Texas Time Travel

Real Places Telling Real Stories

Browse our collection of suggested itineraries, quirky trip themes, and behind-the-scenes deep dives into the history, heritage, and culture of Texas so you can eventually get out there and experience it for yourself.

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Browse our website for heritage sites and attractions, events, and more. Find things that pique your interest, and click the star icon next to the item. See them in the trip planner…

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Pictured: Downtown Fredericksburg

Credit: Travel Texas

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 German immigrants who escaped political and religious persecution. These historic ties backdropped by breathtaking natural scenery make this part of the Texas Hill Country a perfect cultural destination. War museums, presidential parks, and exhibits also make the trip a learning experience. For a relaxing time, visitors can enjoy the numerous biergartens, wineries, and distilleries in the area.

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Walk in Famous Footsteps

Sit at the very table where so-and-so once dined! Catch a show where ol' what's-her-name played that tune! Discover ten…

Travel the World Without Ever Leaving Texas

Everyone knows Texas is a big state. But when you can travel the world from your own backyard, Texas becomes…

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…

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