Nacogdoches - Oldest Town in Texas


Get away for the weekend to beautiful Nacogdoches. From antiquing to nature walks, Nacogdoches has something to offer everyone. We invite you to stroll the red brick streets of historic downtown and experience the hospitality and charm of the Oldest Town in Texas. We have compiled the following list of activities and attractions to assist you in planning your trip. Please don't forget to check our calendar for a listing of upcoming events. To receive monthly updates on special events and offers, please join our Mailing List. We've also prepared this easy to use map to guide you from place to place during your visit. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call our Visitor's Center at 888-OLDEST-TOWN.
Antiques & Shopping One of the most unique aspects of Nacogdoches is the large number of locally owned specialty and antique stores you'll find here. When you visit Nacogdoches you will find countless family owned shops and restaurants that still do business the old fashioned way, including a 100-year-old hardware store that still sells nails by the pound; the only professional stained glassed studio in East Texas; and an old-style barber shop like your dad used to visit. There's no other place in Texas like it! E-mail us to request a free shopping guide. Or view it here using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Audio Driving Tour Listen to the story of the Oldest Town in Texas as written by Texas Historian Dr. Archie McDonald. This tour guides visitors to various points of interest. Available on CD at the Visitors' Center, 200 E. Main Street, downtown Nacogdoches. Listen or download it here.
Bird Watching The impressive variety of birds that call the surrounding forests, lakes and pasturelands home make the oldest town in Texas a bird-watcher's delight. Among the favorite sightings for visiting birders are the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch and Bachman's Sparrow which within the state are found exclusively in this region known as the Pineywoods of Eastern Texas. Click here for popular birding sites in Nacogdoches.
Diedrich Rulfs Architectural Driving Tour An immigrant from Germany, Diedrich Rulfs re-shaped the architectural landscape of Nacogdoches. From the 1880s until the 1920s, Rulfs designed more than 50 homes, churches and buildings in Nacogdoches. Today, a number of the buildings are Texas Historical Landmarks or National Register Landmarks. This tour will guide you to some of Rulfs most notable works. E-mail us to request a copy of the brochure or view it here using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Durst-Taylor Historic House and Gardens This ca. 1835 wood-frame house is interpreted to the 1840 to 1860 time period when the Blackburn family owned the property. It is the second oldest structure still standing on its original site in Nacogdoches. The property has a history dating back to the late 1700s with the Acosta family. It has been designated as a State Archaeological Landmark. Visitors begin the tours at the Visitors' Center/Barn before being guided through the property, which also includes a blacksmith shop, a smokehouse and heritage gardens. Located at 304 North St. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Tours are free, but donations are welcome. Phone: 936-560-4443. Fax: 936-560-4448.
Lanana Creek Trail Originally an Indian footpath, this 2.5-mile trail weaves through thickets of paw-paw, dogwood and scarlet blooming buckeye. The trail begins at Liberty Hall on East Main Street in historic downtown.
Lake Nacogdoches Located on Loco Bayou, 10 miles west of Nacogdoches off FM 225, this 2,200 acre lake offers a great place to catch largemouth bass, crappie and sunfish. For Lake Records click here. For access information and map click here.
Millard's Crossing Historic Village Nestled among the pine trees of the oldest town in Texas is this charming reconstructed historic village which beckons visitors to imagine East Texas as it was in the 19th century. You can experience the days when water was drawn from a well, plows were pushed by hand, pump organs filled churches with music and children wrote with turkey quill pens. Visitors of all ages will enjoy touring the broad sampling of early East Texas homes furnished with antiques and collectibles from all over the world. Located on U.S. 59 North. Tours Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Admission. Phone: 936-564-6631. View a brochure using Acrobat Reader.
Oak Grove Cemetery Oak Grove Cemetery is one of the most famous cemeteries in Texas. Not because of its age -- the first marked grave is dated 1837 -- but because its the final resting place for a number of legendary Texans, including four signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. E-mail us to request a copy of the brochure or view it here using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Old University Building Chartered in 1845, it is the only original building of a university chartered by the Republic of Texas still standing. Located at 515 N. Mound. Hours Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free Admission. Phone: 936-569-7292. The Old University Building is in need of a new roof! Efforts by the Federation of Women's Clubs to raise the projected amount are ongoing. Donations may be sent to the Federation at P.O. Box 633113, Nacogdoches, TX 75963. Contributions are tax deductible.
Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden Strolling through the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden is like walking through a kaleidoscope. Your senses are bombarded by brilliant hues of purple, orange, yellow, red, pink and white blooms. As the largest azalea garden in Texas, the garden boasts one of the most diverse azalea collections in the United States. It's the centerpiece of the annual Nacogdoches Azalea Trail. E-mail us to request a copy of the garden's brochure or view it here using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
SFA Mast Arboretum The first arboretum at a university in Texas, this on-campus garden spills over 19 acres and lies on a portion of the Lanana Creek Trail.
SFA Interpretive Trail Two trails spanning three miles take visitors into some of the most dynamic and scenic areas of the Angelina National Forest. Some 150 species of birds and 80 species of butterflies may be seen. Travel west on State Highway 7 to FM 2782 (about 6-7 miles from Loop 224 in Nacogdoches); turn south (left) and drive about 2.5 miles to entrance of the Experimental Forest. View a brochure using Acrobat Reader.
Sterne-Hoya House Museum Nicholas Adolphus Sterne built the house in 1830. It is the oldest structure still standing on its original site in Nacogdoches. Mrs. Eva Catherine Sterne sold the house to Mr. Joseph Von der Hoya in 1869. Only two families owned the home before it was gifted to the city in 1958. The collection includes Hoya objects from the Victorian Age, as well as objects from the Empire period when the Sternes owned the home. A small reference library is also part of the collection and is still used by visitors looking for information on local and Texas history and genealogy. Located at 211 S. Lanana St. in historic downtown Nacogdoches. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Tours are free, but donations are welcome. Please allow a minimum of 30 minutes for tours. Phone: 936-560-5426. Fax: 936-569-9813. View a brochure using Acrobat Reader.
Stone Fort Museum A 1936 replica of Antonio Gil Y'Barbo's stone house. The museum interprets East Texas and Nacogdoches history. Located on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University (click here for campus map). Hours Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Free admission. Phone: 936-468-2408.
Self Guided Walking Tour Visit 15 points of interest in the downtown historic district. Brochures available at the Visitors' Center, 200 E. Main Street in historic downtown. Guided tours are offered each Saturday during the months of April and October from the Visitors' Center located on the square in historic downtown.
Theater, Art & Music Nacogdoches boasts an active fine arts community with frequent performances and exhibitions. Call us (888-OLDEST-TOWN) for a complete listing of upcoming events or visit our on-line calendar.
© Copyright Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau 2002 200 East Main, Nacogdoches, Texas 75961 Toll Free: (888) OLDEST-TOWN E-mail: info@visitnacogdoches.org Last Modified: 10/29/2007