Why “goodbye Nacogdoches”? And what’s a “Nacogdoches?
Nacogdoches is the oldest town in Texas. And home to Stephen F. Austin State University from which our oldest Texas grandson just graduated. Which is why we bid a fond adieu to the city, the university, and the baseball field.
But, we took this last opportunity to visit some sights. The visitor center offers some history and artifacts. The university is home to Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden. We’d already visited The Old Stone Fort.
[Click a picture to enlarge and start a slide show.]
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- Nine flags over Nacogdoches.
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- Nine flags over Nacogdoches.
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- French “Type C” Tra.de Musket. Details below.
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- “The Gateway” in front of the visitor center is a tribute to those arriving in Texas.
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- Guess where this was taken.
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- Trees.
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- Yes, this a boot (in the visitor center).
French “Type C” Trade Musket
These muskets traveled down the Mississippi River and were then brought into Eastern Texas. The manufacturing time frame of these muskets was 1675-1725, which encompasses the 1716 foundation of Nacogdoches. These muskets are most likely “Type C” Indian “Trade Guns”; which are iron mounted, 48″ barrel length, walnut wood, with 4 ram rods retaining the cleaning rod under the barrel. The cheek rest on the left side of the butt stock, is worn almost flat from the many thousands of times this weapon was fired. All metal decorations on this rifle match those that have been excavated in several “dig sites” in Nacogdoches County over the years. This weapon is way beyond rare and is likely the only one in all of Texas.