On a beautiful spring day I visit homes, a church, school and land office all from the 19th and early 20th centuries and all original to East Texas. The buildings, and symbols of local history, were dismantled and reconstructed on a plot of land in Nacogdoches and collectively named Millard’s Crossing Historic Village.
The village is named for the railroad track that once crossed through the Millard family property and now borders the north side of the village.
The museum was the dream of Lera Millard Thomas (1900 – 1993). Thomas, a Nacogdoches native and Texas preservationist was the first woman from Texas to serve in the U.S. Congress.
In 1968 she returned to Nacogdoches and embarked upon this remarkable preservation project, stepping in to save some of the area’s finest historic structures as well as creating a place to house her extensive antique collection.
After paying a nominal admission, I begin my slow meander from building to building, each filled with antiques and period appropriate furnishings, tools and supplies.
Come with me on this tour to some of the homes and other historic sites.
The museum is located at 6020 North Street in Nacogdoches.
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Tags: museum, Texas
What a fine collection of historic buildings! But equally impressive are those towering leafy trees and how majestic they are. That tree beside the Sitton Dig Trot is a real beauty
It is such a lovely setting. There are also roses everywhere.
What a charming place you discovered in Nagadoches, Texas. We recently made connections with someone from their CVB and will have to look closer at this city as a possible destination. Thanks for sharing.
You will love East Texas and all it has to offer. I hope you visit soon, but don’t wait until the middle of the summer — it’s hot! 🙂
Thx for this post about a hidden Texas gem! I love Texas and all it has to offer. Millard’s Crossing looks like a step back in time.
Millard’s Crossing is a fun place to visit. I always appreciate when people take the initiative to save historic buildings.
This is a great assortment of houses. I think l like the log cabin house the most and the caboose a close second. Thanks for sharing. That is one part of Texas l have yet to venture to 🙂
I could live in the log cabin house too. It had a nice upstairs loft. I hope you get to visit East Texas. You will like it here!
What a nice preservation job! Some of the buildings look so lived-in that you wonder whether someone is in the next room!
They really did an excellent job of portraying historic Texas!!
I’m happy to learn about the first woman from Texas to serve in the U.S. Congress and that she worked to preserve Millard’s Crossing. Looks like a great place to visit in Nacogdoches.
It would have been nice to have known her. She left a wonderful legacy in Nacogdoches and East Texas.
I always like going round historic sites. I think I’d particularly enjoy the Textile Museum at Millard’s Crossing – those wall hangings have such vibrant patterns.
You would love the textiles. There were others in other buildings too.
An enjoyable read about this hidden gem in East Texas.
Thank you!! It was a fun day of exploring.
What fun to explore such a large collection of period buildings. The school house and laundry room at Millard’s Crossing look so perfectly preserved. Time to add Nagadoches Texas to my history travel wish list.
There are other historic sites in the city as well. Plus great antique shopping!
What a wonderful job they did reconstructing Millard’s Crossing Historic Village. Looks like a place I’d like to visit!
They really did! I enjoyed my visit!