Best Things to Do in Jefferson, Texas: History, Museums & Southern Charm

Some towns are just made for wandering.

Jefferson, Texas, turned out to be one of those places for us.

We came to East Texas while traveling full-time in our RV and camped nearby at Lake O’ the Pines. What we discovered in Jefferson was a charming little historic town filled with beautiful old buildings, fascinating museums, quirky collections, local shops, and a surprising amount of history.

Jefferson was once an important river port, and although those busy riverboat days are long gone, much of the character of the old town remains.

If you enjoy history, architecture, museums, and discovering small-town America, here are some of our favorite things to do in Jefferson, Texas.

Start at the Jefferson Visitor Center

Our first stop was the Jefferson Visitor Center, and we’re glad we started there.

The woman working there was a wealth of information and helped us figure out what we wanted to see during our visit.

That’s something we’ve learned during our travels: when you’re visiting a historic town for the first time, the local visitor center can be one of your best resources.

They know about the major attractions, of course, but they can also point you toward those little places you might otherwise drive right past.

And Jefferson has plenty to discover.

Explore Historic Downtown Jefferson

Downtown Jefferson immediately caught our attention.

Some of the commercial buildings reminded us a little of New Orleans, with wonderful historic architecture that gives the town a very distinctive atmosphere.

This isn’t a modern tourist district that has been made to look old.

Jefferson really is old.

During the mid-1800s, Jefferson became an important inland river port. Boats could travel through the area’s waterways and connect Jefferson with places as far away as St. Louis and New Orleans.

Changes to the waterways, combined with the arrival of the railroad, eventually ended Jefferson’s days as a major port.

Fortunately, the town survived.

And today, those historic buildings and remnants of its river-port past are a big part of what makes Jefferson so interesting to visit.

Stop at the Old-Fashioned General Store

One of our early stops downtown was a wonderful old-fashioned general store.

This was the kind of place where you could spend quite a while just looking around.

There seemed to be a little bit of everything inside, and they even had a checkerboard set up where shoppers could sit down and play a game.

It’s those little touches that make exploring an old town fun.

You’re not just rushing from one major attraction to another. You can wander through the shops, look at the buildings, stop for something to eat, and enjoy the town itself.

Have Lunch at Kitt’s Cornbread Sandwich & Pie Bar

We also had lunch at Kitt’s Cornbread Sandwich & Pie Bar, where the specialty was something we certainly don’t encounter everywhere we travel: cornbread sandwiches.

It sounded unusual enough that we had to try it.

And the food was excellent.

The restaurant was quite busy during our visit, so apparently we weren’t the only ones who thought so!

Trying local restaurants is one of our favorite parts of traveling. A meal that’s unique to a particular town makes the stop that much more memorable, and Kitt’s definitely qualified.

Walk Through Jefferson

Jefferson also has a nice walking path beginning around the Visitor Center and continuing toward downtown.

Along the way, you’ll come to an old railroad trestle dating to the early 1900s.

The trestle is decorated with lights that are turned on at night.

We saw photographs of it illuminated and it looked beautiful, although unfortunately we never managed to get back into Jefferson at night to see it ourselves.

If you’re staying in the area overnight, that’s something you might want to add to your evening plans.

Check Out the Jefferson Railway

Near the Visitor Center you’ll also find Jefferson’s excursion railway.

The train is smaller than a standard railroad train and travels back into the bayou country surrounding Jefferson.

During our visit, the attraction wasn’t operating, so we didn’t get to ride it ourselves.

It sounded like a fun way to experience another side of the area, though, and would be something we’d check into if we returned.

Always check the current operating schedule when planning your trip since seasonal attractions and schedules can change.

Visit the Gone With the Wind Museum

Now we get to my attraction.

The Gone With the Wind Museum was the place I was especially excited to see.

I’ve been a fan of Gone With the Wind for years, so walking into a museum packed with memorabilia was pretty amazing.

The collection included what seemed like everything imaginable related to the movie and its history.

There were movie posters, books, first editions, scarves, a quilt, costumes, a model house, and all sorts of collectibles and memorabilia.

This wasn’t just a handful of items displayed in a room.

It was a collection assembled by someone who clearly loved Gone With the Wind, and that passion made it fascinating to explore.

If you’re a fan of the movie or novel, this alone could make Jefferson worth adding to your East Texas itinerary.

Drive Through Jefferson’s Historic Neighborhoods

After spending a couple of hours at the museum, we drove around Jefferson looking at some of its historic homes.

And there are some beauties.

Large old houses, porches, columns, mature trees and architectural details make parts of Jefferson feel like you’ve stepped into another era.

You don’t necessarily need a formal attraction to enjoy this part of town.

Simply driving or walking through some of the historic neighborhoods and looking at the homes was part of the experience for us.

If you love old houses as much as I do, allow yourself some extra time just to explore.

Museum of Measurement & Time

If the Gone With the Wind Museum was my favorite stop, the Museum of Measurement & Time was Ed’s.

And I have to admit, I found it pretty fascinating too.

This is exactly the kind of wonderfully unexpected museum we love finding while traveling.

The collection included a huge assortment of clocks, including beautiful older examples with intricate woodwork and details.

But clocks were only the beginning.

There were collections of surveying equipment, old record players, telephones, computers, salt and pepper shakers, and other pieces of history.

It was one of those places where you keep turning a corner and wondering what you’re going to find next.

Ed particularly enjoyed it, but even if antique clocks aren’t normally something you’d go out of your way to see, there’s enough variety here to make the museum interesting.

Camping Near Jefferson at Lake O’ the Pines

We stayed at Lake O’ the Pines while exploring Jefferson.

Our arrival was a little more adventurous than planned because we’d had a flat tire and didn’t reach the campground until after dark.

Thankfully, one of our camping neighbors came to our rescue.

He moved his truck so he could shine his headlights onto our campsite, giving Ed enough light to back the trailer into the site.

Then we woke up the next morning and finally saw where we’d landed.

What a beautiful surprise.

We had a lovely view of the lake, and deer were everywhere around the area.

It made a peaceful home base for exploring Jefferson and the surrounding part of East Texas.

And our helpful-neighbor story didn’t end with getting us into our campsite.

Another camping neighbor later climbed onto our RV roof and helped us deal with the roof leak we’d been having.

RV travel has introduced us to some remarkably kind people over the years, and our stay near Jefferson was another reminder of that.

Is Jefferson, Texas Worth Visiting?

We definitely think so.

Jefferson surprised us with how much there was to see.

It’s not a huge city filled with major tourist attractions, and that’s part of what we liked about it.

Instead, you get a historic East Texas town where you can spend the day wandering through old buildings, visiting unusual museums, looking at beautiful homes, learning about the town’s riverboat history, shopping, eating somewhere local, and simply enjoying the atmosphere.

Our favorites were different.

I loved the Gone With the Wind Museum.

Ed loved the Museum of Measurement & Time.

And we both enjoyed Jefferson itself.

That’s actually one of the things that makes Jefferson such a good destination for couples or families with different interests. There’s enough variety that everyone can find something that catches their attention.

Planning a Visit to Jefferson, Texas

I’d give Jefferson at least a full day if you’re passing through East Texas, and longer if you want to explore the surrounding area as well.

Start at the Visitor Center, pick up information about what’s currently open, and then give yourself permission to wander.

Explore downtown.

Look at the old buildings.

Visit a museum or two.

Have a cornbread sandwich.

Drive past the historic homes.

And don’t be surprised if Jefferson turns out to be one of those little towns you hadn’t planned to love quite as much as you did.

It certainly was for us.

We’ll see you down the road…and Over The Hills!

Continue the Journey

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