Dozens of people mill about the Waco Downtown Farmer’s Market September 7. Many wait for their turn at one booth, but they’re not buying fresh produce, handmade crafts or fresh-baked bread. They’re waiting to check in for Waco’s 175th Anniversary Scavenger Hunt.
175 years ago, the city was founded with help from Jacob de Cordova. To celebrate this anniversary, history groups around town hosted a historical scavenger hunt on Saturday.
About 30 teams registered and spent the morning dashing across town, following clues in the Waco History app. At each site, participants were prompted to read the historical entry on the app and complete a mission.
“It could be a variety of things,” Dr. Stephen Sloan said. He helped develop the Waco History app and organized the scavenger hunt. “At New Hope Baptist Church, they're going to sing a hymn together on the steps. When they’re at the suspension bridge, they’re going to organize a cattle drive with the group and send them across the bridge.”
After each mission, teams received clues for the next site. Volunteers provided hints when teams got stuck, like “Chuck Norris would feel at home here” or “it’s the ALICO building of Waco’s bridges.”
Teams were made up of one to eight members, many of them families. The Saucedo family was one such team. Their friend, Aida Scott, works with Waco History and invited them to join.
" I just wanted to do it ‘cause it sounded fun, and they like being outdoors so I invited them,” Scott said.
Another team, the Olmstead family, said they participated in a previous hunt and enjoyed learning more about Waco’s history.
“Waco has such a rich history that there’s so many different aspects that are really interesting,” Mrs. Olmstead said.
But the family was most excited for the prizes.
“We did win last time, so we’re trying to do it again,” Olmstead said.
Prizes are not given out based on finishing times.
Instead, 3 teams will be awarded baskets filled with items from local businesses. They’ll be judged based on their creativity and historical insight. But the biggest prize of all, Sloan said, isn’t the basket full of goodies.
"But I like to think everyone's a winner,” Sloan said. "Because they will come they will come away with a deepened historical understanding of Waco and isn't that the most valuable thing?"
And if you missed the hunt, Sloan said not to worry.
" Well, the app is in your hand. You can download it on the app store, on Google play and go out and explore some of these sites," he said. Ïf you missed this one, you can now go do your own, the tools in your hand.
