Mule Creek Cemetery

The creek behind the name is fourteen miles long. Mule Creek rises seven miles southwest of Tennyson in southeastern Coke County and runs northeast through sparsely settled ranchland, over moderately steep slopes of shallow to moderately deep silt loam, mesquite and grass. It enters the Colorado River four miles south of Maverick, across the line in Runnels County. The stream is said to be named for a mule that died and was left at a crossing. The cemetery stands beside U.S. 277 near its crossing with Farm Road 2333, in the creek's country.

What the plaque says

Mule Creek Cemetery Established by pioneers of Mule Creek community, a small frontier settlement founded in 19th century. Said to be named either for (1) an early horse and mule ranch, or (2) a stagecoach mule that died at a creek which runs nearby. The Abilene-Fort Concho stage once served area. For years principal building in here was a combination school church, since 20th century, shift to urban living has diminished population of Mule Creek. Inscriptions of tombstones chronicle history of community. In spring, grounds are covered with bluebonnets, state flower. (1971)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Carnegie Library of Ballinger — 20 mi
  A 1909 limestone library with an Ionic portico in a railroad town the Santa Fe created in 1886, one of the few Texas Carnegie libraries still working in its original building.
• Fort Chadbourne — 20 mi
  An 1852 infantry post and Butterfield stage station on a Coke County ranch, its fallen stone buildings rebuilt since 1999 by the descendant of the family that has ranched the land since 1877.
• Miss Hattie's Bordello Museum — 22 mi
  The upstairs rooms on Concho Avenue where a brothel ran from 1902 until the Texas Rangers closed it in 1952, shown on short guided tours with most of the furnishings original.
• San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts — 22 mi
  A free art museum on the Concho beside Fort Concho, founded in the fort's 1868 quartermaster building and known nationally for its biennial ceramics competition.

More markers nearby

• Tennyson — steps away
• Maverick — 7.9 mi
• First Baptist Church of Bronte — 9.5 mi
• Townsite of Marie — 12 mi