ACTIVITIES

Each year, Texas Monthly Magazine features the "Top 50" BBQ restaurants in Texas.  In 2019 after only being opened for six months, Brett's Back Yard BBQ was Awarded Number Two by Texas Monthly.  Brett's Back Yard BBQ remains in the top 50 by Texas Monthly.

In 1873, the International & Great Northern (I&GN) Railroad acquired right-of-way in Milam County and the town site of Rockdale was surveyed out covering some 400 acres and including thirty-five blocks of lots. The I&GN passenger depot was constructed which served the town for over 30 years before a new passenger depot was constructed one block west of the original depot.

In 1874, the I&GN railroad began it's westward expansion from Hearne to Austin. This stretch of railroad was built in two segments: Hearne to Rockdale and Rockdale to Austin. The Hearne to Rockdale segment spanning twenty-eight miles was completed in late 1874. The Rockdale to Austin segment was completed two years later (1876). During the two-year period when Rockdale was the end of the line, a great deal of railroad business came by wagon from towns west of Rockdale.

After completing the line, the I&GN constructed two wooden depots, one for handling freight and the other for processing passengers. The first passenger depot was located on the South side of Milam Street between Ackerman and Green Streets. Also, the first freight depot was located on the South side of Milam where Main Street now crosses the tracks. In those days Main Street ended at Milam. As time passed, Rockdale and the I&GN grew and prospered creating a need for replacement depots.

From 1746 - 1749 three Spanish missions and a presidio were built in the area by Spanish missionaries, mission Indians and a Garrison of Spanish soldiers. The Spaniards goals were to Christianize and civilize the numerous Indian tribes in the area and to establish a presence, in this region, ahead of the French.  

They also were constructing a rock dam and a system of acequias (canals) just east of Apache Pass to irrigate the mission fields ¼ mile southeast of here.  The stones are said to have been used in the construction of the San Gabriel School in 1935.

Apache Pass, named by the early Spanish Explorers, is the gravel bar crossing here on the San Gabriel River that was used for centuries by Native American Indians then by explorers, settlers, and local farmers and ranchers for many reasons.  A short distance north of the crossing there are tracks remaining in the native pasture identifying the old trail.

This crossing, which is still used by farmers today, was the crossing used prior to the existing iron bridge which was built in 1912.  Prior to this date, the path took a NNE route out of the river bottom to higher ground where numerous huts and later houses were built.  Presently, County Road 428 heads north from the bridge to where, in 1925, the Worley Cotton Gin and its trade store were built.  The store remains standing today.

The property was purchased by the Worley family in the late 1800s and remains in the family.   In 2004, FM 908 was identified as part of the Upper El Camino Real, a National  Historical Trail from Mexico to Louisiana.    The beautiful pecan tree riber bottom of Apache pass is now an event venue with two restaurants on site.

The Felton family is deeply rooted in Milam County, going back 150 years. When the opportunity arose for Frank “Trey” Felton III to pursue the family feed store business, he jumped at the opportunity. With a passion for food and cooking, it wasn’t long until Trey opened a meat market on the property, selling hand cut steaks, handmade sausages and craft BBQ. 

Central Texas was once known for its meat market-style barbecue joints, i.e. meat markets that had a barbecue business on the side. Many of those places are gone, or they have converted into barbecue-only businesses. A few holdouts remain, including one shining example: the Thorndale Meat Market. 

From US 79, turn south on FM 908 - one block past railroad tracks "The Old City Cemetery" and the "Black Old City Cemetery” are located together and adjoining the Jewish Cemetery.  The Black Old City Cemetery is AKA Fulcher Cemetery.

Old City Cemetery Hosts Rare burial on Tuesday  --  Rockdale Reporter - January 10, 2013

Rockdale's Old City Cemetery made a little more history on Tuesday January 10, 2013 with its first interment in a number of years.  Lillian Douthit of Houston was buried in the historic old cemetery under the direction of a Houston area funeral home.  Douthit was the daughter of Dr. Walton E. and Lillian Douthit, a family with strong Rockdale ties.

Rockdale's Old City Cemetery is located just south of the railroad tracks off South Main Street and contains a number of graves from the 1800s.  There are also 48 Confederate veterans interred in the cemetery.

