Husband to Super Sister told me about the “mini-museum” roadside parks – the Safety Rest Areas.  Since I first visited the rest station in Salado, (Click to read the first blog about Safety Rest Areas in Texas.)  I have been looking forward to stopping  and learning more about our grand and glorious state of Texas along our Texas highways.  Before embarking on our trip to Houston, I checked the TDOT website and discovered two such rest areas on I – 45 from Dallas to Houston – one in Navarro County and another in Walker County.

If you do not know about these Safety Stations, you are strongly encouraged in take a couple of minutes and visit them.  Not only will you feel refreshed for stopping, but you will learn aboubt the county and its history.

Outside of Corsicana in Navarro County is a rest station that celebrates the economy and history of Navarro county.  (Each building for these rest areas is unique and well designed.)

Inside the building of the Navarro rest area is an oil derrick.  There were displays about oil production in Navarro county, AND….  Did you know there have been over 3,000 sitings of  a “Big Foot” in this area?  One display told the good and the bad about mesquite trees – the three inch thorns can penetrate a boot, but the wood makes fine furniture.

Since Ever-Lovin’s father was a Texas Ranger, it was interesting to read about Texas Ranger Ira Astin’s roll in the Cutting Wars.  When barb wire fencing was first introduced to the open range, their was much opposition.  “Gangs” set about to cut and destroy the fences.  Ranger Astin came to Navarro county and greatly reduced the cutting of fences by placing explosives on the fences that would detonate when the fence was cut.  How about that?

The county is named for Jose Antonio Navarro.  He and Juan Seguin were the only patriots born in San Antonio when it was Spanish colonial Mexico – they were home boys.  Navarro was the only Tejano delegate to the Convention of 1845 which accepted annexation to the United States.  Love learning this stuff.

Want to learn of the floura and fauna of the area.  Check out these boards. There are even interactive displays for young and old.

Each rest area has picnic tables, play grounds and walking trails to give you a break during your trips.  My hope is that you will enjoy stopping at the safety rest areas and see for yourself these interesting “mini-museums”.

Blessings to you and yours,

Will share about the Walker County Safety Rest Area in another blog.

Thank you again Paul for telling me about these rest areas.  Love them!