The official rodeo capital of Texas is rich with history.
6 Ways to Take in the History of Mesquite, Texas

The Dallas Pressed Brick Company, a brick factory that opened its doors in 1904, was once a thriving small community that included a church, school, homes, and even a cemetery that served its African-American workers. When the plant permanently closed in 1950, the workers and their families moved away and the land—including approximately 80 graves—was abandoned. Rediscovered decades later, the site has now been made a historical memorial for those laid to rest. Located between a railroad bridge and a canal, a monument now stands commemorating the workers and their families who once called the area home.

The Opal Lawrence Historical Park highlights one of the first families that came to Mesquite. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the house was built in 1874 and is a living testament to the “Texas prairie vernacular” styling of that period, a simple yet functional structure built with locally sourced materials. The intact farmstead includes painted and stenciled ceilings and walls—a very artistic embellishment for its time. It’s also a great example of the architecture of the era. What sets this historical homestead apart is that the family lived in the home continuously until 1995. At that point, the Lawrence family donated several acres, and the city obtained many more, to form the now 13.8-acre historical park.

Longtime Mesquite residents seem to have one thing in common: they all have a favorite story or folktale related to the railroad. After all, the town was developed around the Pacific Railroad line and its history includes the infamous train robbery of 1878, when Sam Bass held up a Texas and Pacific train. Unfortunately for Bass, he got away with only $152 and missed a hidden shipment of the $30,000 payload he and the Sam Bass Gang were initially after. This robbery prompted a call to arms by the Texas Governor, who turned to the Texas Rangers to start the “Bass War,” which eventually led to Bass being caught and fatally shot. A historical marker in Heritage Square shares the story of Sam Bass.

Yet another iconic property in Mesquite, this 19th-century homestead teaches visitors a lot about the history of ranching in Mesquite, and in Texas more broadly. When David W. Florence originally purchased the land in 1871 or 1872, it spanned 207.5 acres. By the 1890s, David and his wife, Julia Florence, built the ranch with the help of family and friends, creating a modern-day example of 19th-century rural Texas carpentry and ingenuity. The Lawrences continued to expand the land and soon acquired a whopping 730 acres; the property would later become known as Meadow View Farm. At the farm’s height, the family raised sheep, mules, and horses and grew a variety of seed crops. In 1987, the Florence family donated the farmhouse to the city of Mesquite.

Tours are available on Fridays and on the second Saturday of the month. 

In Texas, the brisket sets the barbeque apart. Here, brisket is king, and getting it smoked right takes a Texas-style smoker, a pitmaster, and perhaps some secret sauce. Family owned & operated since 1959, Mesquite BBQ is still putting out some of the best brisket in the region. Owners Dustin & Melanie Palmer took over the business in 2018 with the mission to broaden the business while keeping traditions alive. Dustin smokes all the meat himself in the famous wood burning “Oyler Smoker,” patented by one of the first pitmasters of Mesquite BBQ, Herbert Oyler. As one of the oldest restaurants in the Dallas area, Mesquite BBQ has a lot of recipes that have been passed down from one generation to another. Don’t miss the “manhandler”, a beef and sausage sandwich served on Texas toast. 

Recorded as a Historic Texas Cemetery, this burial ground was in use well before the Texas and Pacific Railroad established Mesquite as a city in 1873, and it offers up a slice of pioneer history with the earliest marked grave dating back to 1859. Located adjacent to City Lake Park, it’s also one of the oldest parks in the city, and was awarded a Texas Historical Marker. During the second week of October, Historic Mesquite organizes a walking tour of the graveyard. This “Mesquite Meander” features live outdoor theatrical performances and monologues highlighting stories of notable citizens buried in the cemetery.