to town and visit for a drink and a card game. There was actually a court house lawn shooting over who was watering stock at the town well that day. Sonora earned a place in Western history the day a young Will Carver from the famous Wild Bunch Gang came to town and investigated the community bank. He now lies in our cemetery under an unmarked grave courtesy of the sheriff and couple of deputies.
To capture and share the essence of our great history Sonora has a handful of growing museums and exhibits. Our western heritage is also honored in events held around Sonora such as the Sonora Outlaw Pro Rodeo, an actual PRCA sanctioned rodeo. Both the events and museums attract visitors from all over the world interested in the Old West.
A fantastic glimpse at the life on the ranch and in the rustic town can be enjoyed at the Old Ice House Ranch Museum and at the Miers Home Museum. Across fro the Miers is the old jail, erected in 1891 and presently in the planning stage to be opened as an additional historic venue.
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