The City of Round Rock has gained recognition from the Texas Historical Commission with an Award of Excellence in Media Achievement for its exceptional work in reporting on preservation and heritage tourism. The award, announced last Thursday, comes as a nod to the city's efforts over the past two years to generate media products with lasting impacts, including the creation of interactive tools and engaging narratives that bring the city's rich history to the forefront of public discovery.
Among the celebrated initiatives is the "Historic Landmarks Explorer," an interactive online application that showcases 109 historic resources around Round Rock. Designed for both education and exploration, it helps users delve into the city's stories through photos, maps, and detailed descriptions. Despite the array of one-time media productions, it's this enduring digital window into history that stands distinguished for its long-term value.
Further enhancing the local historical experience, the "Historic Downtown Walking Guide" offers a tangible companion for traversing the city's past on foot. This pocket-sized booklet details a 1.7-mile journey through 41 Texas historic landmarks in the heart of Downtown Round Rock, made readily available at various events and local centers.
Round Rock's heritage preservation efforts extend to the digital space with "Places in Time Videos," a series that brings various historical sites to life. These include captivating stories from iconic locations like The Stagecoach Inn and The Immortal Ten Bridge. It's these very videos that punctuate local television on Spectrum Cable 10 and Uverse 99, ensuring that the city's legacy is shared broadly.
The city also harnesses its social media prowess, notably on Facebook with over 106,000 followers, to engage the community with visual snippets of history, such as the wagon wheel ruts along Brushy Creek and the Main Street from 1896. These posts not only highlight Round Rock's historical gems but also invite public interaction, capturing the community's reflections on its storied background. Information on these and other historical features can be found on the City of Round Rock's official website.
