Serving as the seat of Walker County, Huntsville is a Texan university city north of Houston. It was famously home to the American statesman and general Sam Houston, as well as Samuel Walker Houston, a former slave who became a pioneer in the field of education.
Things to do in Huntsville
Coincide your visit to Huntsville with a home game of the Bearkats at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium, which is named after a former president of Sam Houston State University. It lies a short stroll from the Gaertner Performing Arts Center, where live concerts take place. Also on the Sam Houston State University campus is the Walker Education Center, which explores the local history.
On the edge of the university campus is the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, which preserves the homestead of the former Governor of Texas. Its exhibits detail the life of Sam Houston and his role in the Texas Revolution when he led his army to victory at the Battle of Jacinto. In addition to demonstrations of period trades and crafts, the museum hosts the General Sam Houston Folk Festival each year.
Sprawling south of the city is Huntsville State Park, a wooded recreational area that provides a habitat for white-tailed deer, armadillos and raccoons. It forms part of the Sam Houston National Forest, which is traversed by the 206-kilometre-long Lone Star Hiking Trail. On the other side of Huntsville is the Texas Prison Museum, which details the state’s history of incarceration.
Getting around Huntsville
Huntsville is around 1.5 hours’ drive from the centre of Houston and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Huntsville, although renting a car gives you greater freedom to explore the city.