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Bankhead Highway AKA US Highways 67 and 80

In its earliest incarnation, it was known as The Bankhead Highway; prior to it’s inclusion in the national highway system, it was known as Texas Highway 1. It is known as one of the earliest transcontinental highways in the United States. With one end in Washington, D.C. and the other end in San Diego, CA passing through several states, including Texas. The only part of the route we are interested in, here, is its path through Texas.

Originally, The Bankhead Highway went through Texas on Texas Highway 1, From Texarkana to El Paso. When the US highway system came into being portions were designated as US Highway 67 and other portions were designated as US Highway 80. When the interstate system came into being, and specifically I 30 to I 20, I 20 to I 10 and I 10 to the Texas State Line swallowed many of the original paths of the highway as well as US Highways 67 and 80.

The Bankhead Highway dates back to 1917. Over the years, it was realigned several times due to new technology and paths taken. After each realignment a new area of highway or even a new town would see traffic. Subsequently, new businesses would sprout to take care of motorists passing through along the road.

Here are just a few of the images from the Highway in East Texas.

  • US67_Bankhead_Highway_Business_Sign_Mount_Vernon_Texas
    US67 Bankhead Highway Business Sign Mount Vernon, Texas
  • US67_Bankhead_Highway_Neon_Church_Sign_Sulphur_Springs_Texas
    US67 Bankhead Highway Neon Church Sign Sulphur Springs, Texas
  • US67_1936_Bankhead_Highway_Rest_Area_Titus_County_TX
    US67 1936 Bankhead Highway Rest Area Titus County, TX

And here is the link to our static page, including more images, many more: https://www.texas-travelers.com/historic-texas-highways/bankhead-highway-texas/

The basic path of the bankhead highway, today, through Texas is simple. From Texarkana Interstate 30 to Interstate 20 to Interstate 10 ending in Elpaso. Along this route there are many original paths that remain, today. It’s not our intention to map out the routes that remain, those exist. Our intention is to photographically document some of the old artifacts along the way that still exist. For route information please see links, below.

Links to more information about The Bankhead Highway

Texas Historical Commission has a really good map of the old highway through various alignments broken into sections.

Texas Time Travel very nice page and map showing some of the attractions to see along the road.

More information about Texas’ Historic Highways

Dinosaur Valley State Park – Footprints of a lost era …..

Dinosaur Valley State Park – Introduction

Dinosaur Valley and Footprints in the sand? Millennia ago, there were. Today the footprints are encased in rock, in the Paluxy riverbed. Some above the waterline, some below. They say late summer is the time when the most footprints are visible and the least amount of water is in the riverbed. There are several things to see and do in the park.

Dinosaur Valley State Park – Things to do

Campsites … we didn’t camp within the park, but, there are a pile of water/electric RV sites to use.

Artifact Collection – There is much to learn all over the park. From the displays in various locations to the displays in the visitors center.

Hiking / Biking / Equestrian – There are numerous trails throughout the park for foot travel as well as for bike and horse use.

The best thing about being in the park was, without question, discovering and seeing the dinosaur tracks. There are two types of tracks, 3 toed predator and round, kind of like an elephant. Seeing all of these tracks is simply awe inspiring.

We highly recommend everyone see this park at least once. There is plenty to do for a day. Those with kids, this park will absolutely keep them busy and learning for hours at a time. This is really a special treat for the kid (and the adults that act like kids ;). The trails are well marked and not overly difficult to walk. Great exercise.

More Information

State Park Main Page

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Suspension Bridges In Texas – On a quest to find them

Texas Suspension Bridges
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, HAER, Reproduction number TX-98

Really?? Suspension Bridges??

Wow …. as a matter of fact, it never really crossed my mind to consider suspension bridges, here. I always thought the Golden Gate Bridge to be beautiful, just never really considered that this state, Texas, would have a collection of them. When I was researching a trip we are about to make, I ran across a suspension bridge over the Colorado River, near the town of San Saba called Regency Bridge. Regency Bridge is named for a town that was once in the vicinity. The town of Regency really is more a collection of farmhouses, but, the bridge remains.

We have, so far, seen to several of the known and usable suspension bridges and a couple of the sites where pieces or dilapidated bridges remain. The only one we have seen, to date, that allows vehicular traffic, is regency. Beveridge is just up the road and is for foot traffic only. Waco has one for foot traffic. There is a dilapidated bridge or two just west of sherman, I have only found one, so far. In this post, we will gather all of the suspension bridges and sites; as well as, pictures and maps to the various locations.

Regency Bridge

We have approached this location from three different towns, on three different occasions. The shortest, most direct, approach is from San Saba – taking Texas 16 North from City Center then after 5 miles or so left on Farm to Market 500 to the northwest about 20 miles. County Road 433 will be on the right. See the included map for other options …. This bridge and area is a spectacular place for shooting photos of all types and the views from the bridge are awesome.

 

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Waco Suspension Bridge

Of all of the standing suspension bridges in Texas, Waco (1869) is the oldest. I might even argue it is the most photogenic. It has huge cables holding up its deck. And the restoration it has gone through was done really well. We were there, early, on a Sunday morning the one time we have been there, so far …. and the activities of people in the area were more than a little, well, intimidating, so we didn’t hang around long. We plan to return when there is a little more everyday activity in the area, like when things downtown are open for business.

 

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Choctaw Creek Suspension Bridge

Choctaw Creek is one of two Suspension Bridges I’ve heard about between Sherman and Bonham, Texas. Of the two, it is the on’y one I have actually found. Believed to have been constructed around 1915, it, as well, was clearly never meant to be used for vehicular traffic. Foot, horses, and maybe a small wagon were clearly its intended usage. Choctaw Creek Suspension Bridge is located a few miles east of Sherman just north and very near the right of way for US Highway 82, it is visible from the highway. Winter is the easiest time to spot it … there is a lot of undergrowth encroaching, at this point.  I really need to make an effort to get up to the location in the winter to get some additional shots, before nature takes its course.  I hold a tiny speck of hope that someone (Texas DOT or the county or the property owner) does something to save this piece of North Texas history.

 

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Beveridge Suspension Bridge

We’ve been to the Beveridge Bridge Several times. It is clearly a hit with the locals. We often see couples shooting photos, out there. Beveridge was built in 1896 as a single lane bridge to get farmers and commodities to market. It is just to the northwest of San Saba on County Road 200 about a mile past the “Wedding Oak”. It was permanently closed in 2004 and restored in 2005 as a pedestrian bridge.

 

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Clear Fork of the Brazos Suspension Bridge

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