History of the Gingerbread Trail
Founded in 1968 by the Ellis County Museum and local preservationists, the Gingerbread Trail began as a grassroots effort to celebrate Waxahachie’s unparalleled concentration of Victorian homes. Over the decades, it has grown into one of Texas’ most treasured heritage tourism events, drawing thousands of visitors from across the region and beyond.
The term “Gingerbread” refers to the highly decorative wood trim that adorns many of Waxahachie’s historic homes—intricate scrollwork, spindles, and lattice that resemble the embellishments on a gingerbread house. Today, this annual celebration not only preserves the city’s historic fabric, but also supports local history programming through the Ellis County Museum.