I noticed a Ft Worth Yelp Friend Jim had eaten at a cafe close to here and his post reminded me of…read moremy visit to here back in 2022. Looking for my review I couldn't believe it,gone. Another one bites the dust. So here is a highly abbreviated version of that detailed fantastic review. Growing up in Texas everyone knew what you were talking about when you said Huntsville. No,it wasn't the charming and quaint small Texas Town but,the notorious prison within its city limits. I enjoyed my visit here in October 23, visiting with many staff and drinking in the old prison throw back architecture. If you catch yourself in the area,at least make the block for a look-see. Go!

I went to the genealogy room to do some research that I have been working on and they were so…read morehelpful! They have so many neat resources and books in that room! It was a really interesting experience.

Very helpful! The lady at the front desk renewed my library card and borrowed a book for me from…read moreanother library that Huntsville didn't have. The library offers classes and a computer lab and cozy chairs in which to relax and read.

The current courthouse is the fifth to serve the citizens of Walker County. A Modern design built…read morewith brick and steel, it reflects the practical and utilitarian design trend of 1960s Texas county buildings. The structure emphasizes function over fashion, a sharp contrast to the ornate Victorian Gothic, Renaissance Revival and Italianate blend of the 1888 courthouse it replaced. That one had been one of the 25 oldest courthouses in Texas at the time of its destruction. The county was formed in 1846 as part of the early organization of the Republic-to-Statehood transition. It was originally named for Robert J. Walker, a Mississippi legislator who supported the annexation of Texas. In 1863, the Texas Legislature changed the namesake to Samuel H. Walker, the Texas Ranger and Army officer, after Robert Walker sided with the Union during the Civil War. Huntsville has always been the county seat since the beginning. Walker County is the home of the Texas state prison where executions are performed but those are decided at the state level than the county level here. The grounds of the courthouse have a number of memorials and such. Don't miss the gazebo which has a marker pointing out that it was built near the site of the original bandstand (1908-1948) and was dedidated on the county's 150th anniversary. [Review 358 of 2026 - 682 in Texas - 25544 overall]

I went with a friend of mine to pick up his mom and dads marriage certificate. He didn't know what…read moreyear they were married and it didn't show up in the computer system so they had to go through a book that spanned over 10 years of marriage records that were listed in chronological order, not alphabetical order which would make it a tedious task. The lady helping us did not seem to mind helping us to find it though, she was very nice and friendly. Because there were people behind us and we didn't know how long it was going to take we asked if we could just leave our name and number and have her call us when she found it. It was about 4pm when we left so I didn't expect to hear from her until the next day with it being so close to the end of the day. Much to my surprise we barely had time to make it back to my house before she called and told us the she had found it. I was very impressed. I'm so glad that the people who work at our court house are so helpful and friendly.

This is a must if you are visiting Huntsville, Texas which was the final home and resting place for…read moreGeneral Sam Houston. It's just north of Huntsville State Park along Interstate 45 and easy to get to. The visitors center is quite nice, a huge parking lot and a nice walkway from the center to the statue. The hardest thing is getting far enough back to get a good picture since you almost have to be right up next to the freeway traffic so be careful. Luckily we were there on a beautiful early spring day, if you go on a rainy day you will get wet feet as the area around the statue is just the grassy area along the interstate. The statue is quite stunning and, all things considered has held up for many years with our always changing weather. I took pictures in both the visible spectrum as well as infrared.

Fun little spot to catch on any Texas road trip that takes you on I-45 North. Blink and you'll miss…read morehim! The Sam Houston Statue is visible from the freeway as you drive through Huntsville, near the exit for Sam Houston State University. There is also a dedicated visitor's center associated with the statue. Fun fact: this is the world's tallest statue of Sam Houston!

Texans will never let you forget that the first word spoken from the surface of the Moon is…read more"Houston" and it's because of this man, Sam Houston. Oakwood Cemetery is the final resting place of Sam Houston, the leader of the army that defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto, the first President of the Republic of Texas and who later guided this new state into the Republic. Houston had a long political life, stretching from governor of Tennessee to his final days here in Huntsville, where he died in 1863 after opposing secession during the Civil War. The stone lists his many titles. The grave sits in the quiet shade of Oakwood Cemetery along with a ten foot granite monument carved by Pompeo Coppini in 1911. The epitaph attributed to Andrew Jackson reads, "The world will take care of Houston's fame." The reverse, "General Sam Houston. Born near Lexington Virginia March 2, 1793. Died in Huntsville Texas July 26, 1863. A brave soldier. A fearless statesman. A great orator. A pure patriot. A faithful friend. A loyal citizen. A devoted husband and gather. A consistent Christian. An honest man." [Review 354 of 2026 - 680 in Texas - 25541 overall]

Located in Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville…read more I recommend plugging "Sam Houston's Grave" into your GPS so it brings you right to it. It's located at an entrance (not sure how many entrances the cemetery has). Then you can decide if you want to keep going, as there are other notable burials and historic markers in the cemetery. Had no problem finding parking on the street.