A 900-square-foot diorama shows what Cameron looked like in the 1940s. At the Milam County Railroad Museum, this view is displayed alongside artifacts from the county’s early railroad history. The Milam County Historical Museum offers another way to explore the past: its timeline spans the early Spanish missions and the Texas Revolution through the 20th century.
History from Different Perspectives
The Historical Museum also honors veterans from Milam County. Military history exhibits cover the American Civil War, World War I and World War II, as well as Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan. A restored 19th-century log cabin is also part of the museum; its furnishings depict pioneer life. Planning a visit is easy: the museum is open to the public Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Milam County Railroad Museum is also open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to the Cameron diorama, its collection includes an operational HO-scale model railroad. It is built into a layout measuring 18 by 40 feet. Together with the artifacts of the county’s early railroad history, the museum offers both a look at the city in the 1940s and a glimpse of the region’s railroad past.
The Morgan Military Aviation Museum offers a different perspective on military history. It focuses on training pilots and members of the U.S. Air Force during World War II. The museum also explains the roles of support personnel, including aircraft mechanics, radio technicians, cooks, supply soldiers and administrative staff.
Rockdale: Railroads, Theater and Park History
The restored Rockdale I&GN Depot preserves several original details: the station agent’s desk, as well as the telegraph and ticket windows. It also features two historic railroad cars: the “Cheyenne Mountain,” a Missouri Pacific Diner No. 36, and Missouri Pacific Caboose No. 12263. The depot and railroad cars present railroad history differently from the model at the Railroad Museum: here, preserved original pieces take center stage.
The Kay Theater in Rockdale is listed as a “Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.” Its uses include special events and weddings, as well as music and theater performances and film screenings. Visitors interested in a theater’s architectural history and cultural uses will find both in one place.
At Bridge Park, picnic areas sit alongside preserved historic bridges and a calaboose. Burlington Calaboose is located in the park and is one of four surviving calabooses in Milam County. The Rockdale Fair and the Rockdale Rodeo are held at Rockdale Fair Park; check specific dates before planning your visit.
Parks and Landscapes
Rockdale’s parks offer a variety of features. Sumuel Park has a walking trail and a butterfly garden. Veterans Park has picnic areas, a jogging trail, play areas and lighted tennis courts. The park also has a municipal swimming pool that is open seasonally.
In Cameron, Wilson-Ledbetter Park, at 25 acres, is the largest open space among the parks described here. Its amenities include picnic areas and hiking and biking trails; it also has abundant wildlife. The Triangle Demonstration Garden showcases water-efficient landscaping. Its sections have names such as “Wildscape,” “Herbs,” “Roses” and “EarthKind”; the grounds also include a pavilion.
The landscape appears in a different context at other locations. Rockdale Country Club & Golf Course is set in gently rolling terrain with tall post oaks. Sugarloaf Mountain is near the confluence of the Little River and Brazos River and is covered in red sandstone. Both are distinctive landscapes, unlike the landscaped parks.
Traces of El Camino Real de los Tejas
Milam County is one of twelve counties in the Brazos Region of the El Camino Real de los Tejas State Trail. Road markers recall the history of the San Xavier missions. The mission buildings no longer exist, and the sites are not open to visitors. The markers provide a way to learn about this history without planning a visit to the mission sites.
Discover more destinations: Cameron, Rockdale, Nolan, Chambers, Anderson, San Patricio County, Stonewall County, Hill County.
For the broader travel overview: Texas.
