Marker Inscription
One of the most disastrous tornadoes in Texas history swept through downtown Waco on the afternoon of May 11, 1953, killing 114 people, destroying 346 buildings and creating property damage in excess of $50 million. Some of the worst devastation occurred at this site, where 32 employees of the R.T. Dennis Furniture Company died when the building collapsed. Aid to the city came in the form of volunteer and military rescue forces and donations totaling over $9 million. The rescue and restoration efforts that followed reflected Waco's strong sense of pride and community spirit.
About this site
Waco Tornado, The is a historical marker in Waco, McLennan County, dedicated in 1983. It is one of 198 historical markers documented in McLennan County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 224 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 31.5568, -97.1317 near Waco. The nearest cataloged historic site is Alico Building (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Brann-Davis Shootings, Gerald-Harris Shootings, and The Courthouses of McLennan County.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5309005449. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
