subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Fri, May 09 2008 

Published: January 16, 2008 08:26 am    print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Texas Historical Commission now managing Caddoan Mounds

Cristin Ross
Jacksonville Progress

The Texas State Railroad isn’t the only entity making “historical” changes in Cherokee County.

The Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site in Alto has officially been transferred into the hands of the Texas Historical Commission from the Texas Parks and Wildlife.

“We’re very excited and think this is a very positive direction for the site,” said site manager Jennifer Price.

The transfer of the Caddoan Site and 17 other state parks came about after the 80th Legislature passed House Bill 12. Officials hope allowing new management of the parks will help increase visitation. The transfers became official Jan. 1.

“The future of this site is very bright,” said Terry Colley, Texas Historical Commission deputy executive director. “It’s just a great site and we’re very excited to add it to our inventory of historical sites we oversee.”

According to the Texas Historical Commission’s Web site, Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site was the home of mound builders of Caddoan origin who lived in the region for 500 years beginning about 800. The 93.8-acre site opened to the public in June 1982. Facilities include a headquarters/interpretive center, an archeological experiment exhibit and a .7-mile interpretive trail.

Price said site staff and commission officials are already brainstorming on ideas to enhance the site’s facilities and exhibits, including a remodel of the headquarters and museum, adding more interpretive trails and a second Caddo hut to the grounds, lengthening the site’s operating hours and get a new roof.

“We’ve already added two new positions, which helps free me up to do more PR,” Price said. “In the past I’ve only traveled to schools. I’d like to extend that program to be able to include more county organizations that focus on historical preservation and archeology.”

Colley said commission officials are also interested in continuing archeological digging the site as well.

“We’re just itching to get out there to do additional excavating,” he said. “We have an inkling of what’s out there but we’ll have to do a survey to see what the potential is for uncovering new artifacts.”

Price said the improvements could start at any time in the next fiscal year.

“The improvement I’m most excited about is the expansion of the museum,” she said. “Our goal is to interpret the Caddo Indians, but we want to add the El Camino Real de las Tejas.

“A lot of people don’t realize that Highway 22 is the original El Camino Real. What we want to try to do is offer a walk-through exhibit that would be a time line of the El Camino Real — unveil it from when it was an Indian footpath and following its history to the present date modern-day highway.”

Colley said he anticipates the commission will spend six months to a year planning these changes.

“We want to be able to do the necessary planning on these projects,” Colley said. “There’s so much more that can be done with this site — we really want to jump in and see it all happen right now, but we want it done right, too.”

The Texas Historical Commission administers several programs that help preserve the state’s archeological, cultural and historical resources.

Price said the site averages 550 to 600 visitors a month.

print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.




Order a classified ad


monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide
Premium EMPLOYMENT

BILINGUAL RECEPTIONIST
needed for busy office - to apply, please call (903)721-5454...>MORE

NOW HIRING
Pediatric LVNs - Palestine & Crockett area - weekends
call today - 1-800-626-8226, ext. 27
Grace Visiting Nurs
...>MORE

TRANSIT MIX CONCRETE & MATERIALS COMPANY
is now hiring MIXER DRIVERS. CLD license is required. We offer competitive wages along with an excellent benefit package...>MORE

IMMEDIATE OPENING
Charge Nurse (LVN) - all shifts
nursing home experience preferred - drug scree and criminal history check - apply i
...>MORE

KNIFE RIVER CENTRAL TEXAS DIVISION
is seeking Equipment Operators and Asphalt /Concrete workers for our Anderson County job. Excellent benefits package. Dr...>MORE

APARTMENT MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR
needed for East Texas Rental Properties
please call (903)526-6160
...>MORE

MARKETING/SALES
CSR: must possess communication skills, written, verbal & listening; people oriented; self motivated; ability to multi-t...>MORE

DIESEL MECHANIC
home nights, overnight trips rare - local company - 5 years minimum experience - non smoking - drug test - paid holidays...>MORE

CNAs
CNAs - ALL shifts
LVNs - 12 hour shifts - 6p-6a
$1500 Sign on Bonus
Increase in starting hourly rate
...>MORE

HOME HEALTH AGENCY
needs P/T Physical Therapist for home visits. Excellent rate, will aslo pay mileage. Please fax resume to: (903)586-8865...>MORE

EXPERIENCED QUALIFIED COOK
apply in person M-F
Angelina House, 211 Phillips, Jacksonville (903)589-1105
...>MORE

CUSTOMER SERVICE REP
Aaron's is growing! We are looking for a Customer Service Rep for our Jacksonville location. The proper candidate will b...>MORE

CONSTRUCTION
JPW Partners Limited Liability Company
Construction company has openings based out of the Jacksonville area for ex
...>MORE

OFFICE STAFF
taking interviews for F/T positions in food manufacturing facility with varied responsibilities - looking for aggressive...>MORE

LICENSED HAIR STYLIST
needed for busy Salon in Jacksonville - call Leticia (903)541-0375...>MORE

EXPERIENCED WELDERS
needed - must be highly skills and organized - POE - apply in person at and be prepared to take paint test -
Necko
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium VEHICLES

Sell your Vehicle
Place your vehicle ad in the Premium spot on the web page for a much quicker sale. Call Classifieds (877)670-3400 for de...>MORE

See all ads

Premium REAL ESTATE

COZY
2 bedroom, 1 bath, $550 month + deposit
606 Johnson in Jacksonville
call (512)940-1989
...>MORE

REAL ESTATE
Looking to sale or rent your property. Get your ad noticed by more readers by placing your ad in the Premium spot on the...>MORE

3 BEDROOM, 1.75 BATH
large den, dining room, on Maydelle Hwy. $66,900 Owner will finance with cash down payment. Call (903)589-7800 or (903)7...>MORE

See all ads

Premium SPECIALS

Deal-of-the-Day
Have something special to sell, service to be offered. Call us and get recognized faster. 1-877-670-3400...>MORE

See all ads


txlottery.com

 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

rc