farmhouse, an early 1900 church, country doctor’s office and a one-room school. The Farm Museum houses a 100- year-old two-story cotton gin, wagons and farm imple- ments. Holiday candlelight tours are the second weekend of December. Donations accepted. 510 N. Pine St. 281/255-2140.
VICTORIA POP. 64,946
ALT. 93 MAP S-18
VICTORIA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU: 702 N. Main St. 800/926-5774.
www.visitvictoriatexas.com.
In 1824, Martin De Leon was awarded a contract to settle 41 families on the lower Guadalupe River. Victoria evolved from De Leon’s Villa de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Jesus Victoria, referred to at that time as Guadalupe Victoria. Historical markers and graves in Evergreen Cemetery (Red River and Vine streets) cite the De Leon family. The city is the home of Victoria College and the University of Houston at Victoria.
FOSSATI’S DELICATESSEN—Established in 1882, this is the oldest deli in Texas and one of the oldest restaurants in the United States. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 302 S. Main St. 361/576-3354.
THE HILLER HOUSE—Built by Friedrich and Margaretha Beck Hiller in 1852, this home is the third oldest in Victoria. It is now the headquarters of Keep Victoria Beautiful. Trails through the adjacent Athey Nature Area are open all day. Tours are available on request. 3003 N. Vine St. 361/571- 0582.
www.keepvictoriabeautiful.com.
HISTORIC HOMES DRIVING TOUR—Self-guided tour features more than 80 properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places (many are Texas historical land- marks), showcasing the community’s historical architec- ture. The tour includes public buildings and private resi- dences. Brochures are available at the Victoria CVB. A mobile driving tour website is available online. 361/485-3117.
www.visitvictoriatexas.com.
LAKE—Coleto Creek Reservoir—Coleto Creek Park of- fers picnicking, camping, swimming and boat ramps. Mid- way between Goliad and Victoria off U.S. 59. 361/575-6366.
MUSEUM OF THE COASTAL BEND—Exhibits include ar- tifacts and information about early Spanish Colonial mis- sion and presidio sites; the French colony, Fort St. Louis; the first European settlement in Texas; items from the Belle shipwreck; and the Buckeye Knoll cemetery. Admis- sion charge. 2200 E. Red River. On Victoria College cam- pus. 361/582-2511.
www.museumofthecoastalbend.org.
NAVE MUSEUM—Named for Royston Nave, who achieved distinction in 1920s New York art circles and painted in and around Victoria. This museum is housed in a Gre- co-Roman hall built in 1932 by his widow, Emma McFaddin McCan Nave. The Nave features six to eight exhibits yearly. 306 W. Commercial St. 361/575-8227.
www.navemuseum.com.
RIVERSIDE PARK—Acquired in 1940, the park is approxi- mately 565 acres along 4.5 miles of the Guadalupe River. It includes the 27-hole Riverside Golf Course, 21-hole disc golf course, historic sites, picnic tables and pits, playground areas, pavilions, sand volleyball court, basketball court, soccer fields, baseball/softball fields, walking/biking trails, kayak/canoe entry, and a large duck pond. 476 McCright Drive. 361/485-3200.
www.victoriatx.org.
ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH—Established by colony founder Martin de Leon, the first church was made of logs and native timber. The present 1904 Gothic Revival Build- ing features a large stone facade, wooden pews, stained- glass windows and arch ceilings. 101 W. Church St. 361/573-4328.
www.stmvictoria.org.
THE TEXAS ZOO—The zoo has more than 200 native Texas animals and more than 90 exotic species in spacious,
130
In 1842, it became East Columbia. 979/345-3921.
Pristine Prairie Saved THE NASH PRAIRIE Preserve near West Colum- bia protects a 400-acre tract that is one of the last remaining segments of the Coastal Prairie. This was once part of the KNG Ranch and con- tains more than 300 documented plant species, including several rare ones and at least one type of grass thought to be extinct.
www.nature.org.
HISTORIC BUILDINGS—The Ammon Underwood Home is one of the oldest frame houses still standing in Texas. Underwood, who came from Massachusetts to East Columbia in 1834, operated two large cotton plantations in Brazoria County. Intersection of Main and Austin streets.
www.ammonunderwood.com. The Replica of the First Capitol was built at this site
1976-77 to commemorate the one that housed the govern- ment when Columbia became the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1836. The original was destroyed by the 1900 storm. At 14th and Hamilton.
outdoor moat-enclosed areas. Includes a petting zoo and aviary, a paleontological dig site, animal shows, and programs about conservation. Admission charge. 110 Memorial Drive. In Riverside Park. 361/573-7681.
www.texaszoo.org.
VICTORIA ART LEAGUE BUILDING—The historic 1898 C.L. Thurmond building houses the Victoria Art League, a non-profit organization. The league features a member gallery with revolving exhibits and a gift gallery. Art class- es, workshops and outreach programs are held on-site. 905 S. Bridge St. 361/572-0825.
www.victoriaartleague.net.
