Opal Lawrence Historical Park
If you are in Mesquite and love to explore historical monuments, then the Opal Lawrence Historical Park is a prime place to be at. You will find it in what is now called ‘Old’ Mesquite. While the Opal Lawrence residence is the main attraction, there are other just as old buildings which have since been renovated and rebuilt. Some of which have retained their original form while some taking on an entire new look. But worry not my fellow history lovers, the main residence is still intact and in its original form.
To really appreciate our visit to the park, we must understand the historic relevance behind it. The landmark construction initially began in 1874 courtesy of Stephen Lawrence. By the turn of the 19th century the house now had an extra fourteen rooms. Stephen Lawrence and his wife Louisa Walker had a total of 8 children, 3 of which are the most prominent to our historical landmark. The three children I talk about are Onyx, Garnet, and Opal. Of these three Opal and Garnet never got married and spend their entire lives in this very place, along with Onyx’s husband and herself. The last surviving member being the namesake herself, Opal before passing away in 1995, handed the century-old residence along with the farm over to Mesquite City. The city happily accepted and bought out the surrounding area which is now officially known as the Opal Lawrence Historical Park. I could go on and on in describe the entire place, but I think the pictures would say a lot more in less time than I could ever with my writing. As for visiting hours, it is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:30am to 3:30pm. So check out this historic palace if you ever feel like traveling back in time. In this day and age where we are constantly bombarded with irrelevant information, it really is awe-inspiring to step back and soak in the simple yet elegant nature of this unique residence. Learn about Mesquite Arts Center |
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