Nacogdoches in Nacogdoches County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Ancient Paths

Camino de los Tejas

Photographed by Mansfieldphoto.com, December 20, 2025

1. Ancient Paths Marker

Inscription.

At contact, Europeans found that Native American communities and regions were connected by trails. The major trail in Texas was known to its' colonizers as the Camino de los Tejas. This road, also known as Camino de Arriba and El Camino Real and today as Texas 21, ran from Mexico northeast and across Texas to the Caddo (Tejas) Indian settlements in eastern Texas and Western Louisiana. The principle Caddo settlements were located at the roads intersection with streams and north south trails. In the nineteenth century, this road was the major route followed by the Anglo-American settlers westward to Texas.
National Society Daughters of the American Colonists. Project of the 2000 - 3 Administration Mary Ann Groome Helper, National President

Erected 2000 by National Society Daughters of the American Colonists.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Hispanic Americans • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Colonists series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 2000.

Location. 31° 37.156′ N, 94° 38.922′ W. Marker is in Nacogdoches, Texas, in Nacogdoches County. It is at the intersection of Alumni Drive and Griffith Boulevard, on the right when traveling north on Alumni Drive. The marker is located on the campus of Stephen F. Austin University. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1808 Alumni Drive, Nacogdoches TX 75961, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically

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in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Stone Fort Museum (here, next to this marker); Old Stone Fort (a few steps from this marker); Dr. Joseph William Kennedy, Jr (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College During World War II (about 600 feet away); Thomas Jefferson Rusk (about 700 feet away); Rusk Building (about 700 feet away); The University Tradition in Nacogdoches (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pioneering Higher Education in East Texas (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nacogdoches.

Also see . . . Origins of the Camino Real in Texas. Texas Almanac (Submitted on September 28, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Photographed by James Hulse, September 1, 2018

2. Ancient Paths Marker

The Ancient Paths Marker is to the right of the Stone Fort Museum marker and just off camera. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 1, 2018

3. The Ancient Paths Marker is to the right of the Stone Fort Museum marker and just off camera.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 474 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 24, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on September 28, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.