Planning a history trip to Waxahachie, or hunting for the places from Places in the Heart and Tender Mercies? This guide walks you through the courthouse, the museums, a Victorian homes driving tour with real addresses, the movie locations, and the Super Collider story.
We host a tiny home just outside Waxahachie, about 8 minutes from the courthouse square, so we've also covered where to eat, where to stay, and a full history weekend.
Historic Waxahachie, at a glance
- Courthouse
- Ellis County Courthouse, 101 W. Main St., finished in the mid-1890s
- Free museum
- Ellis County Museum, Mon to Sat 10 to 5, Sun 12 to 4
- Historic places
- About 80 National Register listings in Waxahachie
- Film history
- Four Oscar-winning films shot in and around town
- Tour of homes
- The Gingerbread Trail, first weekend of June
- Christmas
- Christmas Tour of Homes, December 12 and 13, 2026
- Parking
- Free, about 1,000 spaces downtown, including a garage
- Can't visit
- The Super Collider site (private industrial land)
- From our tiny home
- About 3.7 miles to the square, roughly 8 minutes
From Ellis County, the City of Waxahachie and its visitors bureau, the National Register, the Texas Historical Commission, KERA, AFI, and the Texas Tribune, checked October 4, 2026. Hours change, so call ahead.
Why Waxahachie is worth a history trip
Most small Texas towns have a courthouse square. Waxahachie has one of the most photographed courthouses in the state, a whole neighborhood of Victorian homes built on cotton money, and a resume of film credits most cities would envy. Texas Highways calls it the Gingerbread City; the Legislature named it the Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas in 1997.
If you searched for Waxahachie history, the Gingerbread City, movies filmed in Waxahachie, or historic towns near Dallas, this guide is for you. It's about 35 minutes south of downtown Dallas.
A short history of Waxahachie
- 1846: Emory W. Rogers, the first white settler, arrives. He later donates land that helps make Waxahachie the county seat.
- 1849 to 1850: Ellis County is carved out of Navarro County, and Waxahachie is organized as its seat.
- 1852: the first burial in the Waxahachie City Cemetery, pioneer merchant Silas Killough.
- Around 1900: cotton makes Ellis County the “Banner Cotton County of the World,” and the money builds the courthouse, the Chautauqua, and the Victorian homes.
- 1902 to 1912: the Chautauqua Auditorium (1902), the Sims Library (1905), the Katy depot (1908), and the Rogers Hotel (1912) go up.
- 1983 to 1985: three Oscar-winning films shot here in three years.
- 1986: dozens of homes and three historic districts are added to the National Register.
- 1991 to 1993: the Superconducting Super Collider rises and falls just outside town.
- 1997: the Texas Legislature names Waxahachie the Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas.
The Ellis County Courthouse
Ellis County Courthouse
101 W. Main St., Waxahachie, TX 75165 · about 8 min
Architect James Riely Gordon designed it in Richardsonian Romanesque style: gray and rose granite, red Pecos sandstone, a slate roof, a working clock tower with an 800-pound bell, and four bronze eagles on top. James Michener called it a “fairy tale palace.” It cost about $130,000 in the 1890s; a $10 to $12 million restoration in the early 2000s ended with a rededication in 2002. Look for a bullet hole from a 1920s incident. It's still a working county building, open on weekdays; Texas Highways lists tours by appointment at 972-825-5087. Handicap parking is on the north side.
The legend of the faces
Look up at the tops of the columns by each entrance and you'll find carved faces. The local story: stonemason Harry Herley boarded with a family whose daughter, Mabel Frame, turned him down, and each face he carved of her grew uglier and more demonic. It's a great story, and historians doubt it. The faces match standard European Romanesque ornament, and records show Herley married someone else in 1896. Walk all four sides and decide for yourself.
The courthouse is also a movie star: Country Roads magazine counts it in about 90 films and TV shows, from the opening shots of Places in the Heart to Lawmen: Bass Reeves in 2023.
Waxahachie museums
Ellis County Museum
201 S. College St., Waxahachie, TX 75165 · about 8 min
In the oldest building downtown, from 1889. Exhibits on farming, the railroads, local baseball figures, World War II, and aviator Bessie Coleman, with rotating shows upstairs and volunteer docents who know their stuff. It runs the Gingerbread Trail. Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m. 972-937-0681.
