| |
| Wichita Falls was
named after the river that was named after the Indians. The original falls have
been lost, but replica falls have been built in recent years. Conveniently located
off I-44. |
The
Kemp Building in Wichita Falls
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2009 |
J.A.
Kemp Wholesale Grocery Building historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2009 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
A timeline of Wichita Falls significant events:
|
John Scott acquires land
in poker game that becomes Wichita Falls (folklore)
1875:
John Converse opens first store in the area
1876:
Town platted by M. W. Seeley, hired by heirs of John Scott
1879:
1879 Post Office approved
1880:
1880 First School opened
1882:
The Fort Worth and Denver Railroad reach Wichita Falls
1883:
Major flood washes away the town's namesake waterfall/ Joseph Kemp opens store
1900:
Lake Wichita Project set in motion
1917:
Population is 18,000 - mostly agricultural employment
1918:
Discovery of oil at Burkeburnett
increases population to 40,000
1920:
Irrigation Project allowed irrigation for Wichita, Archer and Baylor Counties
1928:
Airline passenger service is started
1941:
Sheppard Field Opened for Air Corps training
1979:
Huge tornado hits the city killing 45 and destroying 20% of homes |
Oil
Capital
In the first quarter of the 20th century, Wichita
Falls had offices for the major players in the oil business - The Texas Company
(Texaco), Sinclair, Magnolia, Sun (Sunoco), Prairie (bought out) and Humble.
The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad as well as the Fort Worth and Denver
made Wichita Falls their headquarters.
In the 1920s Wichita Trucks were
manufactured here and were sold in 68 Countries around the world.
During
the oil boom multiple tracks were laid to Burkburnett
and two additional railroads (The Wichita Falls and Northwestern and the Wichita,
Ranger and Fort Worth) were financed by oil money. There were 30 refineries in
the area, with 13 of them in the city limits. |
Oil
Fields in Wichita Falls
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
Wichita Chronicles:Elephant
by Mike Cox (From "Texas Tales" Column)
"Someday, perhaps,
a work crew laying cable or pipe will unearth a large set of bones near a busy
Wichita Falls intersection...." |
Wichita
Falls Landmarks / Attractions |
Wichita
County CourthouseRailroad
Museum: 501
Eighth Street
Kell
House: Historic home of Frank Kell - 900 Bluff Street
Wichita
Falls Fire and Police Museum:
Avenue H and Giddings StreetBridges
in Wichita FallsWee-Chi-Tah
SculptureThe
World’s Littlest SkyscraperWichita
Falls Hotels
Book Here & Save
Nearby Destinations
Lake
Arrowhead State Park:
229 Park Road 63, Wichita Falls, TX 76310. 940/528-2211
524-acre park with camping, fishing, swimming and boating.
14 miles South
on 281 then East on FM 1954.
Nearby
lakes include Kemp, Kickapoo and Wichita.
Do not miss Clara, Texas Escapes' favorite
ghost town, or Fargo
and Doan's Crossing in
Wilbarger County.
Wichita
Falls Tourist Information Wichita
Falls CVB
P.O. Box 630 Wichita Falls, Texas 76301
940-716-5500
http://www.wichitafalls.org/
Wichita
Falls Chamber of Commerce / Economic Development
PO Box 1860, Wichita Falls,
Texas 76307
940-723-2741
http://www.wichitafallscommerce.com/
Book
Hotel Here > Wichita
Falls Hotels
|
 |
| Wichita
Falls Vintage Photos |
Downtown
Wichita Falls
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
Wichita Falls' Bob Waggoner Building
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
|
St.
James Hotel Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2009 |
Wichita Tales:Wichita
Falls Falls for Flim Flam Brit
by Mike Cox
Before the wild oil boom that came with the discovery of a rich
field, Wichita Falls was just a cattle town of around 5,000 folks. When a crisp
and proper gentleman who spoke with a classic British accent arrived and took
a room at the city’s best hotel, word got around quickly...Ida
Lee by C. F.
Eckhardt
On March 21, 1924, Mrs. Ida Lee Daughtery of Hall, Texas, died. She
was a woman of some reputation—not as a ‘soiled dove,’ but as a devoted wife.Elephant
by Mike Cox
"Someday, perhaps, a work crew laying cable or pipe will
unearth a large set of bones near a busy Wichita Falls intersection...." |
Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos of their town, please contact
us.
Book
Hotel Here > Wichita
Falls Hotels | |
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