On the way south on Interstate 35 just north of Waco I saw a brown sign that peaked my interest. One of the things that I have learn from all of my travels is Brown Signs are fun. This one was for the Waco Mammoth National Monument, so I said what the heck and decided to check it out.
In just a few minutes I arrived at the small visitors center and was ready to check out the Waco Mammoth. Seems several years ago the former land owners found a large leg bone near a dry stream bed on their property. Realizing it was to large to be any kind of native animal, the eventually contact researchers at Baylor University who identified the bone as belong to a Columbian Mammoth which roamed this area during the Ice Age. These Mammoths were smaller than the more well known Woolly Mammoth, standing only a maximum of 14-feet at the shoulders and weighing 22,000 pounds.Researchers from Baylor quickly organized and began excavating the site. Their efforts have located the remains of 16 Columbian Mammoth. This includes a herd that appear to have died together in a single natural event. Most of the remains that have been recovered in recent years have been left in their original position and are protected in a climate controlled shelter. It is these remains that I was able to see today.
Originally the dig site and park were administered by the City of Waco and Baylor University but two years ago the National Park Service adopted the site as the Waco Mammoth National Monument.
For more complete information Waco Mammoth, visit this web site.
I ended up spending about a hour at the Waco Mammoth, and really enjoyed the informative tour, which was conducted by Dava, who gave us a wonderful presentation.
After snapping a few photos of the Stadium and surrounding area I made my way across the Brazos to the Texas Ranger Museum. This was one of the thing on my must see list and I wasn't disappointed.
The The Texas Ranger Museum is a detailed history of the Rangers from their founding in 1823 to the present. Artifacts include the gun use by Frank Hamer during the ambush of Bonnie and Clyde and weapons used by those early Rangers.It is a large museum with thousands of exhibits and artifacts. I spend about 3-hours touring the facility and could have spend longer. It is one of the best museums I have ever been too.
My final stop of the day was a quick stop a few miles outside of town to what was once known as Mount Carmel. This was the site of the Branch Davidian siege in 1993. The Davidian's were suspected of hoarding weapons and the ATF attempted to raid the compound. Authorities were met with resistance and a gun battle erupted resulting in the death of 4 federal agents and 6-Davidian's.
Today very little remains of the actual Mount Carmel Compound. Only a memorial at the entrance to the Property and a small church remain. There are a few Dividian's still living on the property and while the gate were open, no trespassing and private property signs dot the landscape.
I ventured a short distance through the gate and was able to snap a few photo but really didn't feel comfortable venturing too far past the entrance gates.
For more information on the Branch Davidians go here.
After leaving Mount Carmel it was time to head a little further south to Killeen, Texas where I am spending the night. Tomorrow I will be heading into Austin to the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum, and other sites in downtown Austin.
TODAY'S MILES: 159
TOTAL MILES: 2557
Wow! Waco is full of history, not just a town from old western movies. And you covered it from prehistoric to post-modern. Great job! I'm a sucker for natural history like the mammoth fossils. And I would love to see the Ranger museum. Just...wow!
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