Ellis County African American Hall of Fame Museum and Library
441 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Waxahachie · about 10 min
In a 1926 building that was the Colored Knights of Pythias Hall and later the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge. Opened in 2016, it traces African American history from African kingdoms through emancipation, civil rights, and Ellis County leaders, with a research library. Listed Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call ahead for other days, 214-980-1150. Across the street, the Freedmen Memorial Plaza (430 MLK Jr. Blvd.) honors the freedmen community and connects to the Rogers Spring Branch walkway, and the 8/47 Monument remembers 19 people killed in a 1947 crash.
Webb Gallery
209 W. Franklin St. · about 8 min
Folk and outsider art, carnival banners, and fraternal lodge art in a 1902 building steps from the courthouse. Call ahead: 214-632-7473.
Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum
105 NE Main St., Ennis, TX 75119 · about 20 min
Ennis was founded by the Houston & Texas Central Railroad in 1872. A short film, depot replicas, dioramas, railroad china, Czech heritage, and an original caboose outside. Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 1 to 4. Seniors and military $4; kids 12 and under free. (972) 875-1901.
A downtown Waxahachie walking tour
Park once in the free garage at 205 E. Jefferson St. Everything below is walkable in about two hours with stops.
| Stop | Address | Why stop |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ellis County Courthouse | 101 W. Main St. | The carved faces, the clock tower, and the bronze eagles |
| 2. The Texas Theater | 110 W. Main St. | A theater the county dates to 1895, restored in 2022; about 220 seats for live music, movies, and comedy |
| 3. Rogers Hotel | 100 N. College St. | Built in 1912 “absolutely fire proof,” with a roof garden and a pool fed by hot springs. Its lobby played the bank in Places in the Heart. Lunch at John's Place inside. |
| 4. Central Presbyterian Church | 402 N. College St. | On the National Register; Bethlehem Revisited sets up behind it each December |
| 5. Ellis County Museum | 201 S. College St. | Free; downtown's oldest building, from 1889 |
| 6. Webb Gallery | 209 W. Franklin St. | Folk art in a 1902 building (call ahead) |
| 7. Highway Garage | 315 W. Main St. | An early auto garage, added to the National Register in 2003 |
| 8. Railyard Park and the Katy depot | 455 S. College St. and 501 S. Rogers St. | The 1908 Katy (MKT) depot, which shipped Ellis County cotton, now Fresh Market Coffee, plus a red caboose and an amphitheater |
| 9. First Presbyterian and the Sims Library | 501 and 515 W. Main St. | The start of the West End: a 1905 neoclassical library with Carrara marble, one of Texas's first privately endowed libraries. Tuesday to Friday 9 to 7, Saturday 9 to 5. |
Keep an eye out for the Hachie Hearts, 21 heart sculptures painted by regional artists around town.
A Victorian homes driving tour, with addresses
About 80 Waxahachie properties and districts are on the National Register, most listed together in 1986. These are private homes, so enjoy them from the street. Here's a route by neighborhood:
West Main Street and the West End
The West End Historic District runs roughly from Central to Madison and from W. Water to W. Jefferson, with Queen Anne and Classical Revival homes from 1889 on.
- Harrison House, 717 W. Main (Mission style); Chaska House, 716 W. Main, built about 1900, whose back stoop is in the opening of Places in the Heart
- Hines House, 813 W. Main, and Chapman House, 903 W. Main
- Dunlap-Simpson House, 1203 W. Main, about 1891, Classical Revival with Queen Anne details
- O.B. Sims House, 1408 W. Main, and J.M. Alderdice House, 1500 W. Main
West Marvin Avenue and Patrick Street
The newest historic district in town, listed in August 2024.
