Wilton’s Landing

Convenience stores have a prominent place in the American landscape and our lives. Known by a variety of names such as service station, gas station, corner store, mini-mart, or bodega, it’s hard to travel anywhere without seeing one. Historically, many convenience stores in the United States were unwelcoming to racial and ethnic minorities. Jewish, Black, and Hispanic Americans developed their own systems to find safe places to rest and refuel.

Convenience stores played an essential role in the distribution of soft drinks, a typical road trip refreshment for many Americans. Wilton’s Landing allows visitors to see what products may have adorned the shelves in convenience stores of the past and explore the history of travel, convenience stores, and the people who used them.  

This exhibition was made possible by:

The Cooper Foundation

The Rapoport Foundation

Keurig Dr Pepper

Humanities Texas

Waco Foundation

With special thanks for artifacts and history to:

7 Eleven

Gary Myles

Dexter Hall

Dr. Stephen Sloan

Dr. Peaches Henry

Hector Sabido

Mito Diaz-Espinoza

Harry Harelik

Michelle Gonzalez

Lesson Plans

Grades 3-5

Grades 6-8

Oral History Resources

Oral history preserves the stories of our community members who helped create the fabric of history and whose lives, in turn, were shaped by the people, places, events, and ideas of their day. ​ Using these recorded interviews, researchers can then learn about historically interesting moments in time. 

In-Depth Histories of the Sandtown and Calle Dos Neighborhoods

For more information on the original location and removal of the two historic Hispanic neighborhoods of Waco, check out their Waco History webpages. There, readers will learn more about the effects of the federal urban renewal efforts in Waco and be able to see historic photographs of the neighborhoods. 

Texas Historical Commission’s African American Travel Guide Survey Project

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has an ongoing project researching and conducting surveys of sites listed in various African American travel guides such as The Green Book. Check out their webpage for an interactive map of travel guide sites in Texas and look for sites in your hometown or Waco!

Additionally, detailed research has been conducted that highlights African American travel guide sites in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco. View the posters designed by hardworking interns of the THC.  

Waco Hispanic Museum

If you are interested in learning more about the rich history of Hispanic residents of Waco, visit the Waco Hispanic Museum in the South Waco recreation center! To plan your visit, please call Louis Garcia at (245) 548-9730.