The History of Enchanted Rock

Born in a tent near San Saba, Ira Kennedy is a fifth generation Texan of Cherokee-Irish descent. Growing up in numerous locations from Japan to Germany, his experiences are as diverse as his talents. Ira served as a cryptographer in the U.S. navy (1960-1964), held two solo exhibitions in New York City, and participated in the group exhibition,＂ The Art of money, with Andy Warhol in New York’s Chelsea Gallery (1967-1970). Ira has received both first and second place journalism awards from the National Newspaper Association and several photojournalism awards from the Texas Press Association and the South Texas Press Association-- 1986-87. Ira served as art director from 1987-1992 for the American Botanical Council’s magazine herbal Gram before becoming publisher and editor of Enchanted Rock magazine -- 1993-1998. Considered as the state’s leading authority on Enchanted Rock, the sacred mountain of Central Texas, Ira has assisted the author’s of several published books, articles and the Thomas Evans mural of Enchanted Rock in the Austin-Bergstorm International Airport. IN 1992, Ira was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Texas Parks and & Wildlife Department for providing numerous educational talks at Enchanted Rock Natural Area. Articles by Ira have been published by Texas Monthly, Texas Highway Magazine, The Nature of Texas, Texas A&M press, and Sacred Sites by Natasha Peterson. Ira was featured in the Austin Chronicle, The Highlander newspaper in Marble Falls The San Marcos Record, and the German magazine Spotlight, as well as segments on KLRU-TV & KTBC-TV, plus several area radio stations including the syndicated ＂The Sound of Texas,＂ with Tumbleweed Smith, and the syndicated TV program Texas Country reporter -- the video ＂Bob Phillips Tours Texas State Parks＂ available at their website.