It’s 330 miles from Dallas to Lubbock, give or take. About 5 hours by car. Unless, that is, you slow down a little, or maybe even stop, for more than just a fill up. If you do, and if you’re interested, I think you’ll find what you may have always suspected: that when we take a closer look and listen, on the way from Dallas to Lubbock–or any route from point A to some far away point B–we find these sleepy little towns we normally rush through–or fly over altogether–aren’t so sleepy after all.
There’s a whole lot going on. Some things are as expected, others decidedly not. McKinney, Jacksboro, Olney, Seymour, McAdoo, Aspermont, Post–the list goes on, each with a unique past, present, and future.
But what about those who lived or traveled through here, by different means, a century or more ago? They have stories as well–some they left as historical documents and artifacts; others will have to be pieced together, from fragments and available evidence, which we will do.
The stories expand exponentially when we include the natural environment as well–the climate above, the topography and the wildlife around us, and the geological formations far below, extending back to when this entire area was an ancient seabed on the supercontinent of Pangea. Adding this all together, the result is not only a map, but a multidimensional ‘deep map’ of this part of the state.
The purpose of this project, is to find, tell and re-tell a few of the many stories of the people and places and events–past, present, and future–along the way from Dallas to Lubbock.
Some of these will be stories; some will be interviews, and some a combination of both, along with images, video and audio.
Why this route, from Dallas to Lubbock?
I first began making this drive several years ago, to visit my daughter, who was enrolled at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. At first, I’m ashamed to admit now, I didn’t pay too much attention to the people or places I passed along the way (there’s a life lesson in there somewhere). 1) Reduce travel time while 2) avoiding speeding tickets–these were my twin goals.
Over time, however, I wised up a bit. I learned to slow down, and to seek out and listen to the stories of the people and the places along this way. Facilitating these conversations and stories, and bringing them to a wider audience, to inspire others, to learn from, to honor, or simply to enjoy–these are among the purposes of this site.
Please Share Your Stories
I’d love to hear your stories from this route, as seen through your eyes, from your front porch, or through your windshield as you pass through. Consider this a warm and sincere invitation.
For more on the background and ideas of this site and project: The Idea(s) for Dallas to Lubbock.