Eastland in Eastland County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Old Rip
Photographed by Wesley Harris, June 10, 2022
1. Old Rip, the Horned Toad Marker
Inscription.
Old Rip. . Eastland County has a symbol - Old Rip, the horned toad who refused to die! He was placed in the cornerstone of an Eastland County Courthouse when it was built in 1897, and removed when it was torn down 31years later for construction of the present courthouse. A large crowd was on the courthouse square when the cornerstone was opened, in February of 1928. The horned toad was pulled out - flat and gray - and suddenly it began to move, then took a deep breath. The toad was named for Rip Van Winkle, and his fame spread. Old Rip was exhibited all across the United States, and he also visited President Calvin Coolidge. Unfortunately, the horned toad died of pneumonia in January of 1929. Old Rip was embalmed, and now rests in a casket on the first floor of the Eastland County Courthouse. His memory continues as Eastland celebrates Old Rip Day each February and Old Rip Fest each September.
Eastland County has a symbol - Old Rip, the horned toad who refused to die! He was placed in the cornerstone of an Eastland County Courthouse when it was built in 1897, and removed when it was torn down 31years later for construction of the present courthouse. A large crowd was on the courthouse square when the cornerstone was opened, in February of 1928. The horned toad was pulled out - flat and gray - and suddenly it began to move, then took a deep breath. The toad was named for Rip Van Winkle, and his fame spread. Old Rip was exhibited all across the United States, and he also visited President Calvin Coolidge. Unfortunately, the horned toad died of pneumonia in January of 1929. Old Rip was embalmed, and now rests in a casket on the first floor of the Eastland County Courthouse. His memory continues as Eastland celebrates Old Rip Day each February and Old Rip Fest each September.
Location. 32° 24.114′ N, 98° 49.211′ W. Marker is in Eastland,
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Texas, in Eastland County. It is on West Main Street 0.1 miles west of N Seaman Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 313 W Main St, Eastland TX 76448, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Big Country. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Comancherνa, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Regarding Old Rip. A metal sculpture of Old Rip is next to the marker. His "casket" in the Eastland Country Courthouse across the street.
Photographed by Wesley Harris, June 10, 2022
3. Information of Sculptor of Old Rip
Photographed by Wesley Harris, June 10, 2022
4. Old Rip Park in Eastland
Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2024, by Wesley Harris of Ruston, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 308 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 10, 2024, by Wesley Harris of Ruston, Louisiana. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
