Situated in the Heart of Texas, Waco’s food services reflect the diverse eating habits and culinary practices of the state at large. As far as regional fare is concerned, diners have their pick of establishments that serve everything from standards of Southern comfort food like chicken fried steak and Frito pie to Tex-Mex offerings such as enchiladas and fajitas. Here, family-owned barbecue restaurants thrive, their passed-down recipes drawing in loyal customers that span generations. Local…

Providing a constant water supply, means of transportation, and fertile farming ground, but also serving as a site of frequent flooding, the Brazos River shaped the story of the communities which grew upon its banks. Throughout history, it has proven a constant thread in the life of Waco. Though it benefited local farmers such as the Waco Indians and subsequent white cotton planters, the river hindered merchants in the late nineteenth century who possessed no means of crossing the often volatile…

The term ‘Bible-Belt’ is sometimes used to describe the religious landscape of Central Texas. However, to characterize Waco as a community full of carbon-copy churches is to do a disservice to the heterogeneous character of the houses of worship present in the city. While Waco’s spiritual past is largely Judeo-Christian, remarkable variation exists within the two faith traditions. For more than one hundred years, multiple Protestant denominations have coexisted with Catholic congregations and…

Since Ann Pamela Cunningham rallied the help of women throughout America to save George Washington’s Mount Vernon from ruin and neglect in the mid-nineteenth century, Americans set about preserving historic homes in their own backyards as windows the nation’s past and bearers of cultural heritage. Waco took part in this fervor and today boasts a number of historic residences. From private residences to homes adapted for business use to four house museums kept and preserved by Historic Waco…

It may be said that all history is women’s history, and the history of Waco is no exception. Indigenous women populated this area along the Brazos before European settlers arrived. At its founding, women like Mrs. Sophia St. John contributed land that would become part of Waco. Additionally, Rebecca de Cordova, wife of early settler Jacob de Cordova, suggested the name Lamartine for the village. Since then, women with connections to Waco have served as politicians, educators, and…