Huntsville, Texas

Huntsville, Texas is the home of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and several prisons - the Ellis Unit that previously housed death row, and Huntsville Unit, which houses the execution chamber.

The Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville is a non-profit museum that tells the story of the history of the prison system in Texas. The museum contains many different artifacts, showing the look behind the fences and bars, including an electric chair called "Old Sparky." The chair was used from 1924 to 1964 as the main means of execution in Texas. The museum was founded in 1989.

Texas Prison Museum, 491 TX-75, Huntsville, TX 77320, Phone: 936-295-2155

Sam Houston Statue in Huntsville, Texas, was designed and constructed by artist David Adickes, who dedicated the statue to the City of Huntsville. Completed on October 22,1994, it is the tallest statue of an American Hero in the world, 67 feet tall, on a 10-foot granite base.

David Adickes created the colossal statue as a tribute to General Sam Houston and named it A Tribute to Courage. It is also often called Big Sam. The statue was made from 30 tons of concrete and steel on the W.S. Gibbs Farm on 75 North in Huntsville. This construction site was offered by Sam Houston State University. The statue is made of five layers of concrete over steel mesh afixed to a steel framework. The colossal statue can be seen from the south for 6.5 miles.

Sam Houston Statue, Huntsville, TX 77340

Huntsville State Park is a 2,083.2-acre wooded area located six miles southwest of Huntsville, Walker County, Texas and the same distance from Sam Houston National Forest. The park is covered by loblolly pine and shortleaf pine trees that provide home to white-tailed deer, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, and fox squirrels.

There are 218 species of birds living in the park or flying over the park. The park is a popular destination for camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, fishing, swimming, paddling, geocaching and studying nature. There are 21 miles of trails, playgrounds, a bird blind and nature center. Lake Raven, which is part of the park, has crappie, bluegill, catfish and bass. Alligators have been spotted in the lake on occasions.

Huntsville State Park, 565 Park Road 40 west, Huntsville, TX 77340, Phone: 936-295-5644

Oakwood Cemetery is located along Ninth Street, between Sam Houston Memorial Drive and Ryan's Ferry Road in central Huntsville, Texas. It is maintained by the City of Huntsville. The Cemetery is divided into six sections. Old Cemetery, together with "Negro Cemetery" covers 3.3 acres and is older than the City of Huntsville.

New Cemetery is a 5.4-acre area between the old cemetery and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive added in 1887 and 1910. Adickes Addition was added to Oakwood in 1925 on the east side of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Mayes Addition, located across from Adickes Addition, is currently the only section with a a number of plots available for new burials. Wildwood Sanctuary, donated in 1925, is the 1.8 acre Rawley Rather Powell Memorial Park Addition. A two-acre tract was recently donated by the Powell Family.

Oakwood Cemetery, 9th Street and Ave I , Huntsville, TX 77320

The H.E.A.R.T.S Veterans Museum (Helping Every American Remember Through Serving) is an important Texas institution located in Huntsville, Texas, containing large number of personal mementos and war paraphernalia donated by veterans and their families.

The museum’s purpose is to honor and recognize the people who have served to protect their country, preserve freedom, and secure it for other people around the world. The museum was originally just a window display in a local antique store, honoring one Brigadier General. It grew to become a traveling school presentation by the founding members. Over the years, through their dedication, the museum got a permanent home. The museum covers the conflicts from the Civil War through to the most current ones.

H.E.A.R.T.S Veterans Museum, 463 TX-75, Huntsville, TX 77320, Phone: 936-295-5959