| Marble Falls is a small city on the shores of the | | | | prior to their purchase of the home, "Birdie", as |
| Colorado River in the Texas Hill Country. The city | | | | Mrs. Harwood was called, was elected mayor of |
| was founded in 1887 by General Adam R. | | | | the community, and while teaching at the local |
| Johnson, and incorporated in May of 1907. Marble | | | | school, loaned supplies to one of her students, |
| Falls is located 47 miles northwest of Austin and | | | | Lyndon Baines Johnson, who later went on the |
| 85 miles north of San Antonio, so it is centrally | | | | fame as a political force in Texas and later the |
| located and accessible from two large | | | | president of the United States. Johnson along with |
| metropolitan areas. Marble Falls is in the middle of | | | | his family, is one of the most notable early |
| the Highland Lakes chain, and after the | | | | residents of Marble Falls. |
| construction of the dam which created Lake | | | | In 1970, home mail service began in Marble Falls, |
| Marble Falls, the marble falls themselves were no | | | | and Horseshoe Bay, a beautiful lakeside resort |
| longer visible, unless the lake levels were lowered | | | | replete with a golf course and various water |
| by the Lower Colorado River Authority, which | | | | sports, restaurants, and other facilities and |
| caused them to be visible in certain locations. | | | | activities, was built on the shores of the lake. |
| Marble Falls, frequently referred to as the | | | | Lake Marble Falls itself was created in the forties |
| Gateway to the Hill Country, was originally | | | | by the construction of Buchanan Dam, along with |
| founded when Adam Rankin Johnson traveled | | | | Starke and Wirtz Dams, and the other Highland |
| down the Colorado from Fort Mason to see the | | | | Lakes were created around the same time, by |
| "great falls", as they were called at the time, and | | | | damming the waters of the Colorado River. Lake |
| obtained land grants with the intention of settling | | | | LBJ is also very close to the city of Marble Falls, |
| near the falls, until he discovered the certificates | | | | and two of the dams used to partially create |
| were worthless and settled instead in Burnet with | | | | Lake Marble Falls were rebuilt in the year 2000. |
| his wife Josephine, in 1861. Johnson had intended | | | | Earlier, in 1980, a new high school was built to |
| to help build a great manufacturing community, | | | | improve the academic performance of the area |
| powered by energy from the falls, but after | | | | students, and ten years later, the internet was |
| settling with his wife in Burnet, joined the | | | | introduced in Marble Falls, allowing even more |
| Confederate army, and was later blinded by a rifle | | | | access to reference materials for the residents of |
| ball in combat. | | | | the growing community. |
| Johnson later was employed by the land office in | | | | Today, Marble Falls is an established community. |
| Burnet for years, where his reputed excellent | | | | The yearly Lakefest in August draws throngs of |
| memory and his son's help allowed him to | | | | visitors, as do various attractions including |
| overcome the limitations caused by his blindness | | | | numerous restaurants, a movie theater, many |
| and succeed in making land deals. In 1887, he | | | | R.V. parks, a public golf course called |
| finally purchased land in the Marble Falls area, and | | | | Meadowlakes, and a plethora of gift shops, |
| built a home for his family there. The home faced | | | | antique stores, bed and breakfast inns, and a |
| south, directly toward the majestic falls, and his | | | | variety of unique local attractions. Marble Falls has |
| family members gave him daily reports of their | | | | a large community of retirees, as well as |
| beauty so he could visualize them as he | | | | residents who spend their winters in the town, |
| remembered them. | | | | due to its mild climate. Some of the popular local |
| The community later thrived and became a | | | | restaurants include the Blue Bonnet Cafe and |
| cotton center, known as "The Blindman's Town", | | | | Russo's Texitally Cafe, and Rockhopper's Family |
| and Johnson's home, named Liberty Hall, was later | | | | Fun Center offers miniature golf and other games |
| purchased by Orphelia "Birdie" Harwood and her | | | | and sports. |
| husband George, in the early 1900s, and was later | | | | If peaceful, rural living, as well as scenic beauty |
| named Harwood house, but is still referred to as | | | | and numerous amenities are your cup of tea, |
| Liberty Hall or Liberty House by some. The house | | | | come to Marble Falls and experience the best |
| was bought in 1946 by Bill and Eunice Hall, and | | | | Texas has to offer! |
| their son, and is now a commercial building, but | | | | |