MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN RAILROAD—The museum features historic locomotives and rail cars, including the nation’s premiere collection of Pullman first-class sleeping cars from the 1920s, depot structures and memorabilia. (Note: This attraction was relocated from Dallas to Frisco and is set to open in phases.) Admission charge. Interim offices and exhibits in the Frisco Heritage Museum at 6455 Page St. 214/428- 0101.
www.museumoftheamericanrailroad.org.
SCI-TECH DISCOVERY CENTER—The center features exhibits for children with hands-on experiences in science, math and technology. Admission charge. 8004 N. Dallas Parkway. 972/546-3050.
www.mindstretchingfun.com.
TEXAS SCULPTURE GARDEN—This is the largest private collection of contemporary Texas sculptures open to the public free of charge. 6801 Gaylord Parkway. Inside Hall Office Park. Take the exit for Gaylord Parkway from the Dallas North Tollway, one mile north of Texas 121. 972/377-1100.
www.texassculpturegarden.com.
TOYOTA STADIUM—This facility is home to FC Dallas’ major soccer league team. See professional soccer matches, live concerts, national youth soccer tournaments and the internationally known Dallas Cup soccer championship. 9200 World Cup Way. 469/365-0000.
www.fcdallas.com/stadium.
GAINESVILLE POP. 16,502
ALT. 839 MAP G-17
GAINESVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 311 S. Weaver.
www.gainesvillecofc.com.
Originally a point on the California Trail, the town was established near Fort Fitzhugh. Today, Gainesville is known as the Front Porch to Texas on I-35. It’s also the home of North Central Texas College.
FRANK BUCK ZOO—This zoo is named in honor of Gainesville native and adventurer of “bring ’em back alive” fame, Frank Buck. The 25-acre facility features animals in naturalistic settings divided into three geographic regions: African Savannah, North America and South America. 1000 W. California St. In Leonard Park. 940/668-4539.
www.frankbuckzoo.com.
HISTORIC HOMES—The city is noted for brick-paved streets and 19th-century brick Victorian homes. Most are on Church, Denton and Lindsay streets. A firehouse, and historic churches are of interest. List of sites available from the chamber of commerce.
KINNE’S JEWELERS MUSEUM—Museum on the mezzanine of the jewelry store features treasures. 210 E. California St. 940/665-3931.
LAKE—Moss Lake—This Gainesville city lake offers a boat ramp, fishing and primitive camping. About 12 miles northwest of Gainesville via F.M. 1201. 940/668-4500.
MEDAL OF HONOR PARK—This park commemorates those who have received the U.S. military’s highest honor, featuring a memorial and a walkway with the name of each medal recipient. Free. At West California and South Culberson streets. 940/665-2831.
www.medalofhonorhostcity.com.
MORTON MUSEUM OF COOKE COUNTY—Housed in an 1884 building that served as Gainesville’s city hall, fire station and jail, this museum features changing historical exhibits and the Newsome Dougherty Memorial Stained Glass Dome. 210 S. Dixon St. 940/668-8900.
www.mortonmuseum.org.
SANTA FE DEPOT MUSEUM—In the renovated 1902 Santa Fe depot, the museum features local transpor- tation history, including the Harvey House restaurant (formerly in the building), the Gainesville Community Circus and the city’s Coca-Cola bottling plant. Free. 605 E. California. 940/668-8900 or 940/612-4906.
SCENIC DRIVES—F.M. 678, F.M. 372 and F.M. 902 east and south through the rolling hills of the Cross Timbers region offer panoramic views.
TEXAS TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTER—Near the Texas-Oklahoma state line on I-35, Gainesville is home to one of the 12 Texas Travel Information Centers operated by the Texas Department of Transportation for the convenience of the traveling public. 4901 I-35 N. 940/665-2301.
www.txdot.gov.
GARLAND POP. 235,508
ALT. 551 MAP J-18/SS-10
GARLAND CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU: 211 N. Fifth St. 972/205-2749 or 888/879-0264.
www.VisitGarlandTX.com.
