|
Located about 50 miles southeast of Tyler on Texas Highway 64 at its intersection with U.S. Highway 259 and Highway 79 is the City of Henderson, the county seat of Rusk County.
The population of Henderson is about 12,000 residents. Elevation is 512 feet above sea level.
The town was named for James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of the state of Texas. The downtown business district was designed around the courthouse square, and grew into an important commercial center for the area.
Nearby communities include Kilgore, Rusk, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Jacksonville, Bullard, Longview, and Carthage.
Downtown features an active Henderson Main Street Program, and has a number of antique stores and historic markers in the National Register Downtown Historic Square. The first building in Henderson was constructed in 1838.
Upscale shopping, eateries, antiques, floral, dolls, custom jewelry and more are found in stores and boutiques downtown. Henderson also has a variety of restaurants and shopping on Highway US 79/259, the main artery through town.
Henderson features a number of activities and events, such as the Heritage Syrup Festival staged during the 2nd Saturday of November, the ANtique Tractor Show, Fourth of July parade, and Downtown at Christmas.
It has both spring and fall festivals, and a Christmas parade and home tour. Popular attractions include the Howard Dickinson House Museum, the Depot Museum Complex of nine buildings which houses a county history museum and a children's discovery center, and the Monte Verdi Plantation.
The countryside around Henderson features rolling hills and many lakes, and wildflower trails dot the surrounding area. The trails are usually at their peaks between April 15 - May 31 of each year.
Just west of Henderson is Joinerville, site of the discovery of the great East Texas Oil Field in 1930 at the Joiner Daisy Bradford No. 3 well. A popular historical destination is the Gaston Museum in Joinerville.
For more information we recommend contacting the City of Henderson and the Henderson Chamber of Commerce.
Henderson has several motels, hotels and other accommodations, including a Baymont Inn, Best Western Inn of Henderson, Budget Inn, Economy Inn, Comfort Inn, and Holiday Inn Express. Over 35 restaurants are located in Henderson.
In addition, there are other accommodations in nearby Tyler including a Courtyard by Marriott, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Select, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Country Inn & Suites, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, and others.
Other accommodations include a variety of bed & breakfasts in Tyler, and in the surrounding countryside.
While visiting Henderson and the Tyler area, you may want to take other interesting day trips in several directions:
- Jacksonville - to the south of Tyler on U.S. 69
- Love's Lookout - beautiful 30-mile vista to the East
- Athens - Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center
- Canton - home of First Monday Trade Days
- Gladewater - antique capitol of East Texas
- Kilgore - home of the East Texas Oil Museum and Kilgore College
- Longview - historic buildings, shopping, restaurants
- Marshall - Marshall Pottery, Railroad Museum, more
- Lake Tyler - swimming, boating, fishing, skiing close-in to Tyler
- Lake Palestine - boating, fishing, swimming, marinas, waterfront restaurants
- Toledo Bend Reservoir - boating, fishing, swimming, marinas, hiking, camping, golf, resorts, restaurants
- Brenham - College Station - Blue Bell Creamery, Antique Rose Emporium, Bluebonnet Trails, Bed and Breakfasts, vineyards, George Bush Presidential Library, Texas A&M University, more
- Bullard - just south of Tyler, home of wineries and the Freedom Museum
 |
Tyler has convenient access to area lakes that provide boating, fishing, skiing, swimming, and other recreational possibilities. Tyler State Park, a short drive north of the city, provides overnight camping venues, mountain biking, picnicking, hiking and more. In addition, Lake Palestine and Lake Tyler provide opportunities for boating, skiing and fishing.
From world-class golf courses, flea markets, walking trails, cultural attractions, state parks, festivals, antique shopping, fall motoring and art museums, Henderson, Tyler and the East Texas area has something
for everyone!
Historic postcard of the Circle Restaurant and Drive-In, Henderson, Texas
Historic postcard of the traffic circle in Henderson Texas
Historic postcard of the Hotel Randolph, Henderson, Texas
Historic postcard of Woodlawn Hills Court, Henderson Texas
|
|
