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Other Museums in the Area    College or Universities    Lifetime Learning Programs    Zoos    Library

Panola County Museums

The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame & the Tex Ritter Museum features a Hall of Fame Showcase, the KGAS Tex Ritter Round Up, Annual Texas Country Awards Ceremony and Show, tours, arts, crafts, food, entertainment and a gift shop featuring artists and Texas souvenirs.  Though the museum is open year round to Country music lovers, each year in August they offer a little something more.  A weekend celebration of country music is held in Carthage, birthplace of both Tex Ritter and Jim Reeves.
Museum Hours - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Monday - Saturday
Special arrangements upon request for groups.

Jim Reeves Memorial  "Gentleman" Jim Reeves, famous for his velvet voice, died in a plane crash on July 31, 1964. A life-sized sculpture of the famous singer marks his grave on a one-acre, tree-covered plot of ground three miles east of Carthage on U.S. Highway 79. Thousands of visitors from every state and many foreign countries have visited the site.

Panola County Heritage Museum features a capsule history of Panola County schools, complete with period dress and photographs depicting the progression of education in the county.  A video beginning with the Caddo Indians and progressing through the county's advent into the 21st Century is also available.  Upper floors of the museum house pottery, clothing and Indian artifacts of early inhabitants, and many photos of early county residents, their homes, livestock, and early vehicles.

The Old Jail Museum, built in 1891, is located in the first permanent jail in Panola County, and in the adjoining early city hall building.  East Texas rural life is depicted in the form of life-size dioramas, while significant military artifacts and exhibits pay homage to veterans of American wars.  In 2002, the Panola County Veterans Memorial was opened and dedicated next to the Museum.

Other Museums in the Region  (Back to Top)

The Shelby County Museum, sponsored by the Shelby County Historical Society, is located in the Weaver-Oates home built in circa 1900.  The Shelby County Historical Society seeks to discover, locate, collect, and preserve historical material and to disseminate historical and genealogical information.

The Caddoan Mounds provides interpretive exhibits and an audio-visual program to give details about artifacts uncovered at the site and the ancient civilization that existed there.  A self-guided trail leads visitors through the mounds and village area.

The Longview Museum of Fine Arts is a nonprofit organization formed to create interest in and promote knowledge of the visual arts throughout the City of Longview and vicinity by exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving works of art.  It features a permanent collection, special exhibits, educational programs and the museum gift shop.

The Gregg County Historical Museum known as one of Texas' finest small museums showcases thousands of artifacts illustrating the development of Gregg County.

The Harrison County Historical Museum in Marshall, Texas, houses twenty-two rooms of exhibits ranging in topic from the Native American Caddo culture to the history of the HBCU Wiley College.  The museum has historically been located in the Old Courthouse on Whetstone Square, but has been temporarily located in the Ginocchio since 2001 awaiting the completion of a restoration project of the Old Courthouse.  The museum houses thousands of artifacts and has an extensive photographic and text archive partially maintained by a genealogical society.  Notable pieces housed in the museum include; an Inaugural ball gown worn by Lady Bird Johnson and an accompanying suit worn by Lyndon Johnson, the Emmy Bill Moyers won for his documentary Marshall, Texas: Marshall, Texas, and George Foreman's world championship belt.

The Marshall Visual Art Center is located in one of the downtown area's restored structures.  A building that once housed a commercial laundry now offers studio and display rental spaces for local artists.

The Michelson Museum of Art is another restored downtown building in Marshall, displaying the work of Russian-American artist Leo Michelson.  It also features traveling displays.  There are permanent exhibits, including a selection of 20th century American art, and the Ramona and Jay Ward Collection of African masks and artifacts.

T & P Railway Museum is dedicated to the memory of thousands of former Texas and Pacific Railway employees and the important role they played in the economic development of Marshall and the State of Texas.  It is replete with photos and artifacts dating from the 1870's.  Exhibits include a replica of an old railroad agent's office complete with an old typewriter, electric fan and a working telegraph key.  There is a 1920's era panoramic photo of the entire commercial and industrial area featuring the vast Texas and Pacific Railway shops.  Another display includes working model trains that wind through models of historic Marshall buildings.  The story of the T & P hospital, located in Marshall and serving the entire system, is also told.

