Baylor University
Baylor University has been an integral part of Waco’s development since it moved to Waco from Independence in 1886. Founded in 1845 by R.E.B. Baylor, William Tryon, and James Huckins in Independence, Texas, the university moved to Waco when Independence began to decline due to its lack of a railroad line. Once there, Baylor merged with a local college called Waco University. Baylor University was one of the many institutions of higher learning that earned Waco the nickname "the Athens of Texas.” As Waco grew throughout the years, Baylor grew alongside it. Now occupying about 1,000 acres of land, the university sits at the intersection of I-35 and the Brazos River. It is the oldest continually operating university in the state of Texas.
This tour highlights some sites and events related to the development of Baylor University and invites you to explore the university’s rich history through their stories.
Stories 14
Waco University
A forerunner of Baylor University, Waco University served as one of the earliest and most influential institutions of higher learning following the founding of Waco Village in 1849. When Waco…
Old Main
Anyone who has attended or visited Baylor University would recognize the familiar spires of Old Main as markers of the historic heart of campus. Built in 1887, Old Main was the first building…
Waco Hall
Without the construction of Waco Hall, Baylor University might reside in Dallas, Texas. In the early 1900s, some Baylor representatives pushed for the university to relocate and had already placed…
Pat Neff Hall
For over a century, Baylor University has served as one of the various educational institutions contributing to Waco’s reputation as the “Athens on the Brazos.” Constructed to house the university’s…
F. L. Carroll Chapel and Library
The plans for F. L. Carroll Chapel and Library were announced in 1901, following substantial gifts to Baylor University from F. L. Carroll for the Chapel and Library and from G. W. Carroll for the…
Armstrong Browning Library & Museum
One of the most beautiful buildings on Baylor University’s campus is the Armstrong Browning Library & Museum. Sources such as Campus Grotto and Flavorwire have named the library to their lists of the…
Tidwell Bible Building
Tidwell Bible Building stands as a physical memorial not only to the formation of Baylor’s modern Department of Religion, but also as a symbol of the university’s dedication to Christian ideals. Prior…
Memorial Hall: Woman's Memorial Dormitory
Baylor University was the first coeducational university in the South, and only the second in the country. Even so, the education women received at Baylor for many years was fundamentally different…
The Baylor Bear Habitat
One of the most popular places to visit on Baylor University’s campus is the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat, home to Baylor’s live bear mascot. The first habitat was built in 1945, but through the…
Floyd Casey Stadium
Floyd Casey Stadium housed the Baylor Football Program from 1950 until the opening of McLane Stadium in the fall of 2014. In 1936, Baylor Football’s home turf was Municipal Stadium, located at…
The Immortal Ten
On January 22, 1927, tragedy struck Baylor University when a collision near Round Rock, Texas, ended the lives on ten students en route to an athletic event. Aboard the bus that day were twenty-two…
1926 Baylor-A&M Football Riot
When football fans hear “Battle of the Brazos,” they think of an old rivalry between Baylor and Texas A&M (formerly The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas), two schools situated on the…
The NoZe Brothers
The “irreverent gadflies.” When Baylor University students think about the NoZe Brothers today, they picture fellow students performing shenanigans around campus while wearing big plastic noses, wild…
Baylor Homecoming Parade
For over a century, the Baylor University Homecoming Parade has played an important role in the relationship between the institution, its alumni, and the greater Waco community. The tradition began in…Tour curated by: The Waco History Team