Everything you need to know about the diverse history, heritage, and culture in Texas so you can explore and experience it for yourself.
There are few things that feel more authentically Texas than stopping at a little general store and picking up some preserved something-or-other to take back with you (and maybe some jerky for the road). That's why we've put together a list of some of our favorite old time general stores for your next trip along the country roads and through the town squares of Texas. After all, you never know when you may find yourself in need of some stamps or sewing notions.
Holland Hotel — Alpine, TX
The original Hotel Holland was built in the 1880s. The one Trost worked on is a few store fronts up…
Perry Mansion — Terlingua, TX
It was not my first time to see the Perry Mansion, I’d seen it up on the hill many times…
Davis Mountains Scenic Loop
When visiting the Big Bend Region, be sure to make time to spend a day or two in Fort Davis.
Gage Hotel
The town of Marathon came into being with the coming of the Texas and New Orleans Railroad in 1882 and…
Hotel Paisano
The striking Hotel Paisano, historically known as El Paisano Hotel, got off to a rocky start as construction workers broke…
Hotel El Capitan
Hotel El Capitan was built in 1930 by the Gateway Hotel Chain, led by Charles Bassett, at the crossroads of…
Discover These 8 African American History Sites in Dallas
As one of the last states to inform enslaved people of their freedom, Texas shares an interesting relation with its…
7 Hispanic Heritage Sites in San Antonio
Formerly part of Mexico and Spain, Texas has deep Hispanic roots. Much of the food, entertainment, and celebrations Texans enjoy…
German Historical Sites in the Hill Country Region
German immigrants initially sought sanctuary in Texas from political and religious persecution. Many settled in the Hill Country, where the…
Top Picnic Spots with Texas History
As Texans continue to seek creative ways to explore our state safely, the Texas Historical Commission is offering ideas for…
Healthy Activities and Texas History at Our State Historic Sites
2021 presented new opportunities to explore activities and travel throughout the Lone Star State. Many of our state historic sites…
Exploring the Quanah Parker Trail
Dozens of arrows, 22 feet tall, pierce the landscape of the Panhandle Plains. They commemorate Quanah Parker, last chief of…
Historic Road Trip: Fredericksburg to Johnson City
The Hill Country is the birthplace of former President Lyndon Baines Johnson and the home of descendants of thousands of…
Historic Road Trip: Nacogdoches and San Augustine
East Texas is a special place. From the tall pines, to the historic downtowns, and the unique lodging and dining…
Historic Road Trip: Amarillo and Canyon
Clear skies, wide open spaces, and spectacular scenic vistas immediately jump to mind when you think of the Texas Panhandle…
Historic Road Trip: Denison to Clarksville
Settled by Native Americans, conquered by Spaniards, then included as part of Mexico, this region is rich with history and…
Historic Road Trip: San Antonio
When San Antonio visitors venture beyond the River Walk area, they find a remarkable range of heritage tourism sites in…
Historic Road Trip: South Texas Coastal Bend
The Texas coast stretches 350 miles from South Padre Island to the Louisiana border, extending through a diverse array of…
Historic General Stores in Texas
There are few things that feel more authentically Texas than stopping at a little general store and picking up some…
Brazos Trail Region
Visit Eight State Historic Sites to Experience the Republic of Texas Era
Step back in time and experience the period of the Texas Republic in person or virtually at one of these…
Hill Country Trail Region
Kerrville, Main Street City, Celebrates Its Musical Heritage
This spring, come to Kerrville for the music, stay for the history!
Horse Country
Attempting to define “horse country” in Texas is a tricky business.
Hill Country Trail Region
Barbecue And Brew
My husband Josh and I have never been the type to frequent chain restaurants or order the same take-out week…
Historic Hotels And Lodging: Sam Houston May Not Have Slept Here
Nothing beats a good night's sleep followed by a full day's worth of adventure. It's why we travel.
Hill Country Trail Region
All Aboard: A Trip on the Hill Country Flyer
My wife and I are always looking for fun family activities to do with our seven-year-old son, Parker, especially anything…
Forest Trail Region
Missions
When you think of missions in Texas you might imagine benevolent brothers in brown robes ringing bells, or spending hours…
Tropical Trail Region
Refugio to Zapata: Texans at War
War has always played a major role in shaping the state’s history.
Wildlife Refuges
The state’s wildlife refuges are some of the first places in our history set aside for the protection of wildlife…
Tropical Trail Region
Republic of the Rio Grande
The Rio Grande Valley, home to balmy weather, subtropical species, and lots of wintering Texans, spent a brief period of…
Forest Trail Region
Outlaws and Legends of the Big Thicket
The natural characteristics of the historic Big Thicket in east Texas made it an ideal setting for ghost stories and…
Zoos and Aquariums
As we’ve gained a greater understanding of the natural environment around us, we’ve begun to reevaluate our system for the…
Plains Trail Region
Old Tascosa and a Shirttail to Hang On To
Once known as “Cowboy Capital of the Plains,” the community of Old Tascosa provided an easy crossing along the Canadian…
Lakes Trail Region
North Central Texas During the Civil War
During the 1850’s, many North Texans were subsistence farmers from the Upper South and Midwest; areas with little or no…
Brazos Trail Region
Rosenwald Schools
In 1917, the Rosenwald Fund, established by Sears, Roebuck and Company CEO Julius Rosenwald, provided matching finances to communities who…
Tropical Trail Region
South Padre Island to Laredo: Steamboats and Borderland Culture
Imagine a balmy stretch of the Rio Grande River flowing calmly in a 19th century morning light. Drifting fog lifts…
“I Swear, Sheriff! The Horse Is Mine!”: Historic Texas Jails
The state's first penitentiary was completed in Huntsville in the mid-1800s, and its first prisoner was a horse thief from…
Forts Trail Region
La Salle Odyssey — 17th Century Thriller
Early exploration across pre-statehood Texas unravels over the course of several centuries, providing history enthusiasts with real life adventure stories…
Forest Trail Region
Modern Architecture
What exactly is “mid-century modern?” Wire furniture, egg lamps and the Jetsons? The designation refers to a particular style that…
Historic Churches: No Confession Required
Veteran heritage travelers know a little secret they like to pass on to folks who share their love of exploring…
Plains Trail Region
Quanah Parker Trail: Follow the Arrows into History
The Comanche Indians once dominated vast areas of North America—and yet, forced onto reservations, they left little record of their…
Schools and Universities
Funding for a Texas university system began as early as 1839 when the Congress of the Republic of Texas dedicated…
History “Buon Fresco”: Historic Murals in Texas
The tradition of mural painting in Texas, much of it accomplished during the early part of the 20th century, derived…
The Public Green
Establishing city and county parks for public use has a long tradition in America, one that was perhaps a reaction…
Historic Houses: To The Manor Born
When is a house not a home? When it's a museum.
The End Of An Era
The Great Western Trail stretched from South Texas to Nebraska, becoming the primary cattle driving route for Texas by 1879…
Forts Trail Region
Nature in the Forts Trail Region
The Forts Trail Region offers plenty of opportunities for exploring nature alongside history. The Trail, after all, was once considered…
Carnegie Libraries: Builder of Literacy
Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-American industrialist and one of the country’s most important philanthropists of the 19th century, believed public libraries provided…
Hill Country Trail Region
Going With The Flow
