The Women Suffrage Movement in Texas

We went to Huntsville, Texas to visit the Sam Houston Museum and found ourselves in the main museum where they had a display on the Texas suffrage movement. When we were in Maine we went to the Maine State Museum where there was also a display on the women's suffrage movement. Now we learn about Texas and other women involved in the movement.

Sam Houston Museum & Statute, Huntsville, Texas

We visited the Sam Houston Museum & Statute (which you can see as you drive along I-45 in Huntsville). Who is Sam Houston? Husband, father, attorney, statesman, warrior, United States Senator, Governor of Texas. General Sam Houston was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia on March 2, 1793. He was the son of Major Sam and Elizabeth Paxton Houston and descendant of Sir Hugh of Padivan, the founder of Hughstown Castle of Scotland. 

Sam Houston was a Congressman and Governor in Tennessee. Sam Houston arrived in Texas in 1832; was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. He was Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Revolutionary Army; victor at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836. He was President of the Republic of Texas twice; Congressman of the Republic of Texas; United States Senator from Texas, and then Governor of Texas. He died in Huntsville, Texas on July 26, 1863.

Sam Houston, 1793-1863

Salmon Lake Park, Grapeland, Texas

As I was searching for parks along our route from Linn Valley, Kansas south toward Houston, Texas, Salmon Lake was roughly 180 miles from our previous campground and on the route we needed to take. It was a little longer drive than we usually do, but it was the only park that was not far off the beaten path. We arrived there on Thursday, June 24, paid for our stay, and headed in to find a spot. As we drove in, we try to fit the roads to what the map looks like. After figuring it out, we headed to the field to find a 50amp site. 

Texas State Railroad, Palestine, Texas

The Texas State Railroad took us from Palestine, Texas to Rusk, Texas. The ad looks really good online and in their Facebook advertisement. They call it the "quintessential daytrip, only a few hours from the metropolitan communities of Dallas and Houston, will create a memory that will last a lifetime." I picked the "open air car" with bench seats and open windows so we could have a nice breeze on the trip. We were in one of the last two cars and we had to walk through the airconditioned cars with tables set up for the guests to get to our car. I liked the open air cars better because with the bench seats you could sit in both directions as the seat back moved to accommodate this. However, it was noisy there with the wind, train whistle, and kids running back and forth and we could not hear the story told over the speakers. Even with these issues, when we walked through the air conditioned cars the smell from the toilets was almost overwhelming. I don't know if they had to smell it the whole trip, but sitting in the back was worth while.

Palestine Depot

Eastern Trails Museum, Vinita, Oklahoma

The Eastern Trails Museum sits along old Route 66; its exhibits feature a local Civil War battle, railroads, ranching, mercantile, post office, homecraft, ancient points and pipes, schools, Cherokee influence, military, tools, Will Rogers' youth, and more. Vinita was founded in 1871 with Tom Buffington as its first Mayor, serving four terms, he was also Chief of the Cherokees from 1899 to 1903.

St. Philippine Duchesne Memorial Park & Shrine, Centerville, Kansas

The St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Park memorializes the lives and the work of early Kansas settlers and is the original site of the Potawatomi Indians and Missionary community at Sugar Creek Mission. This park has been well preserved, and serves as a spiritual, educational, and recreational opportunity for Catholics, and for those who will appreciate this rich piece of Kansas history. The correct address for the park is 8499 W 1525th Road, Centerville, KS 66014. 

The entrance to the park has been enhanced by a fort-style gate to visualize the frontier days of the mid 1800’s.