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Continue reading →: Walk the Chisholm Trail in Waco, TexasYou’ve likely heard of the cattle trails running through Texas. One of those trails is the Chisholm Trail. Did you know you can access a piece of it in Waco, Texas? You can easily walk in the footsteps of the old cowboys right downtown crossing over the Brazos River on…
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Continue reading →: Camp Ford – The Texas Civil War P.O.W. CampDid you know that there was a Civil War P.O.W. camp in Texas? Did you know that it was the largest one “west of the Mississippi River,” at one point holding over 5000 Union prisoners? Once again, we were thrilled to stumble onto something fascinating just driving to our destination.…
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Continue reading →: See What Life Was Like West of the Pecos“You should check out the West of the Pecos Museum,” advised my friend, Amy. We were visiting her in Odessa, Texas on our way to El Paso. Amy and I had worked together at Centralia College in Centralia, Washington, where David and I both worked. Originally from Texas, Amy had always…
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Continue reading →: Get Outdoors in Fort Parker State Park, Mexia, TexasSometimes you want to visit a place and participate in an activity but not have to buy and haul around a bunch of equipment. Fort Parker State Park outside of Mexia, Texas seems to have considered this idea as well. It was named for John Parker’s family, in 1833. In case…
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Continue reading →: Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site – Mexia, TexasBrown historic signs stand out to us like neon signs in Vegas. When we saw the one for the Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site, we quickly whipped the car towards it. It’s a little bit of a drive off the main road where the sign is, but not too far. We…
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Continue reading →: Canton First Monday Trade Days – The World’s Largest Flea MarketIf you can’t find it here, it probably doesn’t exist. Or at least that’s what I told David on our recent visit to “First Monday” in Canton, Texas, billed as the “World’s Largest Flea Market.” Is that true? I have no idea, but they said it, and it IS huge…
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Continue reading →: A Visit to Nacogdoches – the Oldest Town in TexasNacogdoches, Texas. Not to be confused with Natchitoches, Louisiana. Although they both supposedly came from the same beginning. The Caddo Indians lived in the area and the story is that a chief had twin sons. When they grew up, he sent one son east (Natchitoches) and the other son, Nacogdoches,…
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Continue reading →: Get Your History Buff Fix at The Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita, KansasAlthough it’s advertised as great family fun, Wichita’s Old Cowtown Museum is also fun for history buffs like us. Owned by the City of Wichita it has over 25,000 historical artifacts spread out among 54 buildings on 23 acres of land near in the River District. We began in the…
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Continue reading →: Walk the Wild West in Historic Downtown Hays, KansasFounded in 1867, Hays, Kansas is the county seat of Ellis County. With a population of 21,136, it’s not small, definitely not large, more of a “Goldilocks” size, in our opinion. Big enough to have a variety of shopping and dining options, and small enough to get around without crazy…
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Continue reading →: Stories in Stone – Fort Larned, KansasOn our recent tour of the Gunsmoke Trail in Kansas, we stumbled on Fort Larned (pronounced Lar-ned) National Historic Site. Located on the Santa Fe Trail at 1767 KS Hwy 156, this is one of the best-preserved forts we have seen. We have included a lot more photos at the end here…
Hello,
We’re David and Nancy Keaton
We’re David and Nancy Keaton, explorers with a deep appreciation for the stories sewn into the fabric of small towns and rural communities. We began with a simple idea: to slow down, take the scenic route, and discover the rich history that lies just beyond the main highways.
Through Heritage Backroads, we aim to share our passion for heritage travel,
immersing ourselves in the culture, architecture, and traditions that define each special community. From historic courthouses and quaint main streets to local festivals and mom-and-pop diners, we believe that every backroad leads to a story worth telling.
Whether you’re a fellow traveler, a history enthusiast, or someone who cherishes the
charm of small-town life, we invite you to join us as we explore the heritage and history that enriches our lives and connects us all.
So, hop in and take a ride down the backroads with us and discover the stories worth saving.
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