Bonham (Texas)

Bonham is a city in the northern Blackland Prairie or otherwise called Texoma region of Texas.

Understand

Named after the acclaimed Texas Independence fighter James Bonham who died at the Alamo, Bonham is the seat of Fannin County (who just so happens to be named after another patriarch of the Texas Revolution, James Fannin). While a bit rural in feeling, Bonham has a fine museum about the more recent statesman, Sam Rayburn, and a fine state park as well.

Get in

Bonham is on the periphery (well, maybe outer periphery) of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, east of Sherman and northeast of Dallas. You are out of luck if trying to use public transport to get here, but if driving US 82 and State Hwy 121 are the main corridors.

See

• 1 Sam Rayburn Museum, 800 W Sam Rayburn Dr, ☏ +1 903 583-2455. M-F 9AM-4:30PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. A library/museum of the late statesman, Sam Rayburn, who was a congressman for an insane number of years, from 1913 til his death in 1961 (so much for retirement), and that after serving in the Texas congressional chamber. As Speaker of the House and otherwise, he did some interesting things, like facilitate legislation for the creation of Route 66 and also the Civil Rights bills of the 1960s. Free. (updated Jan 2022)
  • 2 Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site, 890 W, TX-56, ☏ +1 903 583-5558. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. This site is his preserved home. (updated Jan 2022)
• 3 Fort Inglish Museum, corner of TX-56 and Chinner St, ☏ +1 903 583-3943. A reconstructed fort that was established by the first Euro-American settler here, Bailey Inglish, back in 1837. (updated Jan 2022)
• 4 Fannin County Museum of History, 1 N Main St, ☏ +1 903 583-8042. Regional museum. (updated Jan 2022)

Bonham July 2016 02 (Sam Rayburn Library and Museum)

Do

• 1 Bonham State Park, 1363 State Park 24, ☏ +1 903 583-5022. Daily 6AM-10PM. Wooded parkland surrounding Lake Bonham, with swimming, camping, etc. $4 (over 12). (updated Jan 2022)

Bonham state park dam

Eat

• Luna Azul Mexican Cafe, 318 N Main St, ☏ +1 903-640-4808, lunaazulcafe@gmail.com. (updated Jan 2022)

Sleep

The state park has camping.

• Americas Best Value Inn Bonham, 1515 Old Ector Rd, ☏ +1 903 583-3121. (updated Jan 2022)