Go to our club's page Trotting Texas Turtles
Go to Waco Convention Center Visitors Bureau
This tour of Waco is hosted by the Trotting Texas Turtle Volkssport (Walking)
Club out of Killeen, TX. For information about this club go to the
bottom of the page and click on Trotting Texas Turtle link.
The start point for the walking tour is at the Waco Hilton, 113 South University
Parks Drive. From I-35 take exit 335B. Turn west on University Parks Drive
for approximately one-half mile to the Hilton. Please use the parking lot
at the corner of Franklin Ave and University Parks Drive (just across the
street from the Hilton). The start/finish is self-service. The registration
box is kept behind the hotel desk. Please wait until the desk clerk has taken
care of the hotel guests before asking for the box.
Please complete the registration form and sign the waiver. Take a start card
and directions for the walk. Follow the directions on the map correctly and
you should be back at the Hilton in less than three hours. Please time your
walk so as to finish before dark. Take a pencil with you and mark your start
card with the answers to the checkpoint questions. Place your start cards
in one of the envelopes provided and drop it in the mail.
Thank you for walking with us. We hope you enjoyed the walk.
To see a picture click on the name.
Highlights of the Walk
Suspension Bridge
When the suspension bridge officially opened in 1870 (13 years
before the Brooklyn Bridge) it was not only the 1st suspension bridge
in Texas, it was the only span across the Brazos River. At the time it was
probably the longest suspension bridge in the world. Cowboys on the Chisholm
trail drove their cattle across this bridge. For more information visit
Waco River Walk .
St. Francis
on the Brazos Catholic Church It was completed in 1931 and is
a reproduction of the Mission San Jose in San Antonio. The Clifton house
next to it is a Greek Revival style mansion built in 1868. It now serves
a the monastery for the priests of St. Francis. For more information visit Austin Diocese
McCulloch
House begun in 1866; completed 1872. Greek Revival architecture.
Open Sat.-Sun. 2pm-5pm $2.00 admission. For more information visit Historic Waco Foundation
McLennan County
Courthouse Built in the Victorian style with Greek style
statues. It was completed in 1902. It is the counties 4th courthouse.
The Alico
Bldg. It is 22 stories tall (246 feet) and when completed
in 1911 it was the first skyscraper in the southwest and for many years it
remained the tallest building west of the Mississippi. For years the building
was self-sufficent, with an electrical generator, oil wells across the Bosque
River to fuel its heating system, and an artesian well for water. It is still
the tallest building in Waco. It was cracked in the 1953 tornado that devastated
downtown Waco. Its bottom stores have been reinforced by adding a facade. For more information visit Alico Building
Heritage
Square: On June 23, 2001, Heritage Square was officially
opened to the public. It is a beautiful downtown park located in front of
City Hall, with shaded walkways, seating areas, water-play fountains, and
a beautiful sculpture depicting children at play.
Dr Pepper
Museum The 1906 “Home of Dr Pepper” has exhibits
and memorabilia. Enjoy a float, shake, or sundae at the turn-of-the century
soda fountain. Open Mon-Sat. 10am-4pm. Adults $5.00. For more information
visit Dr Pepper Museum .
1st Baptist
Church of Waco
The Fort House
(circa 1868) was built in the Greek Revival style during the
reconstruction years following the Civil War. Houses Empire and Victorian
furniture and artifacts for some of Waco’s fine old homes. Open Sat.-Sun.
2pm-5pm $2.00 Admission. For additional information visit Waco Historic Foundation
Texas Ranger Hall of
Fame and Museum Extensive collection of Texas Ranger and
Indian relics and Old West artifacts. Open daily 9am-4:30pm. Adults $5.00. For
more information visit Texas Ranger
Museum
Texas Sports
Hall of Fame Memorabilia from sports’ legendary greats,
Tom Landry Theater, and interactive displays. For more information visit Visitor Information
Baylor
University Chartered in 1845 under the Republic of Texas,
Baylor is the largest Baptist University in the world.
Armstrong Browning
Library World’s largest collection of materials relating
to Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. An impressive library with 56
magnificent stained glass windows depicting the poetry of the Brownings.
Admission Free. For more information visit Browning Library
Bear Pit
Baylor dedicated a new bear habitat on Oct. 28, 2005. This is the way the bear pit used to look. The pool is no longer there.
Mayborn Museum Complex. Exhibits explore plants, animals, and human
occupation in Central Texas. For more information visit
The
Mayborn Center
Brazos Belle
The Riverboat restaurant that used to dock at the Riverwalk, and was available for weddings and other parties; is no more. After sinking several times it was demolished and removed. I have fond memories of taking a cruise on Lake Brazos on the Belle before they dry docked her and made her into a restaurant.
Updated 06/22/2009
Go to our club's page
Trotting Texas Turtles
Go to Waco Convention Center Visitors
Bureau