VICTORIA COUNTY COURTHOUSE—Built in 1892 by James R. Gordan in the style of Henry Richardson, this Ro- manesquae structure is made of Texas granite and Indiana limestone. A massive restoration was completed in 2001. 115 N. Bridge St. 361/578-0752.
www.victoriacountytx.org.
VICTORIA EDUCATIONAL GARDENS—Tour the children’s, vegetable, water and military-honor gardens. Follow path- ways around the gardens and enjoy the plants and flowers while learning about the rainwater harvesting system. 333 Bachelor Drive. 361/575-4581.
www.vcmga.org.
VICTORIA FINE ARTS CENTER—This state-of-the-art facility is home to musical concerts and live stage perfor- mances throughout the year, including the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. 1002 Sam Houston Drive. 361/788-9335.
www.visd.com.
WEST COLUMBIA POP. 3,937
ALT. 32 MAP S-20/BB-11
WEST COLUMBIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 202 E. Brazos Ave. 979/345-3921.
www.westcolumbiachamber.com.
The Republic of Texas was born here on Oct. 3, 1836, with the swearing in of the republic’s first congress and the in- auguration of Sam Houston as the first president. Today, the replica of the First Capitol and other historic sites com- bine with shops, hotels and restaurants to make this a pop- ular tourist destination. The Brazos Belle offers historical tours of the river, when
weather and currents are favorable, from Belle’s Landing at the intersection of the Brazos River and Texas 35.
COLUMBIA HISTORICAL MUSEUM—The museum traces the historical significance of the Victorian era. The displays also document the West Columbia Oilfield and the ranch- ing industry. A room is devoted to East Columbia. It includes a set of 1860 woodworking planes and two 1890s wedding gowns. Call for Saturday tours. 247 E. Brazos (Texas 35). 979/345-6125.
www.columbiahistoricalmuseum.com. Rosenwald schools were hubs of rural African Ameri-
can life in the 1930s–40s South. Few survived. This one is a walk-in exhibit at the Columbia Historical Museum.
EAST COLUMBIA MAIN STREET NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT—Founded by Josiah Hughes Bell in 1823, the site was originally named Bell’s Landing and served as a supply depot for settlements on the Brazos River. In 1824, Bell laid out the new town and named it Marion.
The Sweeny-Waddy Cabin was built in 1850 as the home of an enslaved African-American family who worked on the Sweeny’s plantation. Mark and Larkin Waddy remained on the plantation after the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865. Intersection of Main and Austin streets. Buildings are open for viewing by appointment. 972/345-3921.
HISTORICAL DRIVING TOURS—Self-guided driving tour booklet describes historical sites around the first capital of the Republic of Texas. Available at the West Columbia Chamber of Commerce. 202 E. Brazos 979/345-3921.
OLD COLUMBIA CEMETERY—Part of an original grant to one of Stephen F. Austin’s Old 300. Cemetery holds the graves of many Texas Revolution heroes. 16th and Jackson streets. 972/345-3921.
THE CAPITOL OF TEXAS PARK—A WALK THROUGH THE BIRTH OF TEXAS—The park has 21 historical monu- ments that depict the time from after the Battle of San Jacinto to 1837 when the capitol moved to Houston. A cistern dates to the Republic of Texas period. Texas native plants are identified. 100 E. Brazos Ave.
www.texasgems.org/park.
VARNER-HOGG PLANTATION STATE HISTORIC SITE— The plantation, a Texas Historical Commission property, was founded in 1824 by one of Texas’ first colonizers, Mar- tin Varner, and later owned by Texas Gov. James S. Hogg. It features the mansion, period furnishing, historic ceme- tery and orchards. Admission charge. Two miles north of West Columbia on F.M. 2582. 979/345-4656.
www.visitvarnerhoggplantation.com.
WHARTON POP. 8,839
ALT. 111
WHARTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE: 225 N. Richmond Rd. 979/532-1862.
www.whartontexas.com.
The town lies on the scenic Colorado River southwest of Houston on U.S. 59. The downtown is known for its quaint antique and gift shops, restaurants, historical murals, the restored county courthouse, and the 1921 Plaza Theatre (
whartonplazatheatre.org). Riverfront Park overlooks the Colorado River. Visit the restored 1915 Southern Pacific Railroad Depot. Children can play at Dinosaur Park.
DICKSON MONUMENT—A granite shaft honors Sheriff Hamilton B. Dickson, killed in 1894 during the attempted capture of a murder suspect. He was so widely respected that trains were chartered from distant points to accom- modate the huge attendance at his funeral. Milam Street. 979/532-1862.
20TH CENTURY TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM—The museum exhibits items that highlight technological devel- opments in the 20th century. 3615 N. Richmond Road. 979/282-8810.
www.20thcenturytech.com.
WHARTON COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM— Features the county’s heritage, displays include wildlife trophies; and photographs of ranching, agriculture, archeology, medicine and local sulfur mines. Includes the former home of Dan Rather, former CBS news anchor. 3615 N. Richmond Road. 979/532-2600. www.wharton
countyhistoricalmuseum.com.
MAP R-19
GULF COAST
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