The East Texas Oil Museum at Kilgore College houses an authentic recreation of oil discovery and production in the early 1930s in the largest oil field inside the U.S. boundaries.  Hear about the people, their towns, their personal habits, their tools and their pastimes, all colorfully depicted in dioramas, movies, sound presentations and actual antiques donated by East Texas citizens.

The Depot Museum in Henderson, Texas, houses the Rusk County History Museum as well.  A video introduces guests to the early residents of Rusk County an intriguing blend of Native Americans, settlers and oil hungry wildcatters.

The Gone with the Wind Museum, located in Jefferson, Texas, features one of the world's largest private collections of memorabilia from the epic story of the Old South, Gone with the Wind.

The Gaston Museum, in Joinerville, Texas, invites visitors to step back into the 1930's. The museum contains memorabilia from the boom era and Gaston School, antique radio display, and original equipment from a 1930s radio repair shop.

The Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin, Texas, is one of the largest museums of its kind in the United States.  The museum offers a look at historic and contemporary development of one of Texas' oldest industries: forest products.  Featured exhibits include a Paper Mill room, sawmill town exhibit, logging locomotive and depot, forest fire lookout tower, modem management practices and an Urban Wildscape Trail.

The Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Museum is located in Pittsburg, Texas.  Six major exhibit areas feature the first 10,000 years of settlement in Northeast Texas, from the Archeology exhibit of the Caddo Indians, through the history of Pittsburg and Camp County.  A live, working, restored telegraph station and railroad exhibit and the full-size Ezekiel Airship replica now hanging in the Depot Annex are feature attractions for all ages.

Harrold's Model Train Museum, located in Tyler, Texas, invites guests to come enjoy a collection of 2,300 pieces of rolling stock on more than 300 ft. of track.

The Tyler Rose Museum and Gift Shop located at the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden (85 mi), preserves and displays the story of Tyler's rose growing industry and the pageantry of the Texas Rose Festival.  Memorabilia, interactive exhibits, and elaborate costumes can all be found within.

The Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, located in Tyler, Texas, is dedicated to men and women who have distinguished themselves in aviation.  The museum has memorabilia, signed art, uniforms, aircraft models, and aircraft representing most branches of the military.

The Goodman Museum, also located in Tyler, Texas, is a delight for antique lovers and historians.  This landmark brings the past to life with original furnishings, memorabilia, and photographs dating from the mid-1800s.

Colleges or Universities     (Back to Top)

Panola College Located in Carthage, Texas is a public, two-year college accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to offer Associate Degrees and Certificates of Completion.  With high quality residence halls for students, winning Intercollegiate Athletics teams, outstanding fine and performing arts programs, and exceptional academic transfer and technical programs, Panola College provides the advantages of attending a major university on a small college campus.  The college’s Nursing and Occupational Therapy Assistant programs are regularly commended for the quality of their graduates.  The Center for Digital Studies and the American Association of Community Colleges has named Panola College one of the nation’s Top Ten Digital Colleges for six consecutive years.

Stephen F. Austin State University offers the breadth of a state university education with the personal attention of a private college.  Working with knowledgeable faculty SFA students thrive on a beautiful, state of the art campus.  Through opportunities provided by internships, hands-on study and research opportunities, our students develop the skills needed for rewarding careers and fulfilling futures.

Texas State Technical College in Marshall is part of the TSTC System, a public coeducational institution of higher education offering courses of study in technical education leading to the award of Certificates and Associate of Applied Science degrees.

East Texas Baptist University is located in Marshall, Texas, an historic city of 25,000 nestled in the scenic piney woods of East Texas.  It is part of a larger metropolitan area of Longview, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana, and is located 150 miles east of Dallas, on Interstate 20.  Marshall is in the center of a recreational and tourist region, and is near the Caddo Lake recreational area.

