Nacogdoches, Texas. Not to be confused with Natchitoches, Louisiana. Although they both supposedly came from the same beginning. The Caddo Indians lived in the area and the story is that a chief had twin sons. When they grew up, he sent one son east (Natchitoches) and the other son, Nacogdoches, to the west, where they each built their own communities.
Then around 1700 the Spanish first attempted to settle in the area but that didn’t work out well, then in 1779 a gentleman named Gil Y’Barbo established a town in the area. He had a building built for the local government; a place known as the Old Stone Fort. Sadly, the original no longer exists but a beautiful replica is located on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.
There was a lot of back and forth between citizens and Mexico, with battles such as the Battle of Nacogdoches. Many dignitaries and politicians were at some point in Nacogdoches, even if for a little while. Several of the men who fought and died at the Alamo went through Nacogdoches on their way to their deaths.
So many historical events happened around Nacogdoches that you can hardly walk a block without seeing a historical marker or statue. You can spend all day trying to see them – and we did. As usual, some of our favorites were the old downtown buildings and historic homes. You’ll find informational signs on almost every building discussing its history.
The route through Nacogdoches is also part of the historic “King’s Highway” also known as the “Old San Antonio Road” and also known as the “Camino Real.” This route has reportedly been in use since 1691.
The old Oak Grove Cemetery is fascinating to walk through as well. The first known recorded grave was in 1837. The information provided in the cemetery is much more detailed than most cemeteries. There is a map as well as a book with a list of names, which makes it very easy to find people. In addition, there is a wonderful display explaining what various symbols on headstones mean, in case you’ve ever been curious about that.
Another fun thing to do is visit the stores and eat in the restaurants that now inhabit the old buildings surrounding the town square. You will likely find a historical information marker on the outside wall of the facility so take a moment to read them before you head on in.
But don’t just stay in the downtown area! There are historical sites and markers all around in the different neighborhoods. As we drove around, we found many and when we would go back through the same area we would see even more that we missed!
Check out the Visit Nacogdoches website for a list of lodging and restaurants. We can report that we ate in several different restaurants, and they were all very good!
Nacogdoches has a 300-year-old, diverse, culturally rich, and fascinating history. As you walk through the town it is awe-inspiring to know you are walking in the footsteps of so many people who had such a big impact on the formation of the state of Texas.
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