Waypoints

Snapshots from the Digital Windshield

We map the physical coordinates of towns, historical markers, and various roadside distractions here. This feed ignores any deep intellectual analysis. Consider it our digital windshield. We serve up quick geographic pit stops and immediate visual context to casual travelers. Serious history obsessives can bypass these brief overviews entirely. We expect you to admire the landmark without questioning the chaotic events that happened there.

permian basin
Waypoints

The Perfect Geological Storm of the Permian Basin

July 23, 2026 BBQGRAIL 0
At first, the Permian Basin might seem like just another spot on the map. But its story is a blend of ancient geology and a dash of unexpected history. The Permian Basin holds more significance than most people realize, making it a fascinating subject for exploration. The Permian Basin gets its name from the Permian geologic period. Deep below our […]
prairie skyscrapers
Waypoints

History of Prairie Skyscrapers

July 16, 2026 Larry Gaian 0
If you drive across the flat Texas Panhandle, you will notice giant concrete towers sticking out like sore thumbs. Locals call them “Prairie Skyscrapers.” Today, most look completely abandoned. What on earth is their story? These ghosts are the hilarious, stubborn results of economic shifts, federal policies, and intense engineering. Why the Prairie Skyscrapers Stand Empty Back in the 1940s, […]
Littlefield
Waypoints

The Roots of Littlefield: A Railway and Ranching Legacy

July 6, 2026 Larry Gaian 0
Littlefield sits right in the heart of the Llano Estacado, where the West Texas spirit runs deep. Back in July 1901, Major George Washington Littlefield—a generous Texas businessman—bought the southern part of the old XIT Ranch, more than 312,000 acres. Folks soon started calling it tIn 1912, surveyors found out the new Panhandle and Santa Fe Railway would cross the […]
amarillo mountains
Waypoints

The Amarillo Mountains: The Panhandle’s Hidden Peaks

June 25, 2026 Larry Gaian 0
The Amarillo Mountains are a hidden wonder right under our feet. If you stand in downtown Amarillo and look out, you see only the flat, endless Llano Estacado. But deep below all that dirt and rock, there’s a huge, rugged mountain range most folks never even hear about. Here is the story of the hidden peaks beneath the Panhandle. The […]
tomb of christ
Waypoints

Tomb of Christ Replica: A Quiet Stop in West Texas

June 8, 2026 Larry Gaian 0
If you drive through the expansive cotton fields of West Texas, the flat horizon becomes familiar. Just a few miles west of Brownfield, Texas, a unique landmark catches the eye: The Roadside Tomb of Christ. This humble Christian shrine offers a peaceful place to pull over and reflects the local faith of rural Texas. For road-weary travelers, it provides a […]
Waypoints

Making Sense of FMs, RMs, and the Asphalt in Between

June 8, 2026 Larry Gaian 0
If you’ve driven through Texas, you’ve probably seen Farm-to-Market (FM) and Ranch-to-Market (RM) roads. Maybe you’ve wondered what really sets them apart. Are FM roads for tractors and RM roads just for cattle trailers? Few things compare to the simple joy of driving along a winding stretch of Texas backroad. Imagine rolling down your windows, feeling the warm breeze, and […]
Waypoints

Needmore And It’s Hardscrabble Life

June 3, 2026 Larry Gaian 0
I spend a considerable amount of windshield time driving between appointments in the Texas Panhandle, Staked Plain, and West Texas. I enjoy driving by and through small towns, especially those with strange or interesting names. Recently, I drove through Needmore in Bailey County, Texas. A little research revealed that many settlers in out-of-the-way places had an interesting sense of humor. […]