Nacogdoches Texas history, attractions, landmarks, photo gallery, featured articles, forum, travel, hotels & more. (original) (raw)
Downtown Nacogdoches
Photo courtesy Dana Goolsby, November 2011
Nacogdoches County was organized in 1837. Both city and county were named after the Nacogdoches Indians.
Nacogdoches, Texas
History & People
1936 Texas Centennial Marker:
Nacogdoches
Home of the Nacogdoches Indians in the 17th century. Spanish settlements, 1716. Alternately settled and abandoned in 18th century due to French encroachments. Scene of the Fredonian Rebellion in 1827. Organized a municipality, 1839 under the Mexican government. Created a county March 17, 1836; organized May 24, 1837. Nacogdoches established 1779, became the county seat in 1836.
- The Oldest Town in Texas? by Bob Bowman
- The Old Stone Fort by Archie P. McDonald
Y'Barbo's Stone House hosted meetings of the Nacogdoches Committee of Public Safety and the selection of representatives to the conventions and the Consultation during the Texas Revolution and it witnessed the Battle of Nacogdoches in 1832. - Stone Fort Bank by Archie P. McDonald
The Stone Fort Bank of Nacogdoches won its charter on February 14, 1903, and 100 years later, is still a familiar landmark in downtown Nacogdoches. - Trammel's Trace by Clay Coppedge
Trammel's Trace started (or ended) at what is now East Main Street in Nacogdoches and took North Street through what is now Mount Enterprise, then north between current Rusk and Panola Counties and across the Sabine River near Tatum. From there the road jogged north through Marshall and Jefferson, crossing the Sulphur River at Stephenson's and Epperson's Ferry. - A Story of Two Veterans: They Didn't Take the War Personally by Mike Cox
Nacogdoches� Oak Grove Cemetery is one of the oldest and most historical graveyards in Texas, but one of its better stories has hardly been told. - The First Millionaire by Bob Bowman
Texas� first likely millionaire wasn�t from Dallas or Houston. He came from East Texas--and he didn�t make his money from oil. Frost Thorn, an early storekeeper from Nacogdoches, had a worth of more than a million dollars after Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836... - "Ten-Gallon Hats / Pint-Sized Brains" Otis P. Driftwood recalls Nacogdoches by Mike Cox
A runaway mule in Nacogdoches helped change American entertainment history. - Marx Brothers by Clay Coppedge
The Marx Brothers weren�t funny at all until they came to Texas... - The Chief's Sons by Bob Bowman
Natchitoches and Nacogdoches - SFASU by Archie P. McDonald
"Twenty-three Reasons Why The Stephen F. Austin State Normal Ought to be Located at Nacogdoches." - Chief Executives by Archie P. McDonald
"East Texas has produced its share of prominent personages in entertainment, business, medicine, and other professions but prominent political figures have tended to call other sections of the state their home, especially in the last half century. It started out differently." - WACs by Archie P. McDonald
Women's Army Corps "saved Stephen F. Austin State College." - The Arthur Temple School of Forestry by Archie P. McDonald
- James Harper Starr by Archie P. McDonald
- Albert Thomas by Archie P. McDonald
One of the most famous photos ever made shows Lyndon B. Johnson taking the oath as president aboard Air Force One shortly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In the photo, a tall, trim man wearing a bow tie bends in to get a better view of President Johnson and Justice Sarah Hughes, who administered the oath. That man was Albert Thomas, who represented the Eighth Congressional District�essentially, Harris County and Houston�in Congress for fifteen terms.
