The Commission

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

Telephone

(936) 435-2497

WCHC Online

Send email

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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The Thomas Plantation and Steamboat Landing

John Richard Thomas (1820-63) of Alabama came to Texas in 1854. Developing a 1060-acre plantation, he built wharves here on the Trinity for shipping his cotton, corn, molasses, and other goods. Thomas' Landing was a regular port of call, giving riverboats considerable business. The Civil War (1861-65) and Thomas' death brought adversity to his people. After 1872, when a railroad was built into Walker County, river shipping ceased. The landing, the plantation "big house" and other buildings once stood near the site now retaining the cemetery.