Waco Convention Center

The popular HGTV Stars, Chip and Joanna Gaines, own several businesses in Waco including the Magnolia Silos and Magnolia Realty. Due to the popularity of their TV show, the Magnolia Silos became an instant attraction as soon as their doors opened in October, 2015. Thousands of visitors make the trek to the Silos each week hoping to catch a glimpse of Chip and Joanna, or find some of the great decorative items featured on the show. In addition to the Magnolia Market, visitors can play games on the lawn, grab a bite to eat in the food truck park, have a tasty cupcake at Silos Bakery Co., or take a stroll through the garden and shop at Magnolia Seed & Supply.

This award-winning natural-habitat zoo celebrates the spirit of wild animals with its free-form surroundings and progressive attitude. The lush grasses and natural shelters provided for the animals create an at-home feel for species from around the globe.<p> In the Cameron Park Zoo visitors will see tortoises from the Galapagos Islands, birds from Africa, and lions. The Herpetarium takes visitors into a world of waterfalls and crocodiles and spiders and plants—all colorfully and thoroughly explained by educational plaques throughout the exhibit.<p> The Brazos River Country exhibit follows the footsteps of early Spanish explorers who searched for the seven cities of gold along the Brazos River – featuring the flora and fauna from the Gulf of Mexico to the Caprock Regions of West Texas.<p> Experience in the Asian Forest expansion at Cameron Park Zoo. Beginning your journey at the Sumatran tiger habitat, you will slowly be elevated into the mid-canopy level of the trees where you may catch a glimpse of a rare orangutan, hear the roar of a waterfall as it gushes from a ruined temple aquifer and look into the temple’s altar where the Komodo dragon rests.<p>

Check out the new exhibits in the Emerson Holt – Ted Getterman gallery. The section also contains a new gift shop and soda fountain!<p> While in Waco, take a tour of the Dr Pepper Museum, a place that serves up history, nostalgia, and Waco’s favorite authentic soda fountain drinks. Most people agree: there’s nothing like a cold Dr Pepper float on a hot summer day, especially when enjoyed in the ambiance of a restored turn-of-the-century soda fountain.<p> Besides an operational fountain, the Dr Pepper Museum also recreates the soda fountain where Dr. Charles Alderton first mixed the flavors that make up Dr Pepper (none of which is prune juice—a popular, albeit false, rumor about this classic drink.) In this exhibit, an animatronic, life-size Dr. Alderton tells the story of his invention.<p> The next exhibit showcases the original Dr Pepper bottling company, including the well from which they drew their artesian spring water, as well as a multitude of historic soft drink bottles and manufacturing equipment, and an interactive study of the pressure in a soft drink bottle.<p> The second floor of the Dr Pepper Museum shows the evolution of soft drink advertising over the years. The third floor houses the Soft Drink Hall of Fame and Free Enterprise Institute, a division of the museum committed to educating children about free enterprise, product development, and successful marketing. And finally, don’t forget to make a stop by the museum gift store, which carries mementos for all Dr Pepper lovers. From a classic “I’m a Pepper!” shirt to a 6-pack of glass-bottled sodas, everyone is sure to find the perfect souvenir to remember their visit of the Dr Pepper Museum.<p>

The Texas Rangers, the oldest state law enforcement agency, play an important role in solving crimes and apprehending fugitives. The Modern Texas Rangers focus primarily on investigations, and are known as the Elite Law Enforcement Officers of the 21st Century.<p> It took Texas Ranger law enforcement to bring down Bonnie and Clyde, and it still takes a Texas Ranger to keep this spirited state of Texas in line today. From their cowboy hats to the silver stars on their shirt pockets, it’s easy to see why Texas Rangers are famous for their strong presence.<p> The Homer Garrison Museum Gallery focuses on the equipment of the Texas Rangers and places it into historical context — from the early days to the present. The Brownfield and Morris Galleries chronicle the history of Texas Rangers from their founding in 1823 to recently retired officers.<p> The Brownfield Gallery also houses case studies of important Texas Ranger law enforcement investigations such as kidnappings, riots, and the Texarkana Phantom Killer. Visitors can also find such infamous collections as Bonnie and Clyde’s shotguns — confiscated from the “Death Car” after the final shoot-out — and the firearms used by Texas Rangers at the ambush.<p> In a memorial tribute, The Hall of Fame memorializes 31 Texas Rangers who gave their lives in the line of duty or served with great distinction.<p> For history buffs, the Texas Ranger Research Center houses books, archives, and photographs related to the Texas Rangers. Here, visitors can pore through original clippings, research genealogies, and learn the real stories of life as a Texas Ranger from oral history accounts. The Research Center hours vary Monday through Friday. Appointments are suggested.

The Mayborn Museum Complex provides a wide spectrum of learning opportunities to engage visitors of all ages. The exhibits and education programs encourage families to learn together and design their own museum experience.<p> The complex features a natural science and cultural history museum focusing on Central Texas with walk-in dioramas including one on the Waco Mammoth National Monument, and exploration stations for geology, paleontology, archaeology, and natural history. Seventeen hands-on discovery rooms in the Jeanes Discovery Center explore topics including transportation, sound, health, and weather.<p> Special traveling exhibits are featured in the summer.