- Williams-Erwin House, 412 W. Marvin (listed 1978) and J.R. Erwin House, 414 W. Marvin
- McCartney House, 603 W. Marvin; E.F. Phillips House, 902 W. Marvin; Dr. L.H. Graham House, 909 W. Marvin; Mary and Frank Oldham House, 910 W. Marvin
- T.J. Bullard House, 221 Patrick, and Marshall T. Patrick House, 233 Patrick
North Grand, University, and Sycamore
- Judge M.B. Templeton House, 203 N. Grand, and Trippet-Shive House, 209 N. Grand
- M.S. Payne House, 521 N. Grand
- Porter L. Williams House, 200 E. University; J.S. Berry House, 201 E. University; Paris Q. Rockett House, 321 E. University
- Joe Cohn House, 501 Sycamore, and J.D. Kirven House, 601 Sycamore, on the way to the Nelson University campus (also on the Register)
East Marvin Avenue
- W.B. Reinmiller House, 206 E. Marvin; Cole-Hipp House, 309 E. Marvin; G.H. Alderman House, 317 E. Marvin; D.D. Eastham House, 401 E. Marvin
- W.B. Moore House, 912 E. Marvin; Richard Vickery House, 1104 E. Marvin; William Lewis House, 1201 E. Marvin; Samuel Langsford House, 1208 E. Marvin; Coleman-Cole House, 1219 E. Marvin
South Rogers and College
- Plumhoff House, 612 S. Rogers, and Rosemont, 701 S. Rogers (listed 1982)
- Paillet House, 800 S. College
- Wyatt Street Shotgun House Historic District, 300 block of Wyatt St., a rare surviving row of shotgun houses
Addresses from the National Register listings for Ellis County. All are private residences unless noted.
The Gingerbread Trail Tour of Homes
“Gingerbread” is the decorative wood trim on Victorian houses. Founded in 1968 by the Ellis County Museum and local preservationists, the Gingerbread Trail opens private homes the first weekend of June. The 56th tour was June 6 and 7, 2026, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with six Craftsman-era homes:
- 239 Patrick St.; 905 W. Marvin Ave.; 108 Farley St.; 1109 W. Main St.; 115 Virginia Ave.; 1109 E. Marvin Ave.
- Plus guided courthouse tours, Ellis County Master Gardeners garden tours, the museum, and the Ellis County Women's Building.
Tickets are sold at gingerbreadtrail.org. Watch for 2027 dates in spring. At Christmas, the Historic Waxahachie Christmas Tour of Homes opens six decorated homes on December 12 and 13, 2026; see our holidays guide.
The Chautauqua Auditorium
Chautauqua Auditorium, Getzendaner Park
400 S. Grand Ave., Waxahachie, TX 75165 · about 10 min
An open-air, eight-sided auditorium that seats about 2,500. It's one of the few original Chautauqua halls left in the country; William Jennings Bryan and Will Rogers spoke here when the summer Chautauqua drew thousands. Nearly torn down, it was saved in the 1970s and listed on the National Register in 1974. The park is open sunrise to 10 p.m., and the city revives the tradition with a Waxahachie Chautauqua on the last Saturday in September. 469-309-4270.
Movies filmed in Waxahachie
Tree-shaded streets of Victorian homes and a restored square made a ready-made period set, for less than Los Angeles or New York. Local banker and former principal T.J. Felty helped crews find locations, vintage cars, and extras.
The Oscar winners
| Film | Released | Oscars | The Waxahachie tie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonnie and Clyde | 1967 | Supporting Actress (Estelle Parsons), Cinematography | Co-written by Waxahachie native Robert Benton; filmed partly here |
| Tender Mercies | 1983 | Best Actor (Robert Duvall), Original Screenplay (Horton Foote) | Filmed in Palmer and Waxahachie, November to December 1981 |
| Places in the Heart | 1984 | Best Actress (Sally Field), Original Screenplay (Robert Benton) | Benton's hometown story, filmed entirely in Waxahachie in fall 1983 |
| The Trip to Bountiful | 1985 | Best Actress (Geraldine Page) | Written by Horton Foote |
More filmed here
The visitors bureau lists dozens more, including 1918, Valentine's Day, True Stories, Square Dance, Pure Country, Walking Tall 2 and 3, Universal Soldier: The Return, and Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023), plus Walker, Texas Ranger and season two of Prison Break. It links an online story map, “Waxahachie: A Movie Capital of Texas,” with filming spots.
Film locations you can see
The Ellis County Courthouse
101 W. Main St.
The film's opening establishing shots, and a backdrop in about 90 productions.