This city is home to the long-established Resistol Hat Factory, which provided headwear for “J.R. Ewing” on the popular “Dallas” TV series. Factory tours are available by appointment (972/494-0511). The Center for Performing Arts is home to the
Garland Symphony, Garland Civic Theater and Garland summer musicals. The Plaza Theater has been renovated in the era’s art-deco style to
be a state-of-the-art performing arts facility.
BREWERY—Lakewood Brewing Company—See BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES listing.
HAWAIIAN FALLS GARLAND WATERPARK—Family- friendly waterpark offers rides, slides, an interactive spray pool and lazy river for floating. Admission charge. 4550 N. Garland Ave. 972/675-8888.
www.hfalls.com/garland.
HISTORIC WALKING TOUR—Take a self-guided walking tour of historically significant buildings and sites downtown. Tour brochure is available at the visitor center. Free. 211 N. Fifth St. 972/205-2749 or 888/879-0264.
LANDMARK MUSEUM—Early settlers’ artifacts, farm implements, quilts and photos are exhibited in the vintage 1901 Santa Fe depot. An antique rail car also is on display. Free. 393 N. Sixth St. 972/205-2993.
www.garlandhistorical.org.
ROWLETT CREEK PRESERVE—Free. 2525 Castle Drive. 972/205-2750.
www.garlandparks.org or
www.dorba.org.
SPRING CREEK FOREST PRESERVE—Free. 1770 Holford Road. 972/205-2750.
www.springcreekforest.org.
GATESVILLE POP. 15,673
ALT. 795 MAP M-17
GATESVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: In restored Cotton Belt depot, 2307 Texas 36 S. 254/865-2617.
www.gatesvilletx.info.
Gatesville is home to the largest known spur collection in the world. The Texas Legislature named the town the “Spur Capital of Texas.” The area also is part of the Texas Brazos Trail region. Camping facilities are available near downtown. See first-run movies at The Last Drive-In Picture
Show, one of the few drive-ins still operating in Texas. The community of Pearl hosts the monthly Pearl
Bluegrass Jam and Stage Show October-August on the first Saturday of each month and September on the second Saturday.
CORYELL COUNTY COURTHOUSE—Built in 1897 of hand-cut and carved limestone, this building is one of the finest remaining examples of Romanesque Renaissance Revival architecture in Texas. The clock tower is copper-domed, and the rotunda skylight is Texas Star-pattern art glass. 600 Main St.
CORYELL MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL CENTER—The Mitchell Collection features more than 6,000 spurs, said to be the largest collection in the world. Also see Western memorabilia, area antiques, and an unusual double-wall log jail with an underground dungeon. 718 Main St. 254/865-5007.
www.coryellmuseum.org.
MEYER OBSERVATORY—This facility, part of the Turner Research Station, offers a monthly open house where visitors can learn about astronomy and use a 24-inch telescope (weather permitting). 14801 F.M. 182 in Valley Mills. About one mile north of C.R. 224. 254/778-7892.
www.centexastronomy.org.
GIDDINGS POP. 5,155
ALT. 520 MAP P-18
GIDDINGS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 289 W. Railroad. 979/542-3455.
www.giddingstx.com.
Early settlers were mostly Wendish immigrants who moved from the Serbin community six miles south. Notorious outlaw Bill Longley was hanged here; there is a historical marker at his grave in the cemetery on U.S. 290 at the west city limit. Events include the Lee County Fair in May and a
Fourth of July Celebration. During both events, a restored carousel built in the 1800s is available for rides in Firemen’s Park.
Find historic locomotives at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco. 132
DIME BOX MUSEUM—Artifacts recall the multicultural immigrants who settled in the community. On F.M. 141 at Cushing Street in Dime Box. 979/884-0182.
PHOTO: WILL VAN OVERBEEK/TXDOT
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