Texas Historical Marker Unveiled to Honor Historic Lubbock Auto Auction - KCBD

Founded in 1947, Lubbock Auto Auction holds a claim most locals probably never knew their city had: second-oldest auto auction in the entire United States. The unveiling happened directly on the auction floor, a space rarely open to the public, which made for an unusual setting for a marker ceremony.

The business runs exclusively for auto dealers every Thursday, so most Lubbock residents have never set foot inside. That long run includes weathering at least one major disaster, continuing its scheduled auctions under a big top tent after a devastating event rather than shutting down. The marker recognizes that kind of staying power in the same city across all those years.

For Lubbock, this is a reminder that some of the most significant pieces of local history are not on Broadway or near the Strip but tucked into wholesale operations that most people drive past without a second thought. A business that has outlasted nearly every other auction of its kind in the country has been running here quietly since Harry Truman was president.