Denison was created in 1872 with the joining of Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroads. It is known for Dwight D. Eisenhower and The Marx Brothers. There is history and culture in this town as well as outdoor recreation to be enjoyed by visitors. Learn more about the best things to do in Denison, Texas below:
Museums & Historical Sites
1. Eisenhower Birthplace Historic Site
Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower was born 1890 in Denison. He was the pride of the small town and lived in this house with his parents and six siblings who were from Kansas and immigrated to Texas to work for the railroad. They moved away and he returned at age 23 to Texas, as part of the Army stationed in San Antonio. While there, he married Mamie Doud a young socialite from Colorado in 1916.
The town of Denison acquired the birthplace home in 1946 and Eisenhower visited he returned in 1952 while on a presidential campaign trail. Eisenhower Birthplace became a state park in 1958. The home is decorated with 1890s furnishings.
Eisenhower Birthplace Historic Site
Address: 609 S Lamar Ave, 75021 Denison, TX
Open Hours Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve and New Years Day
Rates Adults 4 USD, students with ID and adult tour groups 3 USD 5 and under Free
Website: Eisenhower Birthplace Historic Site
2. Grayson County Frontier Village
Credit: Carrie Chambers 2011 Civil War Days
Posted by Grayson County Frontier Village & Museum on Friday, 5 May 2017
This village is home to some of the oldest buildings in Grayson County, Texas. The museum has artifacts and historical records. There are guided and self-walking tours.
Grayson County Frontier Village
Address: 111 R C Vaughan Rd, 75020 Denison, TX
Open Hours 1 to 4 p.m. daily
Website: Grayson County Frontier Village
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3. Eisenhower Veteran Memorial
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th US President, is remembered with a 6.5-meter (21-foot) tall bust by artist David Adickes in the town Denison as Ike’s birthplace. Adickes sold the statue to the town of Denison, he also did statues in South Dakota and Virginia both which are closed. There is a pond that allows fishing and picnics are available, the memorial is located in Loy Lake Park, There are flags representing the branches of the military and it is a moving tribute the armed forces.
Eisenhower Veteran Memorial
Address: South Polaris Street & RC Vaughan Road, Denison, Texas
Website: Eisenhower Veteran Memorial
4. Perrin Air Force Base Museum
The Perrin Field Historical Society is registered as a nonprofit organization that preserves the history of Perrin Army Airfield and Perrin Air Force Base located in Grayson County Texas. They record and protect the history the history of the airfield’s time as a military installation from 1941 to 1971. The group gathers, collects and preserves memorabilia of the past, they also maintain the museum. Tours are available to schools and institutions that want an education of aviation history, education and airport operations information. The Perrin Airfield protected from World War II to the Vietnam War.
Perrin Air Force Base Museum
Address: 436 McCullum, Denison, TX
Open Hours Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: Perrin Airforce Base Museum
5. Compass Rose Brigantine Ship
TOURS start this Saturday April 2, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. We be at Dock 9 right now (behind the marina office by the boat...
Posted by Compass Rose Brigantine Ship on Tuesday, 29 March 2016
The Compass Rose built in 1968 to replace Wooden Brigantine from 1860. Visitors learn what life was like aboard a Brigantine in the 1860s. They can help sail the ship with the captain’s help or just relax. This ship is a floating museum that is decorated with antiques. The ship has been owned by six individuals over the course of fifty years, many in the entertainment business and the ship has been in movies.
Compass Rose
Address: 132 Grandpappy Drive, Denison, TX
Open Hours March to November tours, first and third Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Website: Compass Rose
6. Red River Railroad Museum
The Red River Railroad Museum in downtown Dension, Texas, inside restored historic Katy Depot. The museum is filled with thousands of rail related artifacts, rows of display cases and photographs, books, maps, and the history of Denison and surrounding areas. In 1872, the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railway established a railroad just south of the Red River in Texas.
The rapidly growing city soon came to be known as the Gate City of Texas.Dension is the first interurban railway in Texas between Denison and Sherman in 1901 and the first North-South Trans-Continental Rail link in 1873.The Katy Depot used to be a passenger and office building of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. It was the center of operations for the railroad till the merger with Union Pacific Railroad in 1988. It remained home to the offices till the mid-1960s.
Red River Railroad Museum
Address: 101 E Main St, Denison, TX
Open Hours Thursday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
Website: Red River Railroad Museum
Outdoor attractions
7. Eisenhower State Park
Eisenhower State Park is in the northwest region of Denison on the shores of Lake Texoma. Originally owned the by a Department of Army Lease in 1954, this 187-hectare (463-acre) park was opened to the public in 1958. Named after past president Dwight D Eisenhower. This area was important to white settlers on the path to the southwest and to Texas. It’s also known for American Indians, Cattle Drives, Fort Johnson from 1840, Colbert’s Crossing which crossed the Red River from 1853 to 1931, and stage coach routes.
Eisenhower State Park
Address: 50 Park Road 20, Denison, TX
Website: Eisenhower State Park
8. Golf
Denison Golf and Country Club is an 18-hole golf course. We offer a variety of obstacles, such as our fairways, water hazards and sand traps, to help you improve your game. There is a restaurant at the course.
Denison Country Club
Address: 5216 FM 84, Denison, TX
Open Hours 7 a.m. to dusk daily
Rates 9 holes 17.50 USD, 18 holes 27.50 USD daily, nightly weekdays (after 4 p.m.) 20 USD
Website: Denison Country Club
9. Waterloo Lake Regional Area
The park covers 60 hectares (148 acres) with a lake and walking path, horseshoe pit, softball complex, playground unit, fishing pond, baseball, pool and a pavilion for picnics. The lake is beautiful with duck and geese in it, the perfect spot for the family.
Waterloo Receational Area
Address: 1000 Waterloo Lake Dr, Denison, TX
Website: Waterloo Recreational Area
Come for a visit
Denison offers a deep sense of American history as well as many outdoor activities for all visitors to enjoy. Come visit this area of Texas.
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