Grayson: Discover Nature, History and Culture

For trip planning in Grayson, nature and regional history offer specific highlights: Lake Texoma and Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge are known for their lakeshore, habitats and trails; in Denison and Sherman, topics range from Eisenhower to the railroad. You can tailor your stay to the places and activities that interest you most.

Lake Texoma and Nature Trails

Eisenhower State Park is in Grayson County on the shore of Lake Texoma, northwest of Denison. The lake is a reservoir on the Red River on the Texas-Oklahoma border, northwest of Sherman-Denison. The state park therefore offers a direct connection to the lake’s shoreline landscape.

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, on the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma, offers a different landscape. The area covers 11,320 acres of shallow marshes, streams, hardwood bottomland forests, wooded uplands, grassland and cultivated fields. Those who want to include hiking and wildlife viewing in their trip will find more than nine miles of moderate-to-easy hiking trails there. Fishing is permitted in the refuge year-round. The shoreline, varied habitats and trails provide specific points of reference for nature-focused trip planning.

Denison and Sherman: Eisenhower and Local History

The Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site in Denison features the house where Dwight D. Eisenhower was born. On a tour, visitors see the original 1870s house; Eisenhower was born there on October 14, 1890. The Ike Hike focuses on a different point in time: this interpretive trail is about Eisenhower’s return to Denison in 1946. The birthplace and trail thus highlight different aspects of his connection to Denison.

Historic architecture, year-round events and public art come together in Downtown Denison, in an area that is easy to explore on foot. The Red River Railroad Museum focuses on railroad history: it collects, preserves, researches and interprets railroad objects, documents and visual materials from Denison and North Texas. The museum also explains the importance of the Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad to the founding and growth of Denison.

In Sherman, the Sherman Museum is housed in a historic 1914 Carnegie library. It features three oil paintings on wood by Texas artist James Swann, installed in 1934. The three paintings may be the only example of WPA art in Grayson County. Another way to explore regional history is Frontier Village & Museum: it is home to eleven of Grayson County’s earliest historic homes and cabins, dating back to the 1840s. Offerings include classes in historic crafts and living history events.

Wine, History and Events

The T.V. Munson Memorial Vineyard continues to grow 65 varieties of original Munson rootstock. The historic Vinita House was the home where Thomas Volney Munson raised his family and conducted research credited with saving the French wine industry. Tours of the Grayson College vineyards and the Vinita House are available upon request; advance contact is required.

The Kidd-Key Auditorium also offers a cultural highlight: it is the year-round venue of the Sherman Symphony Orchestra. If you’re planning your trip around a particular performance, check the event dates in advance.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Sherman, Denison, Whitesboro, Pottsboro, Gunter, Hemphill County, Parker, Lampasas County.

For the broader travel overview: Texas.