The Rogers Hotel lobby
100 N. College St.
The production remodeled what was then an abandoned hotel into the film's bank.
Bethel Community Church
534 Bethel Rd., Waxahachie · about 25 min
Country Roads magazine identifies it as the country church in the opening and closing scenes, built in 1924 for a congregation dating to 1853. It's an active church, and fans of the film have been welcomed at Sunday services. Visit respectfully.
Chaska House
716 W. Main St.
Built about 1900; its back stoop is in the opening sequence. Private, view from the street.
Palmer
About 20 min north on I-45
The small town the credits name alongside Waxahachie. Omar's Pizza House is a good excuse to drive over.
Movie-night idea: stream Places in the Heart on the tiny home's smart TV, then walk College Street and the Rogers Hotel the next morning.
The Superconducting Super Collider
Proposed in 1983, construction started in 1991 just outside Waxahachie on a particle accelerator larger and more powerful than CERN's Large Hadron Collider. Physicists say it might have found the Higgs boson a decade early. Congress cancelled it in 1993 after nearly $2 billion had been spent and about 14 miles of tunnel had been bored. The tunnels were later flooded to preserve them.
You can't visit. In 2012 Magnablend bought the 135-acre campus and runs chemical blending there. It's private, active industrial property. Please don't trespass.
The Munster Mansion
The Munster Mansion
3636 FM 813, Waxahachie · about 10 min
Sandra and Charles McKee built a full-size replica of the 1960s TV house in 2001 from photos and episodes, then filled it with props and set pieces, from Grandpa's dungeon to Lily's parlor. Guided tours by the owners run about an hour, for groups from small parties up to 50, and they host murder mystery dinners. Tours by appointment only, no drive-ups: munstermansion.com or 469-305-0033. Watch a few episodes first.
History day trips from Waxahachie
Commemorative Air Force
Dallas Executive Airport
WWII warbirds up close, home base for the B-29 “FIFI,” one of the only flying B-29s in the world.
The Sixth Floor Museum
411 Elm St., Dealey Plaza, Dallas
The story of President Kennedy's assassination, in the old Texas School Book Depository. Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Penn Farm at Cedar Hill State Park
1570 W. FM 1382, Cedar Hill
An 1800s farmstead you can walk through, inside the state park. $7 park entry for adults.
Fort Worth Stockyards
Exchange Ave., Fort Worth
The longhorn cattle drive at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, and the Stockyards Championship Rodeo on weekend nights.
History events through the year
| When | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., Oct. 24, 2026 | Crossroads of Texas GO TEXAN Country Festival: 200+ booths, 10+ stages, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., free | Courthouse square |
| Sat., Nov. 14, 2026 | 26th Ellis County Veterans Celebration, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a flyover; free | Waxahachie Civic Center |
| Tue., Dec. 1, 2026 | Christmas Parade and tree lighting at the courthouse, 6:30 p.m. | Downtown |
| Dec. 4 to 6 and 11 to 13, 2026 | Bethlehem Revisited, a living nativity since 1997, 6 to 9 p.m.; free | 402 N. College St. |
| Dec. 12 to 13, 2026 | Historic Waxahachie Christmas Tour of Homes | Historic homes |
| Late Feb. to mid-March 2027 | Tulipalooza | Getzendaner Park |
| First weekend of June 2027 | Gingerbread Trail Tour of Homes | Historic homes and downtown |
| July 3 to 4, 2027 | Crape Myrtle Festival, fireworks, and parade to the historic depot | Sports Complex and downtown |
| Last Saturday in September | Waxahachie Chautauqua | Getzendaner Park |
Downtown Waxahachie parking, directions, and map
From the tiny home, the courthouse square is about 3.7 miles, roughly 8 minutes. Parking is free. Downtown has about 1,000 free spaces on the street, in public lots, and in a three-level garage at 205 E. Jefferson St.; city studies found the garage's top level more than half empty even at busy times. Handicap spaces are on the north side of the courthouse and on the garage's first level.
Open the courthouse in Google Maps.
Where to eat on a history day
Places marked Family pick are our own go-tos.
