Stone Fort Museum
SET IN STONE
The original building, nicknamed “Old Stone Fort” for weathering four revolutionary actions was a Spanish Colonial home constructed by colonist Antonio Gil Y’Barbo in the late 1700’s and served as residence, Mexican soldiers’ quarters, and saloon before meeting the wrecking ball in 1902. A protest against its destruction marked one of the first times Texans launched an organized preservation effort, although in this particular- instance the preservationists lost the battle.
Nonetheless, a replica was created and a museum formed and together they serve as repository for the region’s cultural and natural heritage. Inside the Stone Fort Museum, artifacts, exhibits, and educational programs interpret the legacy of the Texas revolution, beginning with the Spanish Mission Tejas in 1690 and culminating with Texas Independence in 1836.
The museum also hosts exhibitions exploring early east Texas leaders like George Crocket, a mid-nineteenth century Texan instrumental in the development of Nacogdoches and San Augustine, and includes Crocket’s personal drawings, writing and research.