Thomas was born in Nacogdoches on April 12, 1898.... - The Millard Sorghum Silo of Nacogdoches by Robert Rand Russell
That old red brick silo, sound and plumb as it was in 1915 due to the Old World craftsmanship of John "Dutch" Heaberlin and the enterprising Jesse Millard, Sr., prevails as a witness of East Texas history and prosperity... Another landmark casting a shadow. Now this one also shines with a story... - Disturbance of 1832 (the Battle of Nacogdoches) by Archie P. McDonald
- D�n Antonio Gil y' Barbo: Latter-Day Moses by Archie P. McDonald
It is impossible to overstate the importance of Y'Barbo to the founding of Nacogdoches. He built a "casa piedras," or Stone House, on Plaza Principal, and a separate residence. The Stone House, though always private property, became the seat of government and town gathering. Y'Barbo "fathered" Nacogdoches. - Lyne Taliaferro Barret by Archie P. McDonald
Few East Texans remember Lyne Taliaferro Barret, but they should: Barret drilled the first oil well in Texas. - William Goyens by Archie P. McDonald
This is the story of a free black man who lived and thrived in Nacogdoches during the days of slavery. - The Lone Star Brand by Archie P. McDonald
Many things in Texas -- especially East Texas -- began in Nacogdoches, and Texas Farm Products, known for its familiar logo that features a Lone Star within ring inside a triangle, is one of them. - Adah Isaccs Menken: The lady on the Horse by Archie P. McDonald
- Haunted Nacogdoches by Dana Goolsby
Stephen F. Austin State University is allegedly home to numerous spooks. The Turner Fine Arts Auditorium at SFA has more than fine art in the building. A ghost named Chester is believed to haunt the building... - Phantom of the Opera in Nacogdoches
From Ghosts in East Texas by Bob Bowman - Nacogdoches Incorporated in 1837 - History cartoon by Roger T. Moore
Nacogdoches, Texas
Attractions/Landmarks - Photo Gallery
- Lanana Creek Trail -
6 miles trail in Pecan Acres Park - Millard's Crossing -
6020 North Street (US 59 N)
East Texas architecture on 37 acres.
936-564-6631. Admissions - Oak Grove Cemetery -
N. Lanana St, at Hospital St.
Including four signers of Texas Declaration of Independence. - Old Nacogdoches University -
1858 building today a museum. On Washington Square, Thomas J. Rusk Middle School campus. Mound and Hughes St. 936-569-7292 - Old North Church -
US 59 North and Highway 35.
The oldest union church in Texas. - The Old Stone Fort (by Archie P. McDonald)
"In 1936, a replica of the Old Stone Fort was located on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University, and visitors can drop by and get a good idea of what the first building in Nacogdoches looked like."
Tues. - Sat. 9AM - 5PM. Sun. 1 - 5 PM.
Closed Monday and holidays. 936-468-2408 - Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden -
Texas' largest azalea garden.
South of SFA Johnson Coliseum, University Drive.
Open daily. 936-468-1832 - Stephen F. Austin Mast Arboretum -
On SFASU campus, off Wilson Dr.
Open daily. 936-468-1832 - Sterne-Hoya Home -
Historic home built in 1830.
211 S. Lanana St., 946-560- 5426 - Lake Nacogdoches
10 miles west of Nacogdoches off FM 225
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us Nacogdoches Tourist Information
Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau -
(888) OLDEST-TOWN
200, East Main Street, Nacogdoches, Texas 75961
http://www.visitnacogdoches.org/ Nacogdoches Hotels › Book Here
The Chapel at Millard Crossing
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, January, 2006
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Chas Hoya 1897 Land Office Building
Photo courtesy Dana Goolsby, November 2011
Nacogdoches City Hall
Photo courtesy Dana Goolsby, November 2011
General Mercantile
Photo courtesy Dana Goolsby, November 2011
The 1929 Goodman Pony Truss Bridge shown here in Mount Sterling was relocated to Pecan Park in Nacogdoches
Photo Courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2010
"West End Lake, Nacogdoches, Texas"
1930s Postcard courtesy Bill Burris & Friend
Nacogdoches, Texas Forum
- Nacogdoches claims to be the oldest town in Texas, using 1716 as the date. Now, the Dallas Morning News Texas Almanac and the Univ Texas Handbook of Texas, on line, say it 'aint so. They say Ysleta and Socorro of El Paso were est. ~ 1680-2, which is an earlier date even using public school math. I suspect there's some 'school pride' in this Nacogdoches-ites claim, but is there a real, non-tall-tale truth for claiming to be the oldest? Or maybe Mr. Bowman has this covered somewhere? - J R Overton, May 04, 2004
See The Oldest Town in Texas? by Bob Bowman
Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories and recent or vintage/historic photos, please contact us.