[Original Platmap of the City of Palestine, TX]

In 1846 the Texas Legislature created Palestine to serve as seat for the newly established Anderson County. James R. Fulton, Johnston Shelton and William Bigelow were hired by the first Anderson County commissioners to survey the surrounding land and lay out a town site, consisting of a central courthouse square and the surrounding 24 blocks.
Date: 1846
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Map
System: The Portal to Texas History

Anderson County

Map of the Piney Woods region covering Anderson County, and part of Henderson and Van Zandt Counties, Texas. Houston Mound is located in the Sam Houston Survey. Scale ca. 1:133,334 (4000 varas per inch).
Date: 1849
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Map
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Bascoms Chapel Methodist Church - Palestine]

There has been an active Methodist presence in Palestine since about 1850. At that time the only local congregation met in Bascom’s Chapel, an extant building located at 812 N. Mallard, which has since been converted into a private residence. During the early 20th century the original congregation split, with some members establishing this church, the Centenary Methodist Church, and some founding Grace United Methodist Church, located just north of downtown.
Date: 1850~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Trinity Advocate. (Palestine, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 39, Ed. 1 Saturday, December 10, 1853 (open access)

Trinity Advocate. (Palestine, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 39, Ed. 1 Saturday, December 10, 1853

Weekly newspaper from Palestine, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: December 10, 1853
Creator: Ewing & McClure
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from L. P. Rucker to David C. Dickson - June 7, 1855] (open access)

[Letter from L. P. Rucker to David C. Dickson - June 7, 1855]

Letter from L. P. Rucker to David C. Dickson suggesting that Dickson and Anson Jones convey school property in Anderson to the trustees of St. Paul's College.
Date: June 7, 1855
Creator: Rucker, L. P.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

Map of Anderson County

Map of Anderson County, Texas, including the Piney Woods region. Mercer's Colony Line is indicated on map. Houston Mound is located in the Sam Houston Survey. Scale ca. 1:133,334 (4000 varas per inch).
Date: December 1, 1855
Creator: Wilke, H.
Object Type: Map
System: The Portal to Texas History
Trinity Advocate. (Palestine, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 43, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 20, 1857 (open access)

Trinity Advocate. (Palestine, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 43, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 20, 1857

Weekly newspaper from Palestine, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: May 20, 1857
Creator: McClure, A. E. & Dale, Matt.
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Tax receipt with list of slaves] (open access)

[Tax receipt with list of slaves]

A tax receipt for Thomas Graham that lists slaves.
Date: 1860
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Mollie and Ellen to Lizzie Johnson] (open access)

[Letter from Mollie and Ellen to Lizzie Johnson]

Letter from Mollie, Ellen and another individual to Lizzie Johnson. Letter is in pencil making to difficult to read, but the letter includes a fabric sample.
Date: March 29, 1864
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[School Children in Palestine]

Photo of children from Palestine area. Age is estimated on Keah Kolstad's age as about 12: Back Row - Left to Right: John Jackson Albert Joast Keah Kolstad Sue Watts Prof. Dechard Mrs. Dechard Texanna Prew Ott Reeves John Link Second Roy - Right to Left: Ella Friend Bea Kirksey Lizzie McCoy Edd Link George Howard Wilber Joast Alice Watts Jimmie Howard Billie Jackson Ben Howard Front Row - Right to Left: Sue Alexander Lizzie Unger Fannie Unger Teta Kirksey Barbara Alexander
Date: 1865~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

Freedmens First Vote

Photograph of the first Anderson County Courthouse on the day of the Freedmen's First Vote. The voters' horses are tied to the railing and the Union guards watching over them to prevent opposition from taking or harming them.
Date: 1866~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Marsh Glenn to Lizzie Johnson] (open access)

[Letter from Marsh Glenn to Lizzie Johnson]

Letter from Marsh Glenn to Lizzie Johnson in which Glenn asks to begin correspondence with Johnson.
Date: July 31, 1867
Creator: Glenn, Marsh
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Mollie E. McClure to Lizzie Johnson, dated November 10, 1868] (open access)

[Letter from Mollie E. McClure to Lizzie Johnson, dated November 10, 1868]

Letter from Mollie McClure to Lizzie Johnson, discussing the events in Palestine, including a recent election.
Date: November 10, 1868
Creator: McClure, Mollie E.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Freedmens First Vote - Anderson County Courthouse]

This photo shows the military presence protecting African American's when they came to the Anderson County courthouse to vote for the first time in 1869.
Date: 1869
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

Map of Palestine: Anderson County, Texas.

Map of late-nineteenth century Palestine, Texas street names, buildings, parks, churches, businesses, cemeteries, railroads, block numbers, lot numbers, and ownership. Scale [1:6,300].
Date: [1869..1889]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Map
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Downtown Elkhart]

Photo of downtown Elkhart made before the town burned down.
Date: 1870~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Main Street - Elkhart]

Photo of Main Street, Elkhart.
Date: 1870~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Palestine Railroad Mansion]

Photo of what is commonly called a "Railroad Mansion". One of the large homes built by the magnates of the I&GN Railroad. It is not known where this house was located, but it was most likely south of the railroad tracks along S. Sycamore or S. Magnolia streets in Palestine.
Date: 1870~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Second Anderson County Courthouse]

Photo of the second Courthouse that stood in Palestine, Anderson County. It served the county from approximately 1860 until 1885.
Date: 1870~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Second Anderson County Courthouse]

Photo of the second Courthouse that stood in Palestine, Anderson County. It served the county from approximately 1860 until 1885.
Date: 1870~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Trinity River Steamboat]

Photo of one of the steamboats that went up and down the Trinity River from Galveston to Magnolia Landing.
Date: 1870~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Unidentified Men]

Photo of four unidentified men thought to be steamboat captains.
Date: 1870~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Levi Hurbrough]

Levi Hurbrough served as Palestine’s first Mayor after the civil war, his term running from 1871 until 1872.
Date: 1871
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

Anderson County

Map of Anderson County, Texas, including the Piney Woods region. Scale ca. 1:133,334 (4000 varas per inch).
Date: April 7, 1871
Creator: Lungkwitz, Herman
Object Type: Map
System: The Portal to Texas History