The Commission

Walker County Historical
Commission
1301 Sam Houston Ave.
Rm. 226
Huntsville, TX 77340
(Courthouse Annex)

Telephone

(936) 435-2497

WCHC Online

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Meetings

3rd Monday of each month
5:30 P.M.
Walker County Museum

Museum

Gibbs-Powell Home
1228 11 St. at Avenue M
Huntsville, TX

Hours

Friday 12-4PM
Saturday 12-4PM
Commission meetings,
and by appointment

Telephone

(936) 295-2914
(936) 436-4928 (fax)

Tours

(936) 291-3581
(936) 577-4257

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Handy Information

March to Houston's Grave
Sam Houston Normal Institute faculty and students march to Houston's grave

Events

Texas Independence Day and Gen. Sam Houston's Birthday Celebration

The dual annual celebration of Texas Independence Day and Gen. Sam Houston's birthday on March 2 each year has been sponsored jointly since 1981 by the following organizations:

The day begins with a morning reception at the Sam Houston Statue and Visitors Center followed by a ceremoney at Sam Houston's gravesite at Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville. A luncheon follows at a location that changes from year to year. The day ends with a "Toast to Texas" and a birthday cake for Sam Houston at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum.

Toast to Texas

by Joe B. Franz

"To Texas . . .
Joyous and sparkling,
Evergreen when it rains, enduring in drought,
Timeless, endless in boundaries, exciting,
Home to the adventurous of yesterday and today,
With shrines from the past
And space and spirit for the future.
To Texas.
Everlasting in the hearts of your people!"

The celebration began in 1889 with students from Sam Houston Normal Institute (now Sam Houston State University). The students marched from the Austin College building and Old Main with flags to the grave. In the 1930s and 40s, they drove to the grave by automobile. The celebration stopped abruptly in the mid-1960s, but the Historical Commission revived it in 1981.

The celebration draws many out of town visitors, including several direct descendants of Sam Houston

Fair on the Square

The Historical Commission participates in Fair on the Square the first weekend of every October with a table in the gazebo on the Courthouse Square. Commision members and volunteers hand out information on the Historical Commission and Walker County History and sell copies of historical documents and books.

Christmas Open House

An open house is held at the Gibbs-Powell Home usually in conjunction with the Commission's December meeting.

Other Area Events