LeTourneau University is an evangelical, interdenominational, Christian university, whose foundation is based squarely on biblical principles and practice.  They offer 60 programs at both graduate and undergraduate levels in a variety of fields.  Their flagship programs are in aeronautical science and engineering with strong programs in the areas of arts and sciences, teacher education and business.

Kilgore College approaches its 75th year, and is still a growing, vibrant, progressive community college with a faculty, an administration, and students who dream of great, exciting accomplishments in the future.

Tyler Junior College has been fulfilling three promises to its students and the Tyler area by providing a quality education, a vibrant student life, and service to the community.  Whatever course of study you choose, you will find quality instruction, caring faculty, support services designed to help you achieve your goals and a vibrant student life that is like none other at the two-year level.

University of Texas at Tyler, a member of the renowned University of Texas System, carries a proud tradition of high quality students and academic opportunities.  Located on 200 acres, UT Tyler is a safe university with a park-like setting of lush trees and wild life.  The campus consists of 14 modern buildings arranged around two lakes.

Wiley College, the first accredited historically Black college west of the Mississippi, was founded in 1873.  The college is currently affiliated with the United Methodist Church.  Wiley College is committed to providing students with a broad liberal arts and career oriented education in a Christian environment.

Centenary College of Louisiana is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church.  Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River.  It is regularly rated as one of the top colleges in the South.

Louisiana State University – Shreveport, anchored along the picturesque Red River in southeast Shreveport, is home to more than 4,200 students.  They offer nearly 40 undergraduate degree programs and a dozen master’s degree programs.

Lifetime Learning Programs     (Back to Top)

Panola College’s Continuing Education Department offers Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for numerous professional fields including nursing, social workers, law enforcement, mental health, and cosmetology.  Personal enrichment classes are offered throughout the year in a wide variety of areas including computer literacy, cooking (such as diabetic cooking, cooking for two, sushi, cooking with your kids, holiday cooking, etc.), watercolor, ceramics, dancing, dog obedience, guitar, sign language, digital photography, flower arrangements, quilting, knitting, chess, and self defense.

Sci-Port Discovery Center is a 92,000 square-foot science and entertainment center in Shreveport-Bossier, featuring over 290 science, math and space exhibits, daily changing programs, an IMAX Dome Theatre, open-access, interactive, laser SPACE DOME Planetarium, gift shop and café.

Zoos     (Back to Top)

The Caldwell Zoo has more than 2,000 animals to amaze and educate your entire family.  This zoo sits on more than 80 beautiful acres and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. closing on select few holidays.  It features a Wild Bird Walkabout, the Cakula Cafe, The North American section, two Aquariums, a South American Section, Gift Shop, Petting Zoo, educational activities, and duck feeding.

Yogie and Friends Exotic Cat Sanctuary in Friarson, Louisiana, opens to the public on a limited basis to reduce any stress to their animals.  The majority of these animals have come from cruel conditions and they do not want to add any more stress to their lives. Opening to the public on a limited, educational basis gives them a means to financially support the animals.

The Ellen Trout Zoo located in Lufkin, Texas, houses close to 700 reptiles, birds, and mammals from around the world. Currently, the zoo is undergoing the largest expansion project since it opened in 1967.  Maasai Giraffe and White Rhinoceros exhibits opened in the summer of 1999.  A Nile Hippopotamus exhibit featuring under and above water viewing opened in 2002.

Concerts, Theater and Dance     (Back to Top)

Longview, Texas – 30 miles

From the moment you step foot into the grand lobby of the S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center on the Letourneau University campus, you can see that it truly is something amazing.  The 73,341-square-foot facility houses 1,400 seats on the expansive ground level and another 600 seats in the two opera-house style balcony galleries.

The center features:

A 5,400-square-foot full working stage with orchestra lift Soundproofed rehearsal rooms, classrooms, multipurpose room and offices Ticket booth, restrooms and refreshment & exhibit areas A backstage "green room" for guest speakers, performers, etc.

In its inaugural season, The Belcher Center has hosted events such as: The Spencers Theatre of Illusion; STOMP; Eileen Ivers, An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas; Romeo and Juliet, St. Petersburg Ballet; and an African Children's Choir.

