April 17, 1854. That's the day Elijah Elgin turned in the paperwork that brought Rockwall into existence. To celebrate our community's 154th birthday, enjoy these historic photos.
A few years after it came to life, Rockwall consisted of little more than a post office, a blacksmith, a grinding mill, a church and general store. By the late 1800s, Rockwall had grown to a population of 600.
Wells College was organized in 1893 by Professor J. K. Wells. The school operated until 1912 by which time Rockwall had grown to a population of over 1,000.
Rockwall now sits on the eastern shore of Lake Ray Hubbard, originally known as the Forney Reservoir. Construction of the lake began in 1964, and the dam was completed in 1969.
Read more about Rockwall's founding on our history page. Or if you want to enjoy the ultimate in birthday parties, join us at the Festival! It's what Founder's Day is all about!
Get further behind the scenes with Festival Focus!