Founders Park in Downtown Huntsville marks the spring site where early settlers traded with the Bedias Indians. The park is planted with native plants and grasses and has three markers: one marker featuring the history of the Huntsville Springs, one memorializing the Bedias Indians, and one recognizing the joint venture by the City, County, and volunteers to establish the park in 1994. For those who wish to know more about the history of Huntsville, Founders Park is a good place to begin. Visitors are welcome and encouraged. Parking within the park is available after 5:00 p.m. on week days and all day on week ends. (During the work week, parking is reserved for County employees in order to keep more space available on the Square itself for visitors and shoppers.)

Much like a billboard near the old Avon Theater, the mural of Huddie Ledbetter on Sam Houston Avenue captures a likeness of the famed blues singer and his twelve string guitar. Listed in rosters of great musicians who contributed to popular music, to rock and roll music, and to the blues, Leadbelly sang such memorable songs as "Goodnight Irene," and "Midnight Special" as well as many prison work songs. His work raised international awareness of blues music. The mural is designed by Artist Richard Haas and painted by Thomas Street Studios.

Representing the oldest business in Texas operating at one location, and sitting on the busiest intersection in Downtown Huntsville, the Gibbs Building has been beautifully renovated with architectural illusion painting and the replacement of a veranda similar to the original. The design work is by Richard Haas in collaboration with architect Kim A. Williams.

This row of two-story buildings houses a series of retail shops and professional offices. They are located on the north side of the Walker County Courthouse on 11th Street where some of the finest examples of architectural illusion painting designed by Richard Haas are incorporated into the architecture of the buildings. The Citizens and tourists will find antiques shops and an old fashioned candy and sandwich shop.

The Town Theater was built in the late 1940's and was frequented by movie goers until the

1970's. After a period of alternate uses and vacancy, the facade of the Town was renovated in 1995 under the Downtown Revitalization program with the City. The facade design was created by artist Richard Haas in collaboration with architect Kim Williams. The implementation of the painting was by Thomas Street Studios of New Jersey. The project was supported by The Meadows Foundation.

On the front of the theater is pictured the memorable actor Dana Andrews who grew up in Huntsville not far from the theater. A non-profit group -- Friends of Old Town Theater -- has purchased the building and renovated the interior for use as the J. Philip Gibbs, Jr., Centre for Performing Arts. For information about the Friends, contact Gene Myrick: (936) 291-3520.

The current complex of 18 acres contains ten buildings and is divided between areas of natural woodland and landscaped spaces adjacent to the historic buildings. "Lake Oolooteka" is an artificial pond named in honor of Sam Houston's adoptive Cherokee Indian father. The lake was constructed in the shape of the state of Texas by the W.P.A. in 1936. It is a popular spot for picnics and many children have fond memories of feeding the ducks which gather along the shoreline.

The Steamboat House, a building of unusual architectural design, was built by Dr. Rufus Bailey, a language professor at Austin College, in 1855. It was rented by the Houstons when General Sam returned to Huntsville in 1861 following his dismissal as Texas Governor for failing to pledge his loyalty to the Confederacy. On July 26, 1863 he died in the house and was buried from the front parlor. The Museum moved the house onto the grounds of the historic site in 1936.

Woodland Home is the most important structure on the grounds of the Museum complex. It was built in 1847 when Houston was serving as one of the first United States Senators from Texas and was spending more than half of each year in Washington, DC. His wife Margaret Lea Houston wished to live in a town house where she could have better access to medical care and the spiritual comfort of the First Baptist Church. The traditional-style, douple-pen "dogtrot" log cabin was home to the Houstons until 1858 and four of their eight children were born here. The house is accurately furnished with several original Houston pieces of furniture along with other items representative of the period.

The Sam Houston Statue/Huntsville Visitor Center features an assortment of unique tourism videos, informative visitor brochures on Huntsville and the State of Texas, and beautiful displays on the making of “Big Sam.” The center is open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Parking is available for tour buses and R.V.’s. Restrooms, picnic area, and a scenic park. For more information, call (409) 291-9726.