General -
Site of Indian settlement for centuries before first European
arrived; named for the Nacogdoche Indians. Area visited by La Salle expedition in 1687.
Spanish mission founded in 1716. For more than a hundred years town was major eastern
gateway to Texas. Nacogdoches is often referred to as the "cradle of
Texas liberty". Some of state's most historic landmarks are here. Texas' first
newspaper, Gaceta de Tejas, was published in Nacogdoches. Home of Stephen F. Austin State
Univ. Points of Interest
Old Nacogdoches University
Built 1858, modified Grecian structure was first nonsectarian university established
during Republic of Texas. On Washington Square, campus of Thomas J. Rusk Middle School,
building is museum featuring antique furniture, silver, other relics. Open Tues. - Fri. 1
- 4 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sun. 1 - 4 p.m. Mound and Hughes Sts.
Old Stone Fort
The Stone Fort Museum is housed in a 1936 replica, built on a
new site, of Don Antonio Gil Y'Barbo's stone house. Y'Barbo, the founder of present day
Nacogdoches, built the stone house circa 1780 as the formal portals to the Spanish
District of Texas. The original site of Y'Barbo's house, torn down in 1902, is the corner
of Fredonia and Main Streets in downtown Nacogdoches. During its history, the original
house served variously as a public building, grocery store, candy store, saloon, and as a
temporary fortification during the Magee-Gutierrez, Dr. James Long and Fredonia Rebellion
filibusters.
Don Antonio Gil Y'Barbo (pronounced e-barvo) built a home that reflects French Colonial
residential architecture, but the building acquired a nickname in the mid-1800's when its
owner named his saloon the "Old Stone Fort Saloon." Prior to that, the building
was referred to as the stone house. The house changed hands several times before the
Perkins brothers bought it for $12,000 in 1901 with the intention of demolishing the
structure to erect a modern building. This news attracted the attention of the Cum
Concilio Club, a local historical group. The Club conducted fund raising projects for one
year in hopes of purchasing the aging structure. Unable to prevent the demolition of the
building, the Cum Concilio Club purchased the building stones that were later incorporated
in a small memorial structure and museum. Before the house was torn down in 1902, it was
the oldest standing stone structure in the State, and its porch one of the earliest
examples of the galerie style porch in Texas.
In 1936, the same stones were in turn used to build the present replica structure,
authorized by the Texas Centennial Commission, which stands on the campus of Stephen F.
Austin State University. Now over fifty years old, the replica structure is an important
landmark and currently contains a continuing exhibit on the history of the house and a
temporary exhibit, "East Texas Portfolio", which focuses on artists and
photographers of the 18th and early 19th century who lived in or had a direct influence on
East Texas. The "East Texas Portfolio" exhibit can be viewed until December
2000.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday from
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed on Mondays and holidays. Admission is free of charge.
Guided tours are available by reservation only. For more information call (936)468-2408
weekdays, or email the museum at stonefortmuseum@yahoo.com
.
Located on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.
La Calle del Norte
Spanish for "The Street of the North," currently North Street in Nacogdoches,
believed to be oldest public thoroughfare in the U.S. Long before Spanish explorers
discovered and named it, route connected the major Indian community of Nacogdoches with
other Indian villages to the north.
Millard's Crossing
A group of
restored 19th Century buildings furnished with antiques and pioneer memorabilia. Guided
tours Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sun. 1 - 4 p.m. 6020 North St. (U.S. 59 north).
For information, call 936/564-6631. Admission.
El Camino Real
"The King's Highway"; first blazed in 1691 by Domingo Teran de los Rios,
first provincial governor of Texas. Often called "Old San Antonio Road" (OSR),
route is virtually that of today's Texas 21.
L.T. Barret Memorial
Honors the man who drilled Texas' first oil well in September, 1866. It produced
10 barrels a day. Memorial located on Stephen F. Austin State University campus.
Sterne-Hoya Home
>Built in 1828 by Adolphus Sterne
as a home for his new bride. Pioneer merchant was active in ill fated Fredonia
rebellion of 1826-27; helped with founding of Texas Republic. Sam Houston baptized
as Roman Catholic here, because Mexico required landholders to be Catholic. Legend
has it that Sam Houston remarked, "Texas is worth a mass".
Open Monday - Saturday, 9a.m. - noon, then again 2 - 5 p.m. 211 South
Lanana Street, one block off East Main Street (Texas 21). Telephone: 936/560-5426.
Lanana Creek Trail
Six miles of rustic trail ramble through Pecan Acres Park along Lanana Creek.
Scenic trail follows paths once traveled by Indians.
Stephen F. Austin Arboretum & Herb Garden
Ten acres of native and exotic plant materials organized into various theme gardens.
Major collections include an herb garden, fern glade, dry garden, daylily and iris garden,
a perennial border, bog garden, conifers, plants of Asia, and native plants of East Texas.
Open daily. Off Wilson Dr. on SFASU campus and part of the Lanana Creek Trail.
Visitor Information
For more information on city accommodations, restaurants and events, stop by
the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau at 513 North Street. Open Monday - Friday
8a.m. - 5 p.m., or call 936/564-7351. You can also visit our web site at www.visitnacogdoches.org, or call toll free
1/800/564-7351. |