Like so many West Texas towns, cattle trails, railroad tracks, and highway travel shaped the development of Baird. When it was established as the Callahan County Seat in 1880, Baird was a meeting place for cattle round‐ups and revelry. Devastation rattled the early years of the town - a fire in 1884, a tornado in 1895, and a spectacular three‐locomotive pile‐up in 1910. But the community pushed forward and by 1911, Baird had become such an important stop along the railroad that a new two-story passenger station was built. In 1917, the Bankhead Highway from Mineral Wells to El Paso was routed through Baird. When IH 20 bypassed the town in the late 1950s, the old section of the Bankhead Highway through Baird (US 80) became an alternate route known as IH 20 Business. Presently, a granite marker in front of the Callahan County courthouse describes the early Bankhead Highway route through Baird.

More Locations in Baird

Roadway Segment
CR 494 east of town at 4th St.

The roadway segment outside of Baird retains its original asphalt, width, and bridges, but more importantly, the setting of the roadway remains the same as it did when it was completed ca. 1925, making it easy to imagine what it must have been like to drive this road in an earlier time.

Motel and Gas Station
West 4th and Eugenia Sts.

The motel and gas station combination found in downtown Baird was a once ubiquitous form found along the Bankhead Highway. Though you can’t stay here or fill up your tank anymore, you can imagine what a relief it was for travelers between the bigger cities of Eastland and Abilene to come upon the amenity as they were running out of gas and energy for the day.