Steamboat Sam Letterbox

Steamboat House

Placed By: Silver Eagle
Date: 01/30/03
Nearest Town: Huntsville, Tx.
County: Walker
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (flat, 200 yards RT)
Status: retired

Sam Houston ("The Raven") was a prominent figure in Texas history. He defeated Santa Anna in the Texas War of Independence, became the first President of the Republic of Texas and, after Texas became a state, served first as its Senator and then Governor. The town of Huntsville is considered the "Home of Sam Houston" because he spent most of the last years of his life there. He first moved to Raven Hill Plantation, 13 miles east of Huntsville, in 1844, then moved into town at his Woodland Home in 1847. In 1858 he sold it and moved to Galveston until 1860, when he became Governor of Texas and moved to Austin. After being deposed as Governor for not swearing allegiance to the Confederacy, he moved back to Huntsville in 1862 and rented the Steamboat House, which had been built in 1858 by Dr. Rufus Bailey as a wedding present for his son. Sam Houston died here on July 26, 1863. Today you can visit the Steamboat House and Woodland Home at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, where this letterbox is hidden. It is open 9:00am - 4:30pm Tuesday through Saturday; noon - 4:30pm Sunday, and is free. You can also visit his grave at Oakwood Cemetery, just a few blocks away. Be sure to visit the Sam Houston Statue while in the area and look for Baby Bear's The Raven Letterbox.

Directions:

Huntsville is located about 75 miles north of Houston off I45. Take exit 114 and go north on the feeder road to 19th Street (Ward's Furniture is on the corner). Take a right onto 19th Street and continue about 8 blocks to the Sam Houston Memorial Museum on the left where you can park.

Clues:

You can get to the Steamboat House by going through the museum first and walking east from the back exit. Or, if the museum is closed, here is another way. From the front of the museum, walk east down the sidewalk along 19th street for about 50 yards. Turn left (north) into a driveway with a chain across it and walk 32 paces to a brick path. The Steamboat house will be on your left (west), so walk that way for 16 paces on the brick path to the steps leading to the east porch of the house. Look under the right (north) side of the botton step for the box. Be discreet since many visitors could be nearby.

NOTE: Always take adequate precautions (such as prodding with a stick and/or wearing gloves) before reaching into dark crevasses and holes in the wild. Before you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

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Last updated on 02/02/2008

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