RUSK

Altitude 489

General

BONNER BANK BUILDING

FAIRCHILD STATE FOREST

FOOTBRIDGE GARDEN PARK

JIM HOGG STATE HISTORIC PARK

OLD RUSK PENITENTIARY BLDG

RUSK STATE PARK

SCENIC DRIVE

TEXAS STATE RAILROAD

Attractions

• BONNER BANK BUILDING - Cherokee County's first bank, established 1884, in 1865 building. Euclid Street and U.S. 69.
• FAIRCHILD STATE FOREST - 13 miles west on U.S. 84
• FOOTBRIDGE GARDEN PARK - Wooded setting for 546 foot footbridge, said to be the nation's longest, originally built in 1861 for crossing valley during rainy season. Two blocks east of town square.
• JIM HOGG STATE HISTORIC PARK - 175 acre scenic forest area of lofty pines. Dedicated as ;memorial to Governor Hogg, attractions include restored birthplace, picnic areas, museum and family cemetery. Two miles northeast off U.S. 84.
• OLD RUSK PENITENTIARY BLDG. - Central administration building of present Rusk State Hospital built as main building of former Rusk State Prison, 1878. Iron structures, including dome of State Capitol, were fabricated here by prisoners. Avenue A and U.S. 69
• RUSK STATE PARK - 100 acre park around the Rusk terminal of Texas State Railroad. Group shelter, bathhouse, tennis courts, picnic area, primitive and hookup camping. In scenic area of towering pines 2 miles west on U.S. 84.
• SCENIC DRIVE - Several routes near Rusk offer excellent woodland scenery; U.S. 69 both north and south; also F.M. 347, F.M. 747 (neither shown on most maps) that lead north from U.S. 84 west.
• TEXAS STATE RAILROAD - Operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, antique steam engines power vintage coaches 25.5 miles to Palestine in the nation's longest, skinniest state park through dense East Texas forest lands. Depot is in Rusk State Park.