The Historic Sites department is dedicated to preserving local history and sponsors a wide range of activities that help bring history alive for the city of Nacogdoches. Our staff stays busy ensuring the preservation of four city owned historic buildings. Two of the buildings, the Sterne Hoya House Museum and Library and the Durst Taylor Historic House and Gardens are opened for tours Tuesday- Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The Railroad Depot is available for tours by contacting the Curator at 936-560-5426. Our most challenging task is restoring the Zion Hill Baptist Church located at 324 Lanana Street. Our staff does not only do a wonderful job preserving these four buildings but are also in charge of taking care of the antiques, furniture and books located within our museums. We are proud of the local history Nacogdoches has to offer and strongly believe that our museums are wonderful learning tools to teach children and adults the unique history we have here.

News Releases

• Blast from the Past History Fair

  13 September 2011, 12:55 pm

  Cooler weather isn’t the only thing to look forward to this fall; October means Texas Archeology Month and to celebrate, the City of Nacogdoches Historic Sites Department invites you to join us at the 3rd Annual Blast from the Past: Nacogdoches History Fair on October 8th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Festival Plaza.
  We will have many of the same wonderful events and demonstrations as last year as well as a few new additions! The East Texas Storytellers will entertain listeners throughout the day with stories of a bygone era. The Center for Regional Heritage Research will be on site to talk about Nacogdoches history and some of their exciting new projects. Also, two Archeology Stewards from the Texas Historical Commission will conduct artifact identification at the Columbia Center building located at 106 S. Pecan Street. Other events will include flint knapping, blacksmithing, pottery making, a simulated archeological dig, antique tools and toys demonstration and a spinning, weaving and fabric dyeing demonstration
  “Blast from the Past” t- shirts will once again be on sale for only $10. This is a free event that provides an excellent opportunity for the whole community to learn about Nacogdoches history in a hands-on way that is fun for the whole family! So mark your calendars for Saturday, October 8th. We look forward to seeing you!
  For further information call Jessica Wood, Curator of Collections and Education at 560-5426 or by email historicsites@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us. You can also visit our web page at http://www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us//history or find us on Facebook, “Nac Historic Sites” for the most up to date information and event listings.
  

• Building Birdhouses with Woodworkers Club of East Texas

  6 May 2011, 12:33 pm

  The City of Nacogdoches is excited to announce a free, fun-filled children’s event to be held at Durst Taylor Historic House and Gardens. The Woodworkers Club of East Texas is hosting a children’s workshop where every child will build a wooden birdhouse or birdfeeder! The Woodworkers Club of East Texas has built several tables and display cases for the City of Nacogdoches Historic Sites Department and the Chamber of Commerce and is excited to offer their love of woodworking and skills to future generations of woodworkers. Every child who participates in the workshop gets to take their handmade birdhouse or birdfeeder home; so come for a morning of building and leave with your work of art!
  
  The event will be Saturday, May 14th from 9 am to 11 am at the Durst-Taylor Historic House and Gardens, 304 North Street. Participants are encouraged to preregister for the workshop by calling Phil Herman at 559-9216 or Bruce Hendry at 569-6159. Those not pre-registered will be welcomed, but at a first come first served basis. Any area children ages 6 to 14 are welcome to attend, but we do ask that all children are accompanied by an adult to assist in their woodworking. The event is free – just bring an interest in making things with wood; the Woodworkers Club of East Texas will supply the rest! It’s a terrific way to spend a Saturday with your family. We look forward to seeing everyone at 9am on May 14th as we build beautiful birdhouses and birdfeeders.
  
  For more information about the Event or the Durst-Taylor Historic House and Gardens, contact the Historic Sites Department at 936-560-4443 or by email at historicsites@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us . You can contact the Woodworkers Club of East Texas at 559 9216. # END #
  

• Oh, dear Texas: 175 years of Independence

  9 February 2011, 4:54 pm

  The City of Nacogdoches Historic Sites Department cordially invites you to join us in our celebration of the 175th Anniversary of Texas Independence. The celebration will take place at Aldolphus Sterne’s home, financier of the revolution, early Nacogdoches merchant and Texas legislator. Much of Nacogdoches’ involvement in the war against Mexico can be contributed to Mr. Sterne and his devotion to the cause.
  Not long after making his way to Nacogdoches Mr. Sterne became involved in the Fredonia Rebellion, smuggling guns and ammunition in the bottom of coffee barrels to Hayden Edwards and the Fredonians. Mr. Sterne had such high hopes for an independent Texas that in 1835 he traveled to New Orleans and personally raised money to finance a company of men called the New Orleans Greys. Upon their arrival to Nacogdoches the New Orleans Greys were greeted with a huge banquet across from the Sterne’s home before heading off to fight at the Alamo. With his hands in almost everything that dealt with the revolution, it only seems fitting that we celebrate the 175th anniversary at his home. So come out do just that; show your Texas pride with us Wednesday March 2nd from 5:30 to 8:00pm at the Sterne Hoya House Museum and Library located at 211 South Lanana. Street. Light refreshments will be served on the front porch. We will be giving guided tours of the house focused on early Texas politics, Adolphus Sternes’ contributions to Texas Independence and the battles of the revolution. Hurrah for Texas!
  

Important Links

• Millards Crossing
• Old University Building
• Old Stone Fort
• Nacogdoches Fire Department Museum


• Texas Historical Commsission
  
• Preserve America
• National Register of Historic Places
• National Park Service
• Texas Forest Trail Region
• Historic District Design Guidelines
  

Get Involved

Contributions: If you would like to contribute to the Preservation of these historically valuable sites, mail your donation to:

Volunteer: If you would like to volunteer as a docent (tour guide) at either the Sterne-Hoya House or the Durst-Taylor House please contact our Assistant Historic Sites Manager at 936-560-4441 or by email at sowellj@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us