Layland Museum

The Layland Museum of History is a city run museum located in the Downtown Historic District of Cleburne. The museum specializes in local prehistoric, first peoples, 19th and 20th century history. The Cleburne Parks and Recreation Department runs the museum, and contains over 50,000 artifacts and 100,000 photos that preserve local history. It operated on the top floor of the building until 1978, when it gained full access after the library moved to a new facility. The museum operates out two buildings, the Clebunre Carnegie Building and the Smith History Center. The collection began with the museums namesake, William J. Layland's heirs gifting the collection to the city. Other local contributions would continue to expand the collection to its current size.

The museums building began life as the Cleburne Carnegie Library. In 1902, the Women's Club of Cleburne would contact the Carnegie Foundation to secure funding for a new library. A $20,000 grant, along with a matching fund by the locals, led to the completion of the Library in 1905. Designed by Smith and Moore, The library was built in the Classical Revival style. The neighboring building would eventually become the Smith History Center, whose purpose is to store the rest of the collection currently not on display. The research library is also located within the history center.