Why “Herstories” and “Morestories”? Let’s start with the word “history.” It comes from the Greek “to know.” But we can’t “know” our Georgetown history until we know about EVERYONE’s contributions, not just the work of the people on our public markers and statues. The stories here are mostly about overlooked women; thus “herstories” seems descriptive to highlight their stories.

But every community holds stories of all kinds of people whose stories are little known and seldom acknowledged publicly. These hidden histories often include men and women and children of color, or those not as prominent in the community. All of these little-known stories deserve their place both in our community knowledge AND in our public displays that educate locals and visitors.

We invite you to venture off the beaten track and visit the places where people made amazing and everyday history. And we invite you to engage with all our communities and help keep all our neighborhoods thriving and creating our future histories! Enjoy these stories and tours of our beloved town.

Learn the Hidden HerStories and MOREStories of people who made Georgetown better for all of us! Visit places off the beaten track where changemakers did their work. Let’s amplify these important stories and expand our public history!

Hidden Stories Tours

Start with the Intro below to learn more about stories you can explore and places you can go to visit the actual scenes where our past happened and our present continues. Stroll or bike-ride or do a leisurely drive-by. Or just read all about it in your cozy armchair.

How to Save a Life
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

How to Save a Life

Saving memories of a loved one can be easy and quick. And these slices of life are a priceless gift for yourself and all the generations that followed. Get tips on how to start preserving memories and photos of someone you love—even after they have passed.

Read More
African-American Community Builders
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

African-American Community Builders

Georgetown’s Black community rose mightily from its beginnings in slavery to a thriving business district to a neighborhood working to keep their community vibrant.

Read More
North Old Town’s Valuable Villagers
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

North Old Town’s Valuable Villagers

Never heard of North Old Town? It has been here all along in a quiet neighborhood north of the river, and has a history as long and storied as neighborhoods south of the river.

Read More
Mighty Hispanic Leaders
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

Mighty Hispanic Leaders

Learn how Hispanic people grew San Jose and other neighborhoods into wonderful communities and continue to contribute to our rich Georgetown cultural life.

Read More
Taking Care of Business
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

Taking Care of Business

Women have always taken care of business in Georgetown, from working side-by-side with husbands, owning their own, or running an informal enterprise. Check ‘em out!

Read More
Women Book It!
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

Women Book It!

What could be better for a community than a community library? Find out who made our city library happen, and meet some women who’ve brought us awesome bookstores, too.

Read More
Georgetown’s First Peoples
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

Georgetown’s First Peoples

The first peoples who lived in what would become Georgetown were the Tonkawas, Lipan Apaches, Comanches, Jumanos, and others. Learn more about their lives as they were forced out of their homes. AND see how Native Americans thrive in Georgetown, Texas, and beyond!

Read More
Square-Saving Ladies
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

Square-Saving Ladies

Georgetown’s “Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas” wasn’t always beautiful. Meet the ladies who rescued the Square from hard times and neglect!

Read More
Women Rock the House
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

Women Rock the House

Awesome Georgetown women lived in houses that are fancy or simple or sometimes gone, except for our memories. Come learn how these women contributed to our town herstory!

Read More
Women Making Georgetown Shine
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

Women Making Georgetown Shine

Georgetown women kept our town and its citizens healthy and safe, and brought us libraries, art, music and more. And they preserved our cultural and natural resources.

Read More
Strong Southwestern Sisters
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

Strong Southwestern Sisters

Women have been sharing the fruits of their education and talents and generosity with Southwestern University since they were admitted to the former all-male school in 1878. Meet some awesome SU sisters!

Read More
Our Awesome Educators
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

Our Awesome Educators

What could be more fundamental to the wellbeing of a community than education? Meet some of the many much-appreciated educators who made Georgetown flourish through learning. Here’s Part 1; check out Part 2 as well.

Read More
More Awesome Educators
Helen Cordes Helen Cordes

More Awesome Educators

Georgetown teachers educated all of our children, excelling despite imposing challenges of discrimination and poor school and teacher funding. Come see where little-known Georgetown schools kept our kids learning!

Read More

Hidden Herstories

For those who prefer print to online access to Herstories, look for a forthcoming guide to exploring Hidden Herstories Georgetown.