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Waco is a city in Central Texas, set on the Brazos River about halfway between Dallas and Austin. It grew around a village of the Wichita-affiliated Waco (Hueco) people, and Texas Rangers built an outpost here in the 1830s. In 1870 Waco opened what was then the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi to carry cattle drives on the Chisholm Trail across the Brazos, and the town boomed as a cotton and cattle center. Baylor University, the oldest continuously operating university in Texas, moved here in 1886.
Today Waco has about 140,000 residents and has become one of Texas's most popular destinations, thanks in large part to Chip and Joanna Gaines and their Magnolia Market at the Silos, a shopping, dining and garden complex built around two restored cotton-seed silos. The city is also the birthplace of Dr Pepper, invented here in 1885, and the Dr Pepper Museum is housed in the original bottling plant. The historic Waco Suspension Bridge still carries pedestrians over the Brazos.
Visitors will find much more to explore. The Waco Mammoth National Monument protects the only recorded nursery herd of Columbian mammoths in the country, Cameron Park is one of the largest municipal parks in Texas with cliffs, trails and the Cameron Park Zoo, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum tells the story of the legendary lawmen. Baylor's campus, McLane Stadium on the riverbank, the Mayborn Museum Complex and the riverwalk along the Brazos round out a visit.
Magnolia Market at the Silos is the shopping complex created by Chip and Joanna Gaines around two old grain silos downtown. It has a home goods store, a bakery, food trucks, a garden shop and a large lawn for games. Visit early on a weekday to avoid the longest lines at the bakery.
The Dr Pepper Museum is in the 1906 bottling building where the drink was first produced at scale, after being invented in Waco in 1885. Exhibits cover soft drink history, old bottling equipment and advertising. Finish at the old-fashioned soda fountain for a float made with real cane sugar.
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is the official museum of the Texas Rangers law enforcement agency, located beside the Brazos River. It displays firearms, badges, art and stories covering nearly 200 years of Ranger history. Allow about two hours to see the galleries.
The Mayborn Museum Complex at Baylor University combines natural and cultural history exhibits with hands-on discovery rooms for children. It also includes a historic village of restored 19th century buildings. It is a good family stop, and parking is available in front of the museum.
The Armstrong Browning Library at Baylor holds the world's largest collection of materials related to poets Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The building is known for its many stained glass windows illustrating their poems. Entry is free on weekdays, and a short visit is enough to see the windows.
The Waco Suspension Bridge crosses the Brazos River and was the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi when it opened in 1870. It is now open only to pedestrians. Walk across at sunset and continue along the Brazos Riverwalk, which connects to downtown and Baylor.
Baylor University, chartered in 1845, is one of the oldest universities in Texas. Its campus along the Brazos River features red brick buildings, Pat Neff Hall and Fountain Mall. Live bears Joy and Lady can often be seen at their habitat near the student union during daytime hours.
McLane Stadium is Baylor's football stadium on the bank of the Brazos River, opened in 2014 and seating about 45,000 fans. On game days some fans arrive by boat and tie up at the river. Outside the season it also hosts concerts and events, so check the calendar before your visit.
Waco Mammoth National Monument protects the site where a nursery herd of Columbian mammoths died about 65,000 years ago. A climate-controlled dig shelter shows bones still lying where they were found. Tours run on a schedule, so arrive a little early and buy tickets at the welcome center.
Cameron Park is a large wooded park of more than 400 acres where the Bosque River meets the Brazos. It has limestone cliffs such as Lover's Leap, mountain biking trails, hiking paths and picnic areas. Visit the overlooks for river views, and wear good shoes on the rocky trails.
Cameron Park Zoo is a natural-habitat zoo inside Cameron Park with animals such as giraffes, rhinos, Sumatran tigers, orangutans and Komodo dragons. The Brazos River Country section shows wildlife native to Texas. Mornings are cooler and better for seeing active animals during the summer.
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