Region: Prairies and Lakes
In the 1840s, it was discovered that the seat of Anderson County, a village
called Houston (not the major city of Harris County) was two miles off center.
Taking literally the Texas Legislature's guidelines that a county seat should be
at the center of a county, the town of Palestine was created as the county seat,
and the former community faded away.
Palestine has more buildings in the National Historic Registry than any other
Texas city except Galveston. Visitors also enjoy the picturesque beauty of the
area's rolling hills, lush forests and streams at local parks. Palestine
Community Forest features scenic drives through more than 700 acres of hardwood
trees. Davey Dogwood Park, just north of Palestine on North Link Street, is
especially popular during the annual Texas Dogwood Trails festival from late
March to early April. For dogwood information, call the Palestine Visitor
Center.
Self-guided tour brochures available from the Tourist Information
Center.