Paris… Texas that is

 

Welcome to Texas where everything is bigger and I guess better.  Again I am refraining from the major highways to just enjoy the scenery, to see small town America. First stop is Paris. A small big town in the north eastern part of the state. 

How many cities are there in the world named Paris? I’ve been to the original in France, the one in Tennessee, and now Texas. Answer: in the world there are 48 but in the USA there is 23. I might make my list one more after going to Paris Arkansas. Keep you posted.

But lets get our tour of this charming quaint town.  Before we start let me say the town claims to be the   “second largest Paris in the World.” I’m not sure about that but will take their word for it. Now the logo is “It’s always a good idea!” I enjoy it, so I guess they were right. The town was established in 1844. 

First stop was the Chrome Mustang.  Just like the title its a chrome statue of a mustang, the school’s mascot. I like the fact it looks like this mustang has a spiked Mohawk mane. The address is 3250 church street and when I goggled it, the GPS had me go down a road around the school passing it because it was at the street at the entrance for the school. 

Time Flies an American Pub, was not open when I was there but I just loved the sign. It seems they have  a facebook page and I would have eaten there if they had been open. 

Next stop was the Eiffel Tower of Texas. Some of the important stats of this tower: 65 feet tall (original 1,063 feet just in case you were wondering), built by members of the local welders union, erected in 1993. The icing on this tower is the red cowboy hat which was added in 1998. I didn’t go back at night (because I didn’t know it lights up) but it has LED lighting that is programmed for the season.  It is located next to the Veterans Memorial at 2025 S collegiate Drive (in the parking lot of the Love Civic Center).

Town center had a beautiful fountain called Culbertson Fountain.  (J.J. Culbertson who the fountain was named after was a cotton oil man.) The top of tier is a smiling cherub cradling a fish.  Guess the fish come from the Red River that is the divider of Texas and Oklahoma. It’s made of Italian marble in 1927 to commemorate the city’s rebirth after the fire of 1916. This fire destroyed 260 acres and about 1400 buildings. Flames were visible up to 40 miles away. The cost in 1916 was $11,000,000 of damage to the town. 

Around the town square are lots of antique stores. If you are into shopping I was told this is the place to go and shop.

I didn’t make it in time to go through the Sam Bell Maxey House. Sam was a lawyer,  Mexican War veteran, a confederate general, and U.S. Senator. He helped navigate the political and social minefield of Reconstruction Era in Texas. 

Just a few other sites that I came across on my drive around time. Lastly I finally ate at WonderBurger. The logo reminds me of WonderWoman and the burgers were not that bad. (Better than McDonald’s not as good as Wendy’s)

See you at the next bend in the road,

Kelli