Tracking Texas Historical Markers Along I-35 W: A Family Weekend Fun Activity
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One Saturday we decided to track Texas Historical Markers along I-35 W in North Texas. I’ve been longing to do this since a couple of years ago, when our Youth Pastor came with an idea, to look for Texas Historical Markers from point A to point B as a fun activity for couples or families to do in a weekend.
Since there’s a Texas Historical Marker a mile from our house, we thought it’s a good start for the activity. We decided to track the markers all the way to West, Czech Heritage Capital of Texas, the Home of the Official Kolache of the Texas Legislature. In other words, we’re going to get kolaches from the famous Slovacek’s in West. Haha..
What is Texas Historical Markers?
According to Texas Historical Commission (THC) website, historical markers commemorate diverse topics in Texas history, including: the history and architecture of houses, commercial and public buildings, religious congregations, and military sites; events that changed the course of local and state history; and individuals who have made lasting contributions to Texas state, community organizations, and businesses.
From the first historical site commemorated in 1856 to the latest one recorded in January 1, 2020, there are 16,934 state historical markers spread in all 254 counties in Texas now. Some are located in the city, some are on the roadside, and some are on the countryside. See how many we can track on this trip.
Tracking Texas Historical Markers Along I-35W
First stop: Joshua
Our first stop for the Texas Historical Marker was Union Hill Presbyterian Church and Cemetery in Joshua, a small town about half an hour south of Ft. Worth. It marks the history of Union Hill that was started in the early 1850s to when the church and cemetery was organized and built, up to when a new tabernacle was constructed in 1992. It is also mentioned the two special activities initiated by the congregation in the 1890s which have become traditional annual events: Christmas Eve program and picnic in June.
I passed this historical marker every day when I drop off and pick up my son to and from school, but this is the first time I made a stop there.
When you visit, don’t forget to grab a kolache from Wooden Spoon restaurant at the corner gas station right across the historical marker. If you have plenty of time, order their breakfast sandwiches or jalapeno burger when it is close to lunch time. They are really good!
As soon as we got to US Highway I-35W, I realized that we probably wouldn’t see signs for Texas Historical Markers easily unless we took access road. If it’s on the other side of the highway, it would be harder to spot. We missed one in Alvarado, located on the other side, and decided to stop there on the way back.
Second stop: Hillsboro
Our next stop was Hillsboro, but not because we saw the sign. We wanted to see if the outlet is still alive. Sadly to find there were only 6 stores left. Others were closed. Permanently. I remember how busy was the outlet the first time I went there in 2001.
Surprisingly, we didn’t see any historical markers as well, and Hillsboro is a county seat! Maybe we missed them. We passed a couple of small town along the highway, and we didn’t see any historical markers also.
Third stop: West
Once we got to West, we drove straight to the historic downtown area. All this time we only stopped at Slovacek’s that is located by the highway for their kolaches.
Historic downtown West is a typical small town in Texas. A few old buildings occupied by antique stores where some are open and some are closed because of out-of-business or owners were out-of-town, with train tracks on one side of the city. Most of these old buildings need a TLC.
As we drove slowly, we saw a History of West Museum. We like visiting local museum to learn about their history, so we stopped there. The museum exhibits reflect the arrival of the first settlers in the 1850s, the railroad, farming & ranching, military veterans, the Czech and German immigrants, and of course the West Fertilizer Company explosion in 2013. Visit the museum when you are in the city. It’s free. The volunteers in the museum were friendly, too. They told us that the best kolaches are actually from The Village Bakery across the street, but sadly the lady who made the kolaches just passed away 6 weeks prior to our visit.
On Main Street we found one Texas Historical Marker in front of an old building that is for sale. It was built in 1890 by the town founder and a local contractor. Originally housed two saloons until prohibition in 1919 prompted its conversion into a grocery and bakery. Later the new owner turned it into a theater in 1923 until it closed down in 1976.
