WACO

Population 105,636

Altitude 427

General

One of Texas' major cities, located in rich agricultural region of the Brazos River Valley. Modern industry thrives, but the city retains the flavor of its past when five "Cs" were its support: cattle, cotton, corn, collegians, and culture. Large, cold springs on the Brazos River were long popular with the Waco Indians. First white men to see the area were remnants of De Soto's band in 1542. Texas Ranger fort was established near Indian village in 1837, first white settlers came abut 12 years later. Great plantations along the Brazos prospered briefly, but the Civil War wrecked plantation economy and scattered the population. Renewed Western movement and Chisholm Trail through Waco brought another boom, and frontier wildness that nicknamed the town, "Six Shooter Junction."

Today Waco is know for its educational, cultural, and recreational facilities. Heart O' Texas Fair and Rodeo, first week in Oct., is professional rodeo with entertainers, livestock and horse shows, and fine arts exhibits. Institutions of higher learning are Baylor University, McLennan Community College, and The Texas State Technical College.

ARMSTRONG-BROWNING LIBRARY

CAMERON PARK ZOO

DR. PEPPER MUSEUM

EARLE-HARRISON & GARDENS

HELEN MARIE TAYLOR MUSUEUM

HISTORIC HOMES

OLD SUSPENSION BRIDGE

PARKS

STRECKER MUSEUM

TEXAS RANGER HALL of FAME & MUSEUM at FORT FISHER

TEXAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Attractions

• ARMSTRONG-BROWNING LIBRARY - On the campus of Baylor University the world's largest collection of works and memoirs of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Fifty four stained glass windows, each depicting a Browning poem, in 18th Century Italian Renaissance style building. Contains numerous Renaissance paintings and bronze sculptures. Open from Mon to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• CAMERON PARK ZOO - A 51 acre natural habitat zoo near the Brazos river amid pecan, elm, live oak, burr oak, cottonwood, bamboo, and mesquite trees. Recreational, as well as educational; check out the signboards at viewing points for animal trivia questions. Home for monkeys, Sunatran tigers, white rhinos, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, s well as other species. Two restaurants; Gibbon Island and African Treetops Village. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Located at 1600 N. 4th Street. Take the 4th,& 5th St. exit from I-35. Admission is charged.
• DR. PEPPER MUSEUM - A fountain drink mixed in The Old Corner Drug Store in the 1880's was dubbed Dr. Pepper. R.S. Lazenby, Waco beverage chemist and patron of the drug store, became interested n the new drink and began extensive research. In 1885, after some two years of testing, blending and processing, the new flavor was originated and put on sale commercially. So perfect was Lazenby's work that the formula has remained basically unchanged. Museum housed in original 1906 bottling plant, now listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. It features restored operating soda fountain along with other Dr. Pepper memorabilia with inter active audio displays. Open Mon - Sat from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located at 300 S. 5th street. For information call 817-757-1024. Admission is charged.
• EARLE-HARRISON & GARDENS - One of the state's fines ante-bellum Greek Revival houses, built in 1858-59 by Dr. and Mrs. Baylis Wood Earle. Mrs. Earle sold the mansion in 1872 to her brother, Gen. Thomas Harrison, one of Waco's six Confederate generals during the War Between the States. The house is constructed of cypress from East Texas and plantation made brick.. Detached kitchen is the repository of the Gov. Pat M. Neff kitchen collection. Open from Mon - Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat & Sun 1 - 5 p.m. Located at 1901 North 5th Street. Admission is charged.
• HELEN MARIE TAYLOR MUSUEUM - The Life & History of Waco..Exhibits on founders and noteworty Waco Citizens. "We The People" exhibit depicts the history of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Open Tues through Sat from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Located at 701 Jefferson Avenue. Admission is charged.
• HISTORIC HOMES - Four gracious Southern mansions: Fort House ( 503 S. 4th ST), East Terrace Palacio (100 Mill St ), McCullough House (407 Columbus St.) Earle-Napier-Kinnard House (814 S. 4th St.) Open Sat - Sun from 2 - 5 p.m. (additional summer hours). Special tours during annual Brazos River Festival (third week in April) and the Christmas-on-the-Brazos Celebration(first weekend in December). Fee is charged.
• OLD SUSPENSION BRIDGE - Still in use as a pedestrian crossing of the Brazos River in downtown Waco, was the nation's largest suspension bridge when it was built in 1870 and became vital avenue over which passed much of great Western movement including the Chisholm Trail. The famous Brooklyn Bridge was later patterned after it.
• PARKS - A network of 36 spacious municipal parks, unrivaled in the Southwest, led by 380 acre Cameron Park with scenic vistas and miles of quiet bridle paths; one of the state's largest natural municipal parks--all in the heart of the city..
• STRECKER MUSEUM - Indian life and lore, geological, biological, and anthropological collections. Open Tues - Fri from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Sat from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Located at Sid Richardson Hall, on the Baylor University Campus.
• TEXAS RANGER HALL of FAME & MUSEUM at FORT FISHER - replica of original Texas Ranger fort established in 1837. Displays commemorate history and heritage of Texas Rangers. Headquarters for present Company F, Texas Rangers. Famous collection of guns and weapons from the Old West, Indian artifacts and Western art. In a 35 acre park along I-35 at University Parks Drive on Lake Brazos. Camping, picnic sites. Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is charged.
• TEXAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME - Sports memorabilia highlight nationally known Texans for their achievements; golfers Byron Nelson, Lee Trevino, Don January, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, boxer George Foreman; baseball's Nolan Ryan, to name but a few. Video features historic sorts events in the Tom Landry Theatre. There is also the Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Texas High School Halls of Fame for football, basketball, and baseball. Open daily.

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