The museum is housed in a 1936 replica, built on a new site, of
Don Antonio Gil Y'Barbo's stone house. Y'Barbo, founder of
Nacog-doches, built the original stone house circa 1779 as the
formal portal to the Spanish District of Texas. The original site
of the house, torn down in 1902, is at the corner of Fredonia and
Main sts. downtown.
During its history, the original house served as a public
building, grocery store, candy store, and saloon, and as a
temporary fortification during the Magee-Gutierrez, Dr. James Long
and Fredonia Rebellion filibusters. In 1936, the same stones were
in turn used to build the present structure on the campus of
Stephen F. Austin Univ. The important landmark contains a
continuing exhibit on the history of the house and temporary
exhibits. Guided tours by reservation only.