CartY'all don’t have to be from Texas to know that Sam Houston was a key figure in the history of this iconic state. The fact that one of our biggest metro areas is named after him is a clue that he did something significant.
In 1832, Sam Houston arrived in Texas which, at the time, was a territory of Mexico. Houston supported annexation by the United States and was tapped to command a ragtag Texan army against the Mexican forces. Houston proved himself to be a brilliant military leader and his decisive victory at San Jacinto secured Texas its independence.
You also don’t have to be from the Lone Star State to have heard the phrase: “Everything’s bigger in Texas”. And that's certainly the case when it comes to the way Texans pay tribute to the Lone Star Republic’s first president! In the city of Huntsville, which is about 70 miles north of Houston, you’ll find a 67 foot tall statue of Sam Houston standing on a 10 foot granite base. Built by artist Davis Adickes and named “A Tribute to Courage”, it's the tallest statue of an American hero, so don’t worry about not being able to find it! If you're driving along I-45 and see the traffic start to slow down as the statue comes into view, it's probably because people are trying to snap pictures of this awesome landmark. I would recommend that you concentrate on your driving and get off at the exit to the statue (if you're driving north, take exit 109; driving south, it's exit 112). This way you’ll be able to gaze upon and take pictures of the giant white man safely and without disrupting traffic. You'll also get the chance to visit the Huntsville Visitor Center. It’s a quaint, historic Texas building complete with charming porch swings. Inside there’s a gift shop, free brochures, and historical information about the Mr. Houston and the area. Granted, you won’t spend a full day here, but it is a nice place to stop, rest and learn about this historic area. And once you do, I’m sure you’ll want to plan on spending some time here exploring the many things to do in Huntsville.
Besides, I’m sure it would please Sam Houston if you dropped by for a spell…and you don’t want to get a 67 foot tall man mad at you!
