The city showcases a few historic sites that speak to Pearland’s legacy.
Historic Zychlinski Park is named for Witold von Zychlinski, the Polish nobleman who came to Brazoria County in the late 1880’s and fell in love with the flowering pear trees in an area he called Pear Land. It’s the oldest park in the city, home to two pear sculptures on the Pear-Scape Trail, and is just steps away from the famous Killen’s Barbecue. Ronnie Killen renovated the 1937 schoolhouse cafeteria and opened his first barbecue restaurant in Pearland in 2014.
Just a five-minute drive north to Halik Street off highway 35, you’ll find the Old Settler’s Cemetery, the original community graveyard for the city of Pearland that can be toured during regular Pearland park hours, dawn until dusk.
Around 1900, the Santa Fe Railroad built a depot near Pearland which soon became a gathering place for settlers to meet visitors and pickup mail and supplies. Pearland’s development was sustained for many years by the promotion of the area as an agricultural wonderland with vital railroad access. The facility was donated to the city and moved to its present site by City Hall.
Pearland’s Old Townsite isn’t just where the city began—it’s where the future is taking shape. A historic district with momentum, this area is undergoing a massive transformation as part of the Old Town Revitalization Plan into a robust, walkable hub of homes, businesses, and energy.
Follow the barbecue trail from Killen’s to Central Texas BBQ, where the same family has owned, operated, and manned the kitchen since 1969. The restaurant was designated a Texas Treasure Historic Business by the Texas Historical Commission in early 2024. Their specialties are hickory smoked barbecue and indulgent sides with a Cuban twist; an experience you won’t want to miss while in Pearland.
In 1992, Russell Ybarra was asked to take over his father’s failing restaurant here in Pearland, and through hard work and dedication his remodel blossomed into the multi-location Tex-Mex empire we know today as Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen. Eat at the original location on Broadway for a delicious taste of Pearland History.
Pearland’s culinary scene includes a variety of international and locally owned restaurants offering something appetizing to every palate. Check out our dining directory, and take a trip across the globe with a taste of the distinct cultures that make Pearland one of the most diverse and delicious cities in Texas.
Join Pearland for a spring celebration of the Old Townsite district every April! Pearland Grand Arts & Eats takes place on Grand Boulevard with artist and maker booths, farmers market vendors, live music, a family fun zone, and delicious food from local restaurants.
Then in October, prepare for a ghostly-good time at Hops and History: A Tour of Old Settler’s Cemetery presented by Commissioner Stacy Adams’ office, the Forever Parks Foundation of Pearland, Vallensons’ Brewing Company, and Visit Pearland. Partake in a hike through history from Vallensons’ to the Old Settler’s Cemetery led by a special pathfinder from the past, hear from early Pearland residents, and enjoy a cold beverage back at the brewery.
The event earned the Heritage Tourism Achievement Award from the Texas Independence Trail Region; a division of the Texas Heritage Trails Program under the Texas Historical Commission.
Visit Pearland is proud to present The 1894 Podcast, a deep dive into the history of Pearland!
Hear from Pearland residents and resources about the evolution of the city, and how the city transitioned from its historically agricultural landscape to the shopping, foodie, and events destination that it is today.