The Kay Theater opened on N. Main Street on November 27, 1947 with Jean Parker in “Rolling Home”. It was the smaller of Rockdale’s two movie houses (the larger being the Dixie Theatre). It was a Quonset Hut-style building, with Streamline Moderne facade and decor. The Kay Theater had a small balcony, originally for the use of African-American patrons in the era of segregation.

In 1953-54 the library was actually started with 2,300 books donated by the citizens and the Texas State Library. October 17, 1954, the public was invited to an open house. In 1957, a lot, donated by the heirs of E.M. Scarborough to the city was offered as the site for a proposed George Sessions Perry Memorial Library. Perry was an author and native son of Rockdale. Hope for a Perry Library faded, however, due to funds being unavailable at that time.

In 1961, Dr. George Hill Patterson made a $12,500 donation in memory of his mother who was born in Rockdale. The city provided matching funds and on May 25, 1963 the dedication of the new Lucy Hill Patterson Library was held. Dr. Patterson was pleased with the acceptance and operation of the library and provided a generous gift in his will for library expansion. In 1980 the library was completely remodeled, tripling in size with a second story.

With a staff of four and an active volunteer program, a variety of programs and services are offered to patrons of all ages. The library currently works closely with the Milam County Genealogical Society and is a member of the Central Texas Library System.  Beautiful antiques and art are tastefully displayed.

At Piano Bar and Steakhouse, we are here to make sure all your dining needs are met.  We have a full bar, friendly staff, and the small hometown owners who go above and beyond to meet your expectations every time you walk through the door.  They can be reached by calling 512/446-6221.  Hours are Monday thru Saturday 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.  Kitchen closes at 9:00 PM and they are closed Sundays.

Round Top, Texas, is an easy 45 minute drive from Rockdale with three (3) large shows each year; Winter, Spring and Fall.  During show times, it is much larger than you can imagine. With more than 50 venues in the area open during show time, each has their own independent format.  Our format has been true & consistent over the past 49 years, and we take pride in the tradition of our legacy.  Our format is 100% Antiques and Vintage with no new items and no reproductions. Although we have products in a wide variety of price ranges, from under $50 to over $1,000 we pride ourselves in bringing dealers with the finest quality of merchandise in all of Round Top.  Having said that, we encourage you to do some research before you arrive, so that you are ensured to find the items in which you are interested in.  In the Round Top area during show time you will find many venues with a wide array of merchandise available from flea market items to new and reproductions, imports, boutique clothing, crafts and interior decorator pieces as well. Doing your research ahead of time will ensure you get the most of your Round Top Antique Week experience. 

Located in historic Round Top, Texas, The James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts and its sole project, Round Top Festival Institute, were founded in 1971 by world-renowned concert pianist James Dick. Begun with a handful of gifted young pianists in rented space on the town square, the project is now an internationally acclaimed music institute for aspiring young musicians and distinguished faculty.

Since 1971, with the help of its patrons and friends, The James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts has developed superb year round education and performance programs. It has also created a unique 210-acre campus "Festival Hill" containing major performance facilities, historic houses, extensive gardens, parks and nature preserves. Through its singular collection of rare books, manuscripts, archival material, music and historic recordings, photographs and objects, Round Top Festival Institute is also known as an important center for research and scholarly study.

http://www.milamcounty.net/page/milam.home

Texas A&M University is a public research university founded in 1876 and located in College Station, Texas. In 1948, Texas A&M University became the founding member of the Texas A&M University System. As of 2017, Texas A&M's student body is the largest in Texas and one of the largest in the United States.

https://www.tamu.edu/

The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and burial site of George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, and his wife Barbara Bush.

Sworn in as the 41st President of the United States on January 20, 1989, George Herbert Walker Bush helped usher in a new and more hopeful geopolitical era marked by the spread of freedom and free markets. During his historic term in office, the West prevailed in the Cold War; the Soviet Union gave way to a democratic Russia; the Berlin Wall “fell” and Germany was unified within NATO; and President Bush signed two treaties to drastically reduce the threat of nuclear war. After Iraq’s unprovoked invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Mr. Bush forged an unprecedented coalition of disparate nations to uphold international law. His deft handling of this international crisis enabled him to convene the Madrid Peace Conference later in 1991. Throughout his presidency, George Bush worked closely with his international counterparts, including Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, in ways that advanced America’s interests in peace and economic opportunity.

https://www.bush41.org/