McLennan County Historical Commission

Welcome!

Welcome to the website for the McLennan County Historical Commission!

This commission was created to provide leadership and coordinating services in the field of archeological, historical, and cultural preservation focusing on McLennan County, Texas.

We are charged with the duty of implementing and maintaining programs, services and projects aimed at promoting, restoring, and preserving historically significant information, structures, sites, and landmarks in this county.

We welcome your interest and invite you to learn more about our programs.

In honor of Black History Month, we are proud to highlight the work of Charles Perkins and his research on the Black Freedom Colonies in McLennan County (1865-1895). Please explore the brochure below to learn more about this vital local history. Additionally, mark your calendars for June 15th, when the West Waco Library will host a special event honoring Charles's work—more details to come!

The Latest

Torrey Trading Post – Waco: A Gateway to Texas History

Nestled in the heart of frontier Texas, Torrey’s Trading Post #2 was more than just a hub for commerce; it was a crossroads of cultures, a symbol of peace, and a catalyst for the growth of Waco and its surrounding regions. This historic trading post, established in the early 1840s near Tehuacana Creek, played a…

African American Travel Guide Sites in Waco

Preservation Scholar intern Gavin Porter, currently studying Community and Regional Planning for his Master’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin, selected Waco as his town and collaborated with the Dr Pepper Museum to research how Blacks, Hispanics, and Jews accessed soft drinks in Waco during the Jim Crow era (Summer 2024). He selected…

Establishment of HBCUs in Texas

Throughout much of the 19th and 20th centuries, educational opportunities for African Americans were sporadic and unreliable, especially in Texas and other Southern states. At the Civil War’s end, most Black Texans faced a lack of social, political, and economic equality, despite the abolition of slavery. This disparity became clearer during the era of Reconstruction,…

1873 Bird's Eye View of Waco, TX

The Crash at Crush: On September 15, 1896, two locomotives hit each other at full speed as a publicity stunt in the newly created "town" of Crush, Texas, in McLennan County.

The Waco Tornado: Still one of the deadliest tornadoes on record, the Waco Tornado ripped through Waco on May 11, 1953, taking 114 lives. Image courtesy The Texas Collection, Baylor University.