List of monuments and memorials to Sam Houston facts for kids

Sam Houston was a very important leader in American history. He served as the Governor of Tennessee and later became the President of the Republic of Texas. He also served as the Governor of Texas. Many places and things are named after him to remember his contributions.

This monument in Maryville, Tennessee, honors Sam Houston.

Honoring Sam Houston Across the USA

People have created many monuments, buildings, and places to remember Sam Houston. These memorials help us learn about his life and the important things he did.

Texas Memorials and Landmarks

Texas has many places named after Sam Houston because he was a key figure in its history.

• Huntsville, Texas: This city is home to several important memorials.
  • The Sam Houston Memorial Museum teaches visitors about his life.
  • A Tribute to Courage is a huge statue of Sam Houston, standing about 67 feet (20 meters) tall.
  • Sam Houston State University is a large college named in his honor.
  • You can also visit Houston's gravesite here, which includes a monument created by Pompeo Coppini in 1911.

• Houston, Texas: The largest city in Texas, Houston, is named after him.
  • A large bronze statue of Houston on horseback is located in Hermann Park in Houston. In 2017, there was some talk about whether the statue should stay or be moved.
  • The Sam Houston State Office Building in Austin houses important state offices.
  • A mural showing Houston is painted on a gas tank near Texas State Highway 225 in Houston.
  • The Sam Houston Coliseum (which no longer exists) was also named for him.
  • A major road that goes around the city of Houston is called the Sam Houston Tollway.

• Other Texas Locations:
  • The Sam Houston National Forest is one of four national forests in Texas. It's a great place for outdoor activities.
  • The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center near Liberty, Texas, has the biggest collection of photos and drawings of Houston.
  • Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio is a military base named after him.
  • The State of Texas chose Houston as one of its two statues in the Statuary Hall inside the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. The other statue is of Stephen F. Austin.
  • Several schools in Texas are named after him, including:
    • Sam Houston High School in Arlington, Texas.
    • Sam Houston Middle School in Irving and Garland, Texas.
    • Sam Houston Elementary School in Eagle Pass, Huntsville, Conroe, Weatherford, Corsicana, and Bryan, Texas, and Houston, Texas.

Tennessee and Virginia Memorials

Sam Houston also has memorials in other states, especially where he lived or was born.

• Maryville, Tennessee:
  • The Sam Houston Schoolhouse is the oldest schoolhouse in Tennessee. There is also a museum on its grounds.
  • Sam Houston Elementary School is located here.

• Lexington, Virginia:
  • The Sam Houston Wayside is a large, 38,000-pound piece of Texas pink granite. It marks the place where Houston was born.

• Richmond, Virginia:
  • A sculpture (called a bust) of Houston is located inside the Virginia State Capitol Building.

Other Tributes and Namesakes

Sam Houston's name can be found in many other places and forms.

• Bust by Elisabet Ney: A famous sculpture of Houston by Elisabet Ney was made for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. You can see it at the Elisabet Ney Museum in Austin, Texas.
• USS Sam Houston: The USS Sam Houston was a submarine named after him.
• Cities and Counties:
  • Besides the big city in Texas, the towns of Houston, Mississippi and Houston, Minnesota are also named after Sam Houston.
  • Counties in Minnesota, Tennessee, and Texas are named for Houston.
  • The county seat of Texas County, Missouri is named for him.
• Houston Street in New York City: Interestingly, Houston Street in New York City is NOT named after Sam Houston. It's named after William Houstoun, and its name is pronounced differently (HOW-stin).
• Space Exploration: Sam Houston's surname was the first word spoken from the surface of the Moon! When the Apollo 11 astronauts landed, they said, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." This was a reference to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Images for kids

• 

  Bust of Houston by Elisabet Ney

• 

  Sam Houston, Commemorative Issue of 1963

• 

  Texas Centennial Issue of 1936, showing Sam Houston, The Alamo, and Stephen F. Austin

• 

  Sam Houston's grave in Huntsville.

• 

  Sam Houston Monument, Hermann Park, Houston

• 

  The Sam Houston State Office Building houses the headquarters of the Texas Ethics Commission and the Texas State Preservation Board

• 

  The U.S. city of Houston in Southeast Texas was named in his honor.

See also

• List of Texas Revolution monuments and memorials