"Keeweechic's Palestine, TX" Palestine by keeweechic
Palestine Travel Guide: 71 reviews and 92 photos
Palestine lies in Anderson County and is the county seat. The town was named after Daniel Parkers earlier home in Palestine, Illinois. In 1856 a brick courthouse was built. In time, small businesses were established around the square which were served by paddle-wheel steamers. During high water periods, the vessels used the Trinity River to Magnolia, the port for Palestine. In 1872 the International-Great Northern Railroad arrived and soon put an end to the local river trading. The railroad provided year round travel to the east, Houston and Laredo and rapidly changed the centre of the town when they constructed shops, switching yards, and offices nearly a mile to the west of the courthouse. To link the two areas a horse-drawn streetcar line was but that proved to be too costly, and the single car was sold to then developing city of Dallas. By the 1890s Palestine had a population of around 6,000. There were several schools, mills and gins, a fire department, two private banks, several churches including two reserved for African Americans. By 1914 the population had increased to 11,000.
In 1928 oil was discovered at Boggy Creek, just east of Palestine. This helped to expand Palestine's economy and also carry the town through the Great Depression. When several producing fields were found later in Anderson County, Palestine became a centre for oil-well overhauling and supplies.
In 1990 Palestine had 400 recorded businesses which included gas and oil producers, well services, a beef packing plant, the railroad and other small businesses. here were also four state prisons in the county. Palestine is also the site of the National Scientific Balloon Flight Facility which is an operation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Palestine has an abundance of historical building and homes, over 1800 in all and second only to Galveston. Davey Dogwood Park is alive with colour in Spring with the flowering of the Dogwoods.
Other attractions around Palestine are the Engeling Wildlife Management Area which is in the northern part of the county. Lake Palestine, is a reservoir of 25,500 surface acres on the Neches River which provides the county with water.
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Reviews (61)
Fact
Local Customs
(4)
The nations longest and skinniest state park is the Texas State Railroad which is over 25 miles long and the width of... more travel advice
Excellent Tourist Info
Favorites
(1)
There are a lot of one way streets in Palestine so you need to be aware before turning into an intersection. The Driving... more travel advice
Getting to Palestine
Transportation
(1)
By Car : If you are traveling from Dallas you can take I-45 south through Ennis to Corsicana, then take US-287 into... more travel advice
McClure-McReynolds-Fowler House
Things to Do
(33)
The house was built by Judge McClure in 1849 when he moved to Palestine. He was the first district clerk for Anderson... more travel advice
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Off The Beaten Path (8)
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Restaurants (4)
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Shopping (5)
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Hotels (4)
See All Dyerwood Inn -
Nightlife (1)
Texas Theater -
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Comments (9)
I expect to be in Palestine in a couple of weeks. Hope to ride the Texas State Railroad, or at least see it. Thanks for the info.
If you turn right at the resivoir and go down a few miles their should be a sign for fisherman's point marina and resturaunt.They have tent and camper spots,with or without electric and water,cabins on the lake for very reasonable prices .
No one finds and documents these small towns like you, Keewee. Well done.
Such a detailed page, crammed with information and wonderful pics. The courthouse looks majestic and the frogs cute :-)
Woww.. Girl.. Truely an excellent page.. So many incredibly beautiful histrorical houses.. and the courthouse too. Would be grand to visit when the dogwood is in bloom.. I love it.. Thanks.. ;-)
It is not only the Excellent tourist info, the whole page is Excellent iformated! no wondering number one! ;-)
I fell for that one too....thought it was an earlier trip LOL Texas, surprises me everytime ^..^...I suppose more is coming then? good eateries and the the old steam train tip sounds great, I love trains. lovely page KW
Lot, stock and two smoking barrels, I fell for it too! Since Palestine is under construction, I'll be back later :-) looks good!
Here's me thinking, a shopping tip on Palestine, now unusual LOL now I knowLOL Thanks for your earlier visit. have just started an Augusta (W.A.) page, not anywhere as good as yours!
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