Orange: Nature, Art and Architectural History

Orange offers a range of themes to consider when planning your trip: nature along waterways and in wetlands, art collections, and historic architecture. By organizing your interests, you can distinguish between landscapes and wildlife viewing, different areas of the collections, and buildings with their own unique histories.

Nature along waterways and in wetlands

Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center is an oasis covering more than 250 acres in Orange, along the waterways of Adams Bayou. Its connection with nature lies both in the site's botanical focus and in its relationship to the waterways. A wildlife management area near Orange offers a 600-foot boardwalk into the surrounding wetlands. There are opportunities to see bald eagles, ospreys, herons, egrets, kingfishers, alligators and turtles there. For planning your trip, these are two different nature themes: Shangri La is a large-scale oasis along waterways, while the boardwalk leads into wetlands and offers opportunities for wildlife viewing. If you want to focus on nature, you can therefore weigh the waterscape of Adams Bayou against observing the species listed above in wetlands.

Art collections with two areas of focus

The Stark Museum of Art houses one of the most significant collections of American Western art. Its works depict the landscape, people and wildlife of the American West. The museum also displays a significant collection of Native American art, including baskets, pottery, clothing and jewelry. The collections offer different ways to explore art: one focuses on subjects from the West, while the other includes specific groups of objects. This lets you approach the museum based on your interest in depicted landscapes and animals or in the forms of Indigenous art.

W.H. Stark House and First Presbyterian Church

W.H. Stark House is a Queen Anne-style residence dating from 1894 in downtown Orange, Texas. It has 15 rooms containing the Stark family's original furnishings and decorative art. First Presbyterian Church in Orange is a historic building dating from 1912, with an opalescent glass dome. In comparison, W.H. Stark House stands out for its architectural style, number of rooms and original furnishings; at the church, the glass dome is the distinctive feature.

Practical information

The Texas Travel Information Center at Orange offers professional help with route planning. There you can get information about attractions, events and road conditions, as well as free maps and free statewide and local travel information. The maps and travel information complement the personal advice: you can draw on both local and statewide resources to find your way.

The Riverfront Boardwalk and Pavilion is one of the venues built by the City of Orange, Texas. As part of the project, improving visibility of and access to the Sabine River played a significant role in obtaining approval. The Boardwalk and Pavilion is intended for daily individual use without a reservation. The rules of use may change; check them before your visit.

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