After we bought kolaches from Slovacek’s, we decided to take the back road, TX-171N, from Hillsboro. We would probably find more historical markers, and we never went that way before.
Fourth stop: Abbot
Not long after we left West, I spotted a historical marker sign on the access road, so we had to make a u-turn. This one is located in front of a Catholic Church in Abbot, a small farming town between Hillsboro and West. The information is about the Czech settlers in Hill County.
When we’re about to leave, we decided to make a quick drive into downtown. There’s nothing open, but we found two more Texas Historical Markers in town. One was in front of the Baptist Church, and the other one was in front of the United Methodist Church. Both buildings look sad as the congregations are getting smaller with people moving out from town. Therefore, they don’t have enough funds to renovate the church buildings. And the population in Abbott is less than 500 people.
Later I found out that the famous country singer Willie Nelson was born and grew up in Abbot. He and his sister Bobbie went to the Methodist Church since they were born and that’s where Willie honed his musical skills as a boy. Willie bought the church when he heard it for sale back in 2006. Hoping to save a piece of hometown history.
Tracking Texas Historical Markers: The Back Road
Fifth stop: downtown Hillsboro
Apparently, taking a back road was a good decision. Not only we saw more markers, but we got to see downtown Hillsboro with its impressive French Second Empire Styling Courthouse topped by a seven-story clock tower, and a couple of gargoyles in the old Post Office Building that is now a Public Library.
Both buildings have Texas Historical Markers and we found another one at First Baptist Church of Hillsboro. I’m sure we would find more around downtown area since there are other churches and old buildings there, but it’s already after 6. We still had to drive more than half an hour to get home and tried to track more markers before it got dark.
When you visit with your fur baby, make a time to visit Barking Mutt Bakery. A gourmet dog bakery, boutique, and dog grooming facility that you can spot from the courthouse. Our dog Snoopy enjoyed the cookies we got him from there.
Between Hillsboro and Cleburne, the next county seat, we passed a couple of little towns with population less than 500, but we didn’t spot any historical markers.
Sixth stop: Cleburne
Arrived in Cleburne, we saw four Texas Historical Markers that include the courthouse, the Cleburne Masonic Lodge No. 315, the Carnegie Layland Museum, and the First Baptist Church of Cleburne.
An interesting information about the Carnegie Layland Museum is, it was a library begun in 1901 under the directions of the local women’s club. In 1902 members of the organization met with New York industrialist and benefactor Andrew S. Carnegie and secured a $20,000 fund for the library. During WWII it housed the War Information Center for the U.S. Information Service. In 1978, due to overcrowding, they moved the library from the building. Today it’s a museum and a theater on the upstairs.
Cleburne was also our last stop, and we didn’t see any more markers until we got home. In total, we found 13 Texas Historical Markers between Joshua and West in our seven hours endeavor. It’s fun and we got to see and learn more of the area we live in.
Have you ever done this before? If you haven’t, get everyone in the car this weekend and tracks for the Texas historical markers in your area. See how many you will find and find out the local history of the city you live in and its surrounding area.
For your convenience, you can get a Texas Historical Marker Guide app with a small fee from the Apple app store. And, this particular route is also an easy day trip from Fort Worth.
I haven’t heard about Texas Historical Markers before! It’s such a great idea that there are 16,934 state historical markers spread in Texas now. It’s much easier to prepare for a road trip with exciting stops on the way. Such great tips on what to see along I-35 W. I would like to visit History of West Museum and West Theater Building. Also, Abbott and Hillsboro seem interesting.
I never thought of following a historical marker trail. But looks like this one in Texas was interesting. A great way to plan stops along the way. And learn something at each stop. Especially fun that you visited the place where Willie Nelson was born.
I didn’t expect this activity would be fun. I would like to do it again at different places that full with historical markers.
What a clever way of learning the local history. If you look out for these markers, I’m sure you will learn a lot about the events and landmarks of this town, well done!
