Students Find and Study Historical Markers

Studying historical markers is a wonderful way to learn the history of an area -- and the San Jacinto News-Times reports that's precisely what some school kids in San Jacinto County did this summer.

The San Jacinto County Heritage Society held a scavenger hunt to promote interest and knowledge of their county’s rich history. Students fanned out to locate and identify historical markers around the county, take pictures of them and write short essays about what they learned from them.

First and Second Place winners were rewarded with $75 and $50 gift cards, and everyone who took part got certificates for participating.

The Texas Historical Commission has erected more than fifteen thousand historical markers all over the state, and many are here in east Texas.  A lot of history has happened in these parts, and it's where many of Texas's earliest settlers put down roots in the early and mid 19th century.

Their stories are told on dozens of historical markers all over Angelina County and Nacogdoches County. Seeking them out and writing short essays about them is a great way for children to learn about those who came before them. Someone should suggest it to the teachers.

Come to think of it, that's sort of what we are doing with this story.