The Dove's Nest
105 W. Jefferson St.
Our family's favorite lunch downtown: sandwiches, soups, homemade pies, and a gift shop. Lunch Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
John's Place
100 N. College St., in the Rogers Hotel
Eat inside the movie bank. Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fresh Market Coffee
501 S. Rogers St., in the 1908 Katy depot
Coffee and pastries baked in-house. Daily, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Atkins Seafood
400 W. Main St.
Po' boys and gumbo at the start of the West Main homes. Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Southern Roots Brewing Co.
421 S. College St.
Pizza and house beer near Railyard Park. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. (noon Sunday).
Farm Luck Soda Fountain
109 W. Franklin St.
An old-fashioned soda fountain for floats and shakes. Open daily, until 3 p.m. Sunday.
Details checked October 2026. Hours change, so call ahead. More in our where to eat guide.
History itineraries
Plan A: one Saturday downtown
Saturday Courthouse to Chautauqua
- 9:00 a.m.Coffee at the Katy depotFresh Market Coffee, then park in the free garage.
- 9:30 a.m.Walk the courthouseCircle the building and find the faces.
- 10:00 a.m.Ellis County MuseumFree, about an hour.
- 11:00 a.m.African American Hall of Fame MuseumSaturdays from 10, about 5 minutes east.
- 12:30 p.m.Lunch at John's PlaceInside the Rogers Hotel.
- 2:00 p.m.Drive the Victorian homesW. Main, then W. Marvin and Patrick.
- 4:00 p.m.Chautauqua and the creek trailGetzendaner Park and the Waxahachie Creek Hike and Bike Trail.
- EveningA show at The Texas TheaterOr Places in the Heart on the porch TV.
Plan B: a weekday film-and-history trip
Weekday Tours open
- 10:00 a.m.Courthouse tourBy appointment, 972-825-5087.
- NoonThe Dove's NestLunch and pie.
- 2:00 p.m.Munster Mansion tourBy appointment, about 10 minutes away.
- 4:00 p.m.Bethel Community ChurchThe Places in the Heart church, west of town at golden hour.
Where to stay in Waxahachie for a history weekend
Downtown has a few bed and breakfasts in historic homes, and there are chain hotels along I-35E. Here's how our tiny home compares:
| The Waxahachie Tiny Home | Historic B&B | Highway hotel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeps | 6 to 7, the whole place | Usually 2 per room | 2 to 4 per room |
| Kitchen | Full kitchen | Breakfast served | Usually none |
| Privacy | Private entrance, self check-in | Shared house | Shared hallways |
| To the square | About 8 minutes | Walkable | 5 to 10 minutes |
| Setting | A porch over 1,800 acres of farmland | Victorian charm | Interstate |
| Pets | Welcome with approval | Rarely | Varies |
The honest take: if you want to sleep inside a Victorian, book a B&B. If you want space for a group, a kitchen, and a quiet porch after a day in town, that's us.
Plan ahead for tour weekends. The Gingerbread Trail and the Christmas Tour of Homes bring visitors from all over Texas. Check the calendar on VRBO or Airbnb and book early.
Tips and mistakes to avoid
- Go on a weekday for the courthouse. It's a working building, so weekends are outside only.
- Saturday for the museums. The African American Hall of Fame Museum is listed as open Saturdays only.
- Book the Munster Mansion ahead. There are no drive-up visits.
- Respect private homes. Photos from the sidewalk are fine; porches and yards aren't.
- Don't go looking for the Super Collider. It's private industrial property.
- Many downtown restaurants close Sunday or Monday. Check hours before you plan lunch.
- Golden hour is best for photos. See our photo spots guide.
How far is everything from the tiny home?
| From the tiny home to | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Courthouse square, museum, Rogers Hotel, Texas Theater | 3.7 mi | About 8 min |
| African American Hall of Fame Museum | 4.2 mi | About 10 min |
| Sims Library and the West Main homes | 4 to 5 mi | About 10 min |
| Getzendaner Park and the Chautauqua Auditorium | 5.2 mi | About 10 min |
| The Munster Mansion | 5.4 mi | About 10 min |
| Bethel Community Church | 10.8 mi | About 25 min |
| Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum | 15.4 mi | About 20 min |
| Cedar Hill State Park (Penn Farm) | 26.4 mi | About 40 min |
| Downtown Dallas (Sixth Floor Museum) | 31 mi | About 35 to 40 min |
| Fort Worth Stockyards | 47.7 mi | About 1 hour |
| Dallas Love Field (DAL) | 37 mi | About 45 min |
| DFW International Airport | 50 mi | About 1 hour |
Estimated drive times without traffic, October 2026. Event weekends downtown add more.
