Honoring Our Roots: Missing Historical Marker Set for Downtown Texarkana Return

The City of Texarkana, Texas will host a special dedication ceremony celebrating the return of the Wavell’s Colony historical marker on Friday, October 10 at 12 PM. The marker will be unveiled near the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in downtown Texarkana, restoring a piece of local history that’s been missing for nearly a decade.

Honoring Our Roots As A Piece of Texarkana’s History Returns

The original marker was installed in 1969, but it was stolen in 2015. Now, the replacement stands as a proud tribute to the early settlers and stories that helped shape our town and this region.

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Matt Solomon, Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Texarkana, Texas, said in a press release,

This replacement marker is more than just a sign, it’s a recognition of the settlers and stories that shaped our community. We are proud to preserve and honor Texarkana’s history for future generations.

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Remembering Wavell’s Colony in the  Area Before There was a Texarkana

The Wavell’s Colony marker commemorates a settlement project launched in 1826 by General Arthur G. Wavell, a Scottish-born soldier of fortune, and Texas frontiersman Ben Milam. Even though land disputes prevented Wavell from issuing titles, his colony once spanned much of present-day Bowie and Red River Counties, parts of Miller County, Arkansas, and beyond.

Celebrate and Reflect

The public is invited to this special event. There will be a food truck with food available for purchase at the site from 11 AM to 1 PM. Come for lunch, connect, and help celebrate Texarkana’s historical roots.