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PALESTINE,
TEXASAnderson
County Seat, East Texas
Junction of Hwy 84, 79 and 19
108 miles SE of Dallas
150 miles N of Houston
36 miles
SE of Athens on Hwy 19
Population:
17,598 (2000)
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| |
Missouri Pacific Passenger
Depot circa 1953, razed
Spring Street, Palestine, Texas
Photo
courtesy Maurice Higginbotham |
| The
Original County Seat was a town named Fort
Houston. When the State declared that County Seats be at the geographic center
of the county, Andersonians took them seriously and moved the two miles it required.
Fort Houston melted into oblivion. The
County was named for vice-president of Texas Kenneth Lewis Anderson. There
is a rumor that the city was named after Palestine, Illinois. |
Palestine
Texas Attractions |
Texas State
Railroad State Historical Park
• Palestine is joined to nearby
Rusk (25 miles) by the Texas
State Railroad. This antique steam train is operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Dept. The train operates from March to October. 1-800-442-8951 for reservations.
• Murder
on the Disoriented Express
In October a local theater group performs Murder
on the Disoriented Express on the train. This is a fund raising effort for
the Palestine Library and the tickets include a buffet dinner. Make reservations
by calling 1-800-659-3484.
• The
Texas State Railroad and the Texas Forest Trail
• The
Texas State Railroad by Archie P. McDonald, PhD ("All Things Historical"
Column)
Museum
for East Texas Culture at 400 Micheaux Ave in Reagan Park. The museum puts
to excellent use the former Palestine High School (c.1916). The Statue of John
H. Reagan was sculpted by Pompeo Coppini in 1908 and was cast in Rome.
Howard House
Museum at 1011 N. Perry Street. A Texas Historic Landmark, the house was built
in the mid-1800s and bought by the city in 1963. Open Saturdays and Sundays 12:00
to 5:00, group tours by appointment.Palestine’s
Texas Theater by Bob Bowman 2-4-07
While visiting Palestine a few
months back, I learned that the Texas Theater, one of the grand old movie houses
of East Texas, has been restored and is now a setting for community stage productions.
The Texas is not only a landmark for Palestine, but for me....
Palestine
Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here
& Save |
| | Palestine
School
Photo courtesy Lori
Martin, December 2005 |
| | The
Federal Building
Photo courtesy Lori
Martin, December 2005 |
| | The
Ivanhoe Building
Photo courtesy Lori
Martin, December 2005 |
Palestine
Texas Natural Attractions Dogwood
Late March and early
April is a wonderful time to visit. Anderson County has some of the nicest
rolling hills and dogwood trees bloom in profusion just before the deciduous trees
leaf out. Davey
Dogwood Park
Just
north of town is Davey Dogwood Park, 200 acres of streams, trees and winding roads.
The perfect place for a spring picnic. For information on current conditions call
Texas Dogwood Trails Inc. at 903-729-7275. Wisteria
Trail
Palestine
is also on the unofficial East Texas "Wisteria Trail." Palestine
Community Forest
There's another 700 acres in Palestine Community Forest.
Just NW of town, this park offers memorable autumn views due to the proliferation
of Sweetgum and Yaupon Trees. Lake
Palestine
Over 25,000 acres. Marina and swimming beach. Twenty miles north.
|
| | Sycamore
Street
Old postcard TE archives |
| | Spring
Street
Old postcard TE archives |
| |
Carnegie Library in
Palestine
Main
Street Palestine today
TE photo |
| | Palestine
City Hall
Old postcard TE archives |
Palestine
Tourist Information
Palestine
Convention and Visitor Bureau
825 Spring Street
Palestine, TX 75801
903-723-3014 or 800-659-3484
Palestine Chamber of Commerce
401 W. Main Street
903-729-6066 |
Palestine
Texas Forum
Subject:
It is wonderful town!
I was reading all the wonderful stories on my hometown
of Palestine,Texas and it made me glad to be from a small town. It was great place
to grow up and still is to this day. When I travel my mind often return to Palestine.
I am now forty years old and I still get lump in my throat when at dusk the light
come on Ave A all the way to the Anderson County Courthouse on top of the hill
as it stand there in all it beauty. - Rodney Paul Smith, Palestine,TX, April
12, 2007
This
page for Palestine, Texas sponsored by: Sandy Fiedler 10/01
5,00
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