LeTourneau University dedicated The Belcher Center during a public ceremony on April 19, after undertaking the largest single-building capital campaign in the university’s 60-year history.

Descriptions of recent and scheduled events include:

The Ten Tenors; September 25, 2007

This highly acclaimed Australian a cappella group performs for sellout crowds around the world.  This show is full of laughs, fun, cheeky camaraderie and beautiful music from pop to the standards.

The Spencers Theatre of Illusion; October 13, 2007

Described as "Modern day Houdinis," the Spencers present a big, high-tech stage show that combines drama, comedy, romance and suspense with entertaining stage magic and breathtaking illusions.

STOMP; November 13, 14, 2007

STOMP is a movement, of bodies, objects, sounds - even abstract ideas.  The cast uses everyday objects in non-traditional ways.  A Broadway sensation, STOMP takes the everyday sounds of pipes and brooms, lighters and garbage pail lids, and creates the extraordinary.

Eileen Ivers "An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas"; December 6, 2007

Eileen captures the spirit of the season with her heartwarming holiday show.  Traditional Irish airs and songs from the 12th century to present tell the story of a real Irish Christmas through music and dance.

Romeo and Juliet, St. Petersburg Ballet; February 4, 2008

The Saint Petersburg Ballet Theatre, under the artistic direction of Yuri Petukhov, is one of the most distinguished classical ballet companies in Russia. The company will perform Romeo and Juliet, a full-length ballet after William Shakespeare's tragedy.

African Children's Choir; February 26, 2008

This lively program features African children between the age of 7 and 11, who have lost one or both parents to disease and poverty. The children bring a message of hope and joy through their gospel and contemporary music, dance and colorful costumes from many Africa regions. Through their voices and their music, the children of the Choir are taking Africa to the rest of the world.

The Intergalactic Nemesis; April 12, 2008

It's "Star Wars" meets "Raiders of the Lost Ark" with a little of "The Incredibles" thrown in for good measure.  This sci-fi show will take your imagination to the galaxies and beyond.

In addition to hosting chapel during the week for LeTourneau University students, The Belcher Center serves as a home to the arts in East Texas. Performances by the Longview Symphony, Opera East Texas and Longview Ballet Theatre are held throughout the year.

Longview Community Theater

The Longview Community Theatre Guild is an organization which works to enhance the role of the volunteer in our community theatre. We seek to make the theatre experience an educational, enlightening and enjoyable event. The Guild provides opportunities for volunteers to assist with:

Set Construction
Prop Management
Costumes
Makeup
Lighting
Sound
Stage Management
House Management and Hospitality

Who can join? Workshops and productions are open to anyone interested in some aspect of the performing arts.  Volunteers of all ages learn to act, dance, act, build sets, costume, manage the house, and much more while producing excellent musical and dramatic productions. Join for a rewarding experience.

 Sammy Brown Library     (Back to Top)

The Library is open 30 hours a week. 

Hours:   Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Services include:

Copies
Fax – incoming and outgoing
Notary Service
Information and reference - in library and by phone
Over 50,000 volume book collection
Interlibrary Loan
Four newspapers
Panola Watchman
Longview News-Journal
Marshall News
Wall Street Journal
Fifty-seven magazines (including Reader's Digest in large print)
Over 4,200 videos
Large print books Audio Books - adult and children
24-hour book deposit
Genealogy research materials
Reserved books - placed on reserve by request
Renewals online
Book Sale Room
Tax Forms
Fee audios for the blind
Free computer Internet access.

Internet Users:

The library computers are open-access and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is a one hour reservation limit on the computers per day, for which you need to sign at the desk.  After the hour is up and if no one is on reserve for the next hour, you may sign up again.  The Registration and User agreement to abide by the policies and guidelines established in the AUP document.  These agreements will be kept on file at the circulation desk.

All users must have a valid Sammy Brown Library card, no fines or overdue fees, and a signed Internet Registration Form and User Agreement on file.

All Internet users under the age of 18 must be accompanied at the computer site by their parent / guardian.