Floorboards creak, but a visit to the Van Alstyne Historical Museum could only be more enhanced if its walls could really talk. Instead, the museum’s all-volunteer staff members enjoy greeting visitors and residents and sharing tales of this railroad town and the surrounding area. Many of the exhibited items are “hands on,” enjoyed especially by young visitors.
The museum is just one of many office buildings, churches and private homes that make up the town’s historical district and date back more than 100 years to 1873, when the railroad came to this spot and Van Alstyne was founded. The new town was named after Maria Van Alstyne, widow of William Ashley Van Alstyne, a Houston and Texas Central Railway major stockholder. Since the railway bypassed the nearby town of Mantua, many of its residents moved to Van Alstyne, adding to the town’s prosperity.
The original train depot was located on North Main. Nine Texas State Historical Markers help tell the town’s story in the historical district, and other markers indicate the city’s growth outward. A walk through the historical district is enhanced by well-preserved architectural features and bright murals that decorate the old brick walls.
A historical marker stands near Collin McKinney’s grave. An area pioneer and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Collin County and the town of McKinney were named after him.
Shopping and dining are draws to the downtown district, and residents in loft apartments bring a vibrancy to the area. City Drug, in continual operation since 1890, with signage dating to mid-century, has an old-fashioned soda fountain. The Sherman-Dallas Interurban’s tracks can still be seen running north and south embedded in Preston Street. Van Alstyne is about an hour’s drive from the DFW Metroplex, but the Interurban served as affordable transportation for area residents and visitors during the first half of the 20th century. Two interurban cars are being restored.
The downtown is host to the Railcar Farmers Market that is open on Tuesdays from April to October, the annual Fall der All Festival and Halloween trick-or-treating in October and the Christmas parade in December. In downtown, the soothing tones flowing from the fountain in Dorothy Fielder Park are a pleasant background to Music in the Park events. North Park and McKinney Wilson Park offer sports fields and playgrounds, as does Forrest Moore Park, which also features a walking trail, complete with the Texas Historic Bridge, constructed in 1890 as a pin-connected Pratt Pony truss bridge.
With the surrounding gently rolling hills, ranches, proximity to the Metroplex and historical sites, Van Alstyne is a location used by film crews. Some local history was portrayed in the movie, The Highwayman, when former Grayson County sheriff, Lee Simmons, was given credit for helping Frank Hamer set up the Bonnie and Clyde ambush.
Outdoor activities abound for all ages, and there are plenty of hospitality options. Horseback riding at area ranches; hiking area trails; and water sports, camping and fishing can be enjoyed at nearby Lake Texoma. There are several bed-and-breakfasts in Van Alstyne, along with plenty of motels. Come experience Van Alstyne’s history and hospitality for a day or a relaxing weekend.
Photos by Virginia Riddle, LLC.
Written by Virginia Riddle
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