“The nation’s first and only recorded discovery of a nursery herd of Pleistocene mammoths” – National Park Service <p> The story of the Waco mammoths has captured the imagination of central Texans for almost 30 years. Investigation of the site began in 1978 when Paul Barron and Eddie Bufkin first discovered a bone protruding from an eroding creek bank and reported it to the Baylor University’s Strecker Museum staff. By 1990, fifteen mammoths had been identified, their remains preserved and removed. During the clean-up of the dig site, another bone was found which has led to the discovery of ten additional mammoths, a camel, and a young saber-toothed cat’s tooth. Boreholes in the site area indicate that additional mammoths have yet to be unearthed.<p> In 2006, plans were initiated to make the site a public park. With the support of the Waco Mammoth Foundation, this goal became a realityin 2009, and was designated a National Monument as part of the National Parks System on July 10, 2015.<p> The Waco Mammoth National Monument now includes a breathtaking dig shelter that creates an atmosphere of an art gallery. Natural light floods into the shelter from all directions and a suspended walkway provides a stunning overhead view of the mammoths.<p> The site also features a scenic trailway complete with benches and rest areas where visitors can reflect on what life was like during the age of the mammoths.

Learn about the Texas athletes who have distinguished themselves both on and off the field and arenas at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. One step inside the Texas Sports Hall of Fame will engage visitors in an interactive tour of the history of Texas athletics. Watch clips of important sports moments in Texas history in the Tom Landry Theater, show school spirit by singing along with the school songs from Texas universities, and compare hand and shoe sizes to those of NBA greats, with life-size replicas. Take a look at the evolution of tennis rackets (and wonder how low a professional’s score would be if they played with one of those originals!), see a Heisman Trophy up close, and find out what made Texas boxer George Foreman one of the best in history. The Hall of Fame expanded in 2010 to include a new banquet hall, the Health, Fitness and Education Center and Texas’ preeminent college conference, the Southwest Conference (SWC). The Southwest Conference was a national power conference for most of the century until it broke up in 1996. The Southwest Conference exhibit displays the grand history of college athletics in Texas. For anyone who enjoys Monday night football, considers baseball park hotdogs a delicacy or knows that the Sweet Sixteen doesn’t necessarily refer to a girl’s special birthday, this museum is a must-see on the list of Waco attractions.

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”<p> Discover the love poetry and extensive works of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning at the breathtaking Armstrong Browning Library located on the Baylor University campus.<p> Respected worldwide by scholars as the largest collection of the Brownings’ works, the Armstrong Browning Library allows visitors to take a glimpse into the lives of these great British Victorian poets. Inside the library, visitors will see 62 stained glass windows illustrating passages from their poetry. Also on display are the antique bookcases and memorabilia from the Brownings’ home.

Enjoy an afternoon at Homestead Heritage Traditional Crafts Village, a Christian agricultural settlement located a few miles outside Waco.<p> The Visitors Center, located inside the front gate of the 510-acre homesteading community, is where information about seasonal activities and special events can be found, including various craft courses and teaching seminars.<p> The Visitors Center also houses Cafe Homestead, which features daily lunch specials, smoked barbecued brisket, deli-style sandwiches made with original whole wheat breads and real homemade ice cream. Cafe hours are Monday- Friday Breakfast 8:00-11:00, Main Menu 11:00-6:00, Saturday Breakfast 7:00-11:00, Main Menu 11:00-6:00.<p> Visitors are invited inside the 200-year old restored barn, which showcases the work of the village’s craftspeople. Inside the barn are handcrafted furniture and accessories plus hundreds of one-of-a-kind heirloom gift items—pottery, wrought iron, quilts, handmade brooms and baskets, mesquite shepherd’s lamps, wooden cutting boards and spoons, oil lamps, beeswax candles, natural soaps, needlework, original watercolors, cards, children’s storybooks and homesteading how-to’s as well as Homestead Farms specialty foods and Homestead Gristmill Baking Mixes.<p> Homestead Heritage directions: From IH-35, take exit 343 and turn west on FM 308. In 3 miles, turn north onto FM 933. Drive 1-1/2 miles, then turn west onto Halbert Lane. Watch for the sign. Homestead Heritage lies 1/2 mile straight ahead.<p> Special guided tours are welcomed by appointment, including school and civic groups, conventions and group tours.

Balcones started as little more than an idea fueled by a ruthless drive to create something new, something genuine, something worthwhile – a Texas whisky tradition. It all started with an old welding shop under a bridge. “We hammered and welded our own stills, and sawed and nailed on that little shack to build the distillery that we use to this day.” Since then, Balcones has released ten unique whiskies and spirits, and won over 140 national and international awards from the world’s top judges and critics. “We don’t just make whisky in Texas. We make Texas whisky.” The distillers commitment to hand crafting spirits extends into the design and layout of the distillery and the engineering and construction of the equipment. The benefits of building and installing their own equipment became clear as the distillery came together. “By building our own condensers, wash stills, heat exchangers, hot liquor tank, etc. we were able to build exactly the equipment we wanted to use to make spirits. We became extremely familiar with the tools of our trade. The equipment itself is one more level of the distilling process that we get to craft with our own hands.”<p> Balcones is the realization of a distiller’s dream, not simply an ambitious attempt to fill a profitable niche.<p> TOURS<br> Check out our new distillery & taste our award winning whiskies! The general tour and tasting is $11 per person. Souvenir tasting glass can be purchased for an additional $5.<p> Learn about the history of Balcones and what makes our whiskies world-renowned! This walking tour will take you through the entire distillery as you learn about our unique blending and distilling process. Finish the tour in our newly renovated tasting room where you will learn to open your nose and pallet to the different flavors of Balcones!<p> TOURS AT A GLANCE<br> 1.5 hours 1 – 14 guests<br> Wear closed-toed shoes for the tour<br> Must be 19 or older to tour & 21 or older to taste<br> Book Online View Calendar<br> Tasting Glass available for an additional cost<br> Tours are available to book up to 3 months in advance.<br>