The Lubbock Lake National Historic Landmark preserves important archaeological sites dating back to the Paleoindian Period and offers a variety of hiking trails, museum exhibits, and public nature programming.
History
The Lubbock Lake region is located within the Brazos River’s Yellowhouse Draw area and is part of the Blanco Formation bedrock area, which was formed approximately 20,000 years ago by the depositing of lake sediment. Though there is very little standing water left at the lake, the site has been a significant historic area dating back at least to the Paleoindian Period, with archaeological evidence uncovered at the site dating back as far as 11,500 years ago. Throughout the Archaic, Ceramic, and Protohistoric Periods, the site was populated by a number of indigenous groups, including the Apache and Comanche Nations. Following the arrival of Europeans in North America, the area was used for buffalo hunting and was the site of the Singer Store general store, which was operated from 1881 to 1886 and is credited as the beginning of the formation of the city of Lubbock.
For several millennia, Lubbock Lake was an important water resource for a number of cultural groups within the Southern High Plains regions, but by the early 1930s, the lake had gone primarily dry and was no longer able to be used for resources. In 1936, the City of Lubbock dredged the lake in the hopes of revitalizing its underground springs, and in the process, a large number of archaeological finds were uncovered. Official archaeological exploration of the site began in 1939 with an expedition conducted by the West Texas Museum, and by the late 1940s, major finds from the Folsom Period dating back 10,000 years ago had been unearthed, including several ancient bison kills which provided the first-ever radiocarbon dating for Paleoindian material. Subsequent excavations have uncovered evidence of a nearly-complete cultural sequence dating from the Clovis Period through the present day.
Attractions
Today, Lubbock Lake National Historic Landmark spans 336 acres within the northern part of the City of Lubbock and is protected as a National Historic and State Archeological Landmark. More than 12,000 years of human history on the Llano Estacado has been uncovered through excavations, which are overseen by the Museum of Texas Tech University, and evidence of ancient indigenous people and extinct animal species uncovered at the site has contributed important understanding of historic periods in North American history. The landmark serves as a field laboratory and natural history preserve and conducts ongoing excavations and radiocarbon dating studies, which may be observed by visitors of all ages year-round. Guided and self-guided tours of the landmark and current excavations are offered Tuesdays through Sundays in the morning and afternoon hours.
The landmark’s Robert A. Nash Interpretive Center offers a variety of permanent and temporary rotating exhibits focusing on archaeological and cultural topics related to the site and the Southern High Plains region. Permanent exhibits focus on the history of human occupation of the Yellowhouse Draw area and excavation methods used by archaeologists. Past rotating exhibits include A Most Misunderstood Landscape, which focused on conservation efforts attempting to restore the region’s prairie and grasslands ecosystems in the face of modernization and climate change. An online exhibit, Engaging Folsom Hunter-Gatherers with 3D Technology, explores the tools and technologies of Folsom Period hunter-gatherers. A Landmark Store is also offered at the facility, selling books, multimedia items, apparel, and children’s toys.
4.5 miles of hiking trails are offered at the landmark for visitors to explore at their leisure, with trail maps available at the Center. No vehicles are permitted on trails due to dangers presented by loose materials, with the exception of bicycles and power-driven mobility devices for visitors with disabilities. Trails include the 0.5-mile Archaeological Trail, the 0.5-mile Llano Estacado Wildflower Trail, and the 3.5-mile Landmark Nature Trail.
Ongoing Programs and Education
In addition to regular visitor exploration and tours, guided tours of the landmark for small groups and organizations may be scheduled by contacting the landmark’s Education Office via phone or email. Night Hike programs are offered by the landmark from March through September, lasting approximately 90 minutes and offering stargazing and animal-watching experiences. A speaker’s bureau offers outreach programming available for booking for local businesses, civic organizations, and community events, and periodic historic craft and technology demonstrations are offered at the landmark as part of public special event programming. A volunteer Field Research Program allows visitors to work with professional staff from around the world to conduct archaeological surveys and mapping and participate in excavation work at the site.
2401 Landmark Dr, Lubbock, TX 79415, Phone: 806-742-1116
