Seat of Howard County, name derived from huge natural spring on Sulphur Draw that watered buffalo, antelope, wild mustangs, and Comanche and Shawnee Indians. First white men at site in 1849. Spring today is at center of city park.

City is the home of Howard College and Dorothy Garrett Coliseum, and Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf.

Heritage walking tour features 26 historic buildings with antique and gift shops, Railroad and Train Display and memorabilia. From Railroad Plaza where Union Pacific railroad meets main Street.

BIG SPRING STATE PARK - 343 acre park contains dance pavilion, playground, picnic sites, jogging and nature trails, and prairie dog town. Scenic drive overlooks city. At south edge of city off F.M. 700; admission; day use only.

CITY PARK - Home of spring that gave Big Spring its name; features 6,500 seat Comanche Trail Amphitheater. The 400-creek park offers swimming pool, 18 hole golf course, tennis courts, baseball fields, playgrounds, pavilions, and hike, bike and nature trails. On south edge of city; access from U.S. 87 and from F.M. 700.

HERITAGE MUSEUM - Pioneer and Indian artifacts, art exhibits, and displays of local history and early West Texas. Houses the world's largest collection of Texas Longhorn steer horns. Unique to the Southwest is exhibit of 46 rare and unusual phonographs; late 1800's to 1920;s models made by Edison, Victor, Columbia, and others. Op0en Tues. - Fri. 9 a.m. -5 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. At 510 Scurry. Admission

LAKES - E.V. Spence, J.B. Thomas, Moss Creek, Colorado City.

POTTON HOUSE - Restored Victorian home of Joseph Potton family, circa 1901; listed in National Register of Historic Places; excellent showcase of turn of the century furnishings. Open Tues. - Sat. 1 -5 p.m. or by appointment with heritage Museum. Second Street and Gregg. Admission.

VIETNAM MEMORIAL - Recognizes men and women who served the U.S. in Southeast Asia. Stone is same type used at National Vietnam memorial in Washington, D.C. Accessible from F.M. 700,