Texas State Parks|Travel

3/16/2024 This nice little Odessa home had been moved here to the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in anticipation of HW’s library being established here, but that got relocated to College Station so now the home is all alone. Still, some good signs and some statue kids playing in the yard.

The full site ...

... and closer to the Bush home

One angle ...

with George Bush details

Another angle ...

with George W. Bush details

2/23/2011 ... then continued to the Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site. We checked out the small museum, then walked over to the neat white house where Ike was born in 1890. Outside the house is a larger-than-life bronze statue of Eisenhower as General.

The park sign

Ike statue

I'm like Ike

Ike's home ...

... with me out front

Inside the home

3/14/2024 Fort Belknap NHL and SP&HS. The fort was established in 1851 by Brigadier General William G. Belknap to protect the Texas frontier against raids by the Kiowa and Comanche; on the Butterfield Overland Trail, it was the northernmost fort in a line from the Rio Grande to the Red River. This fort is more compact than Richardson, and we checked out some of the typical buildings.

The park entrance ...

... and fence detail

interpretive signage ...

... where Ken photos ...

... the NHL plaque

Replica of 1852 Commissary

A 360 photo ...

... then I set up for ...

... a regular shot ...

... near other fort buildings

Ken near ...

... a Butterfield Overland Trail marker

3/14/2024 Fort Richardson NHL and SP&HS. Named for Union General Israel B. Richardson, who died in the Battle of Antietam, the fort was established in 1868 as the northernmost army outpost in Texas, anchoring the defensive line of fortifications built across the Texas frontier. It was also a mail station on the Butterfield Overland Stage Line 1858-1861. This is a quite large fort area, with many of the surviving buildings spread out, so we concentrated our visit at the largest, the hospital.

The park sign

Signs at ...

... the interpretive center

The large parade ground ...

... with the hospital

I set up for ...

A photo of us

Same spot for ...

... a 360 photo

Ken photos ...

... the NHL plaque

5/22/2004 ... then up into the Franklin Mountains State Park on the Wyler Tramway. Beautiful weather, but winds kicking up dust made for hazy views.

The park sign

A tram ...

... and its origin

A hazy view

Dad, Mom and me

5/29/1994 Drove to Hueco Tanks State Park. Huge rock formations that hold water, also contain Indian pictographs about 6000 years old. Walked/climbed around, saw water and pictographs.

A view of the area

Me at the overland mail station

Maureen by a "tank"

Me by some ...

... pictographs

3/16/2024 The park stretches across almost 4,000 acres of powdery (well, not on our rainy day) sand dunes, some up to 70 feet high. Visitors can rent toboggans and disks at the park to surf down the dunes. Here we drove through the park area, with lots of recreation and camping spots, all covered with the dunes of clear tan sand. It was very cool, and we enjoyed climbing up on the dunes and looking for other people sliding down on flyer saucer sleds, albeit with less success on the damp sand then we expect dry days provide.

The park entrance ...

... and sign

Trouble with a Javelina

Park map

Ken heading out on the dunes ...

... with a look back to the car ...

... and me

Ken takes ...

... a panorama of the dunes

How did he do that?

Ken and me

See the sled tracks?

Me on top

5/25/1997 Drove north to near Canyon to Palo Duro State Park. After the dead flat of this part of Texas, all of a sudden a deep canyon with multi-colored layers of rock appeared. Drove to the bottom of the canyon and walked about 1.5-2 miles in to see the Lighthouse formation. Nice trail over very red soil, with cactus and flowers.

A long view of the canyon

Me and big plants

More scenery

2/23/2011 Back on the road east to Bonham and the Samuel T. Rayburn House NHL [and SHS]. This was the home of the famous 20th century statesman and politician, looking somewhat Greek Revival but suspected of being a Sears house. As we really didn’t know much about then guy we elected to not take the tour but rather just checked out the house and grounds.

The park sign

A view from the front ...

... and three quarters

Ken out front

The NHL sign

4/12/2018 First stop, San Jacinto Battlefield NHL (and San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site). The April 21, 1836 Battle of San Jacinto was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution, where General Sam Houston’s Texian Army defeated General Santa Anna's Mexican army in an 18 minute fight. The main feature here is a huge tower monument where we took an elevator to the top for views over the bay, bayou and battlefield area. Back down on the ground we drove around the park road checking out interpretive signage but really looking for the NHL plaque.

The park sign

The monument from afar ...

... and up close

Battleship Texas from the tower

Capitil model in the museum

Battlefiield signage

Ken and me

5/18/2004 Continued to Seminole Canyon State Park. Saw good educational exhibits, then enjoyed a nice picnic under a ramada looking at the canyon. Weather had started overcast, but cleared fast and by midday was hot and very breezy. Took a short nature trail, then on the road ...

The park sign

Nice diorama

A view of the canyon

Cool plant

Mom, Dad and me picnicing

Is there someone behind me?

A nice panorama