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Llano, Texas Travel Guide
Llano is located west on TX 29 from Buchanan Dam
in a region called the Llano Uplift, a geological formation caused
by igneous rocks from 40 miles below ground being pushed up to the
surface.
As a result of the formation, the rich minerals found
here turned Llano into a boomtown in the 1880s. Huge deposits of
iron ore were found in the area, and some industrialists had dreams
on making Llano the "Pittsburgh of the West." Tent cities
were erected, mining went full swing, and downtown Llano was spruced
up with the money that came pouring into town. All too soon, though,
one hard fact came to light: to make steel you have to have coal
as well as iron, and there was no coal in the area. To bring coal
in was far too costly. As quickly as it began, the iron ore business
came to a swift halt.
But Llano was by then well known for another mineral:
granite. During its heyday, the city boasted 10 granite quarries
and five finishing plants, shipping several varieties of granite
around the country. When rail prices increased, Llano's granite
business also came to a stop, although vast quantities of granite
still remain.
Granite brought many prominent men to the area. Sculptor
Frank Teich, a nationally famous German artist owned a monument
company(he also owned the town of Teichville). His World War I monument
still stands on the courthouse lawn here. Teich came to Llano for
its healthy climate when doctors told him that he had only six months
to live. Either the doctors were wrong in their diagnosis or Llano's
healthy atmosphere really worked, because Teich lived in the town
for another 38 years! Even today, Llano is listed by the U.S. Census
as one of the healthiest places to live in the country.
Another prominent Llano citizen was Professor N.
J. Badu, a mineralogist who came to town to operate a manganese
mine, and tried to focus the attention of the mineralogy world on
Llano's many minerals. Today his elegant home is a busy bed-and-breakfast
inn.
The Llano area is still a collector's paradise, with
over 240 different rocks and minerals discovered in the region.
The area's granite, feldspar, graphite, and talc have commercial
value, while the more precious yields, such as garnet, amethyst,
tourmaline, and quartz — even gold and silver — are sought
by eager visiting rock hounds.
Public rock hunting is allowed on the Llano River
in town. Stop by the park on the south bank of the river just across
from the public library and try your luck. The riverbanks are dotted
with rocks of all varieties and offer some pretty picnic spots as
well.
Attractions:
Llano County Historical Museum. Visitors
find this museum housed in the old Bruhl Drugstore, with displays
on the area's early Indian history and Llano's boomtown days. An
exhibit contains samples of Llano's many rocks and minerals. Located
at 310 Bessemer Ave. (TX 16).
Barbecue
For More Information:
Llano Chamber
of Commerce
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Corpus Christi
