Building Rating 50% of readers like the City Hall (Nacogdoches).
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A wise elderly woman once explained that every stereotype has some basis in fact. The stereotype of the western American frontier town could very easily have sprung from a city much like Nacogdoches. Its City Hall could is a model for Hollywood set designers. Typical frontier design with an arcade beneath a balcony. White columns contrast with the brick facade. Before it was a government building, it was The Liberty Hotel. Then it became an apartment building. Then in 1974 was bought by the city and it became the Gladys Hampton building, named after a woman who worked was once the director of the state's Welfare department. More significant, however, if the fact that this is where General Sam Houston's first home in Texas was located. It was built in 1836 by John Forbes and purchased by Houston three years later. One thing you'll notice on the balcony is a series of flags. This is not uncommon in Texas because many of the people who live there boast that their land has been ruled by six different nations. It is this fact that gave the Six Flags theme park chain its name. But even most Texans don't realize that parts of their state have been under the control of seven, eight, and even nine countries. Nacogdoches is one of them. It has been:
1. New France
2. New Spain
3. Mexico
4. The Magee-Gutierrez Republic
5. The Long Republic
6. The Fredonia Republic
7. The Republic of Texas
8. The Confederate States of America
9. The United States of America
When we visited, there were only American flags flying. But we've seen pictures with all of the other flags in place.
