Historic Palestine

In the early 1900s, voters in Palestine
passed a school bond issue for a new high
school and the site in the newly formed
Reagan Park fronting Micheaux Avenue
was chosen for the school. Architects Sanguinet
and Staats designed the building. It is
Tudor-Gothic Style with elaborate brick
work. The building is two storied with a
raised basement. There were originally eight
lecture rooms, a library, a gymnasium,
laboratories, and an auditorium. A principal and
ten teachers were the first faculty. The school
opened in 1916 and the first graduation class
was 1917. The high school became the
junior high in 1939. In 1955 the school was
named for John H. Reagan and served as an
elementary school from 1966 until 1976 when
it was closed.
The building was to be demolished because
of its condition but was saved by a group
of dedicated citizens who did not want to
lose such a historical part of the city.
Generations had gone to school there. There
was much nostalgia associated with it. There
was also something impressive about it—even
in its decaying state. It was truly a landmark,
sitting proudly up on the hill in the park.
Palestine would not be the same without it.
The building was renovated and turned into
the Museum, which opened its doors in 1982
for the first weekend of the
Dogwood Trails.
The marvelous old Palestine
High School is now the
depository for the historical
treasures of Palestine and
Anderson County. It is indeed
“The Keeper of our History.”
The historical auditorium
is available for weddings,
wedding receptions, class
reunions and other functions.
It is complete with a stage,
balcony and original hardwood
flooring. Annual events in
the auditorium include the
Old Time Music & Dulcimer
Festival held the last weekend
of March during the Dogwood
Trails, Anderson County
Historical Commission’s annual
THE MUSEUM FOR EAST TEXAS CULTURE
History Forum in May and the Dulcimer
Christmas Concert in December.
For additional information at the Museum
for East Texas Culture, please visit
www.museumpalestine.com.
❖
Left: The Museum for East Texas
Culture is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Below: Tour of the Museum by local
school children.
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