The One Place Near Dallas – Fort Worth That Must Be Seen To Be Believed
Ever wonder where the suburb northeast of Dallas known as Rockwall got its name? Most people don’t even think twice about the city’s origins, but in 1852 a strange discovery was made. Locals had found naturally-jointed geological formation, and it had the appearance of being completely man made. This jaw-dropping place has had people talking ever since.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Settlers discovered the rock wall, parts of which were above ground, when digging a well in the mid-1800s.
Pioneer Terry Wade suggested naming the town Rockwall after the curious geological formation. The name was accepted and the town of Rockwall was platted on April 17, 1854.
In conjunction with the Texas Centennial, a section of the wall was excavated in 1936 for public viewing for a fee.
The stones shown here are some of the largest ever discovered.
This home video by Matthew Warlick from an 1998 excavation dig of the wall provides additional insight:
The Rockwall museum is located at 901 E. Washington St. in Rockwall. It houses an expansive collection of furnishings, photographs and artifacts from the county of Rockwall dating back to the 1840s. It is open from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Saturdays from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
Have you seen the rock wall or pieces of it on display in the city, and if so, what are your thoughts about it? We’d love to hear your comments on this mid-1850s discovery.