Questions we get
Why is Waxahachie called the Gingerbread City?
For the ornate wood trim on its Victorian homes: scrollwork, spindles, and lattice that look like the decorations on a gingerbread house. Cotton money around 1900 built one of the biggest concentrations of these homes in Texas.
What does Waxahachie mean?
The city's visitors bureau says the name comes from an Indian word meaning Buffalo Creek.
What movies were filmed in Waxahachie?
Four Oscar winners: Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Tender Mercies (1983), Places in the Heart (1984), and The Trip to Bountiful (1985). Others include 1918, Pure Country, Walking Tall 2 and 3, Universal Soldier: The Return, and Lawmen: Bass Reeves, plus Walker, Texas Ranger and Prison Break.
Where was Places in the Heart filmed?
Entirely in Waxahachie, writer and director Robert Benton's hometown, from September to December 1983. The courthouse appears in the opening shots, the Rogers Hotel lobby became the bank, and Country Roads magazine places Bethel Community Church, west of town, in the opening and closing scenes.
Where was Tender Mercies filmed?
The end credits say it was filmed on location in Palmer and Waxahachie, Texas, with Dallas standing in for Austin.
Can you go inside the Ellis County Courthouse?
Yes. It's a working county building, open to visitors on weekdays, and Texas Highways lists guided tours by appointment at 972-825-5087. On weekends you can walk the outside and see the carved faces.
What is the legend of the courthouse faces?
The story says stonemason Harry Herley fell for Mabel Frame, a boarding-house owner's daughter, and carved her face more grotesquely each time she turned him down. Historians doubt it: the faces match standard Romanesque ornament, and records show Herley married someone else in 1896.
Is the Ellis County Museum free?
Yes. It's at 201 S. College St., open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
Is there an African American history museum in Waxahachie?
Yes. The Ellis County African American Hall of Fame Museum and Library is at 441 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in a 1926 Knights of Pythias hall, across from the Freedmen Memorial Plaza. It's listed as open Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
When is the Gingerbread Trail tour of homes?
The first weekend of June. The 56th annual tour was June 6 and 7, 2026, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., run by the Ellis County Museum since 1968. Tickets are sold at gingerbreadtrail.org.
Can you tour the Munster Mansion?
Yes, by appointment only. It's a privately owned, full-size replica of the 1960s TV house at 3636 FM 813, with guided tours by the owners and murder mystery dinners. Book at munstermansion.com or 469-305-0033.
Can you visit the Superconducting Super Collider site?
No. The former campus is private industrial property owned by Magnablend, a chemical company. Please don't trespass.
What happened to the Super Collider in Waxahachie?
Construction began in 1991 on a particle accelerator that would have been more powerful than CERN's Large Hadron Collider. Congress cancelled it in 1993 after nearly $2 billion was spent, with about 14 miles of tunnel bored.
What is the Chautauqua Auditorium?
A 1902 open-air, eight-sided auditorium in Getzendaner Park that seats about 2,500. It's one of the few original Chautauqua halls left in the US and is on the National Register.
Is the Rogers Hotel still a hotel?
No. The 1912 building on the square now holds apartments, John's Place restaurant, a coffee bar, a dessert shop, and a barbershop.
How many historic places are in Waxahachie?
About 80 Waxahachie properties and districts are on the National Register of Historic Places, most listed in 1986, including the West End, North Rogers Street, and Oldham Avenue historic districts.
Where can I park for downtown Waxahachie?
Parking is free. Downtown has about 1,000 free spaces on the street, in public lots, and in a three-level garage at 205 E. Jefferson St.
About this guide
Written by the hosts of The Waxahachie Tiny Home, a family-run rental on farmland just outside Waxahachie. We checked the details on this page against official sources and update it as things change. Hours, prices, and dates move around, so confirm before you go.
Last updated October 4, 2026