What a fun and educational family project! A really interesting way to bring local history to life. I love the architecture of the courthouse and library buildings. A gourmet dog bakery?! My pup would be in seventh heaven!
Courthouses around Texas are interesting sights. Too bad some of them are in a bad shapes because of lack of funding.
This looks such fun to do. My partner is originally from Texas and says there’s no history there just freeways and malls but he would love Abbott – he’s a huge Willy Nelson fan!! Me, well I’d definitly want to visit the Barking Mutt Bakery,lol!
Or course the history here is not like going back to centuries ago like in Europe. Most of them are back to the mid 1800s when the first settlers arrived. 🙂
Tracking Texas historical markers is such a cool weekend activity for the family. It sounds like you all learnt so much about a variety of historical places not too far from your home town. And of course, stopping for yummy food and drinks along the way always spices up a road trip and supports local businesses as well.
I hope more people will do this as I heard so many times how family or people don’t know what to do when weekends come.
I have yet to visit Texas despite having a childhood friend who was born and raised there and vowed to take me there someday! I know little about the place and it is always nice to see pictures and read small tidbits about a place you’ve been wanting to visit for quite some time. The West Theater Building looks run down but that is what makes it so charming. Imagine all the long history – from 1890 ’til 1976 ’til now! I’d love to have them re-open it.
I hope you will get to Texas soon with your childhood friend. I think she misses a lot after all this time.
What a great and fun way to spend the weekend and one you can involve the whole family in as well. I have not done this part of the United States but if I did I would surely want to include tracking these Historical Markers Along I-35W in Texas. Some of the architecture in these places are just stunning including the west theatre building. Thanks for sharing this which way of a fun weekend.
Thank you, Amar! This is a cool activity to do with kids. They can learn their local history.
This is so cool I had no idea there were historical markers in Texas. The concept it awesome especially for someone who loves history like me. What is the most surprising thing you learned from your trip?
Texas is full with them! Information about courthouse always intrigued me more with its architecture style. It’s close to buildings in Europe, because I think people on those years still wanted to bring something from their ‘home’ to the new land.
This is interesting to hunt the historical markers along the route. These sites are also well-maintained. Can you go these places by means of public transportation? Or do you have to walk everywhere?
Most of the historical markers are in rural area or small towns, so you must have a car or motorcycle to do it. The ones in the city, particularly in downtown area, you can walk. Public transportation in Texas is bad. We don’t have many.
This is a really interesting post, and educational too! Historical markers are completely new to me, but what a way to explore a new region. You passed some historical places, and it’s sad that many of the shops you remembered in Hilssboro have now closed down. I’ll look out for this if I’m ever in Texas.
You will not only find it in Texas, Lisa. It’s all over the U.S.
I love history and this seems a fantastic activity to do. I would have never thought of it. Is it possible to do with public transport or by bike? Or is by car the only way? Oh and the app is a great addition love when I can use some technology to help on a tour
At where we did it, it is definitely by car and there’s no public transportation. 🙁 But in the city, I think you can rent a bike or ride a bus.
What a nice unique activity for the weekend. It is both active and educational. I felt a litte bit sad when reading about the West Theatre buidling that is for sale , with a marker right in front no less! I hope the new owners preserve the existing facade. Nice read!
Thank you, Adele! Yes, I’m hoping the new owner will preserve the West Theater and bring it back to its glory.
Sounds like a fun weekend activity! I did not know that historical markers or something like that existed so I was intrigued to read about it but that’s such a great idea! Taking backroads or lanes that are off the highways to be able to catch more markers sounds like the perfect plan.
I also didn’t know about it until I moved to the U.S. I would say most people won’t care about it, unless you like history. Although I think it’s a great activity to do with your family.
Umiko loved reading your post today, one of the finest most detailed post. The Texas historical markers are truly treasure and pride of the nation.
Aww… that is so sweet of you! Thank you, Annu!