It may be said that all history is women’s history, and the history of Waco is no exception. Indigenous women populated this area along the Brazos before European settlers arrived. At its founding, women like Mrs. Sophia St. John contributed land that would become part of Waco. Additionally, Rebecca de Cordova, wife of early settler Jacob de Cordova, suggested the name Lamartine for the village. Since then, women with connections to Waco have served as politicians, educators, and philanthropists. They have shaped and been shaped by their time as residents of the city. Their stories reflect the diversity of experiences found in Waco’s long history.

Some of these women, institutions, and places are well known; others are less familiar. This tour invites you to explore them all, learning more about the history of Waco through examining the history of women.