Downtown in Bryan in Brazos County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Courthouse Cedar
Photographed by WayBetterFinder
1. Courthouse Cedar Marker
This Tree has stood at three
Brazos County Courthouses
1841 Ferguson Springs
1843 Boonville
1892 Bryan
William Scott Chapter D.A.R.
Bryan - 1932
Erected 1932 by William Scott Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Political Subdivisions • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1841.
Location. 30° 40.42′ N, 96° 22.248′ W. Marker is in Bryan, Texas, in Brazos County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of East 26th Street and North Washington Avenue, on the right when traveling west on East 26th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 E 26th St, Bryan TX 77803, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Harvey Mitchell (here, next to this marker); Brazos County Confederate Commissioners Court (here, next to this marker); Town Named for William Joel Bryan (here, next to this marker); Brazos County (here, next to this marker); First Baptist Church, Bryan, Texas (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hood's Texas Brigade (approx. 0.2 miles away); Carnegie Public Library (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Methodist Church of Bryan (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bryan.
Regarding Courthouse Cedar. 1841: Joseph Ferguson lived in a log cabin near the Navasota River. A cedar tree berry sprouted and begin growing near to the cabin. That same year what became Brazos County was officially formed by the Republic of Texas' congress. As it turned out, Ferguson's cabin served a dual purpose as both his home and as the county's first district
Photographed by WayBetterFinder
2. Courthouse Cedar Marker wideshot
1846: Outgrowing Ferguson's cabin, a one-story wood framed building was erected in Boonville which was more in the middle of Brazos County. The cedar tree was left behind and continued to grow in its birthplace by the old cabin.
1854: Apparently the residents of the county had worn out the 1846 building, so they built a two-story wood framed building as the third County Courthouse in Boonville. This time, Colonel Harvey Mitchell decided to landscape around this courthouse, and he transplanted the sapling cedar tree as part of the improvements to this newly built county seat.
1870: Because the local railroad had bypassed Boonville and had routed lines to Bryan, TX, it boomed in growth while Boonville's population declined, eventually becoming a ghost town. The fourth Brazos County Courthouse became the first one built on the present location. The Courthouse Cedar was again transplanted again to its present location.
1892: Because the 1870 building literally was falling apart due to structural weaknesses, it was removed and a grand, stone, multi-story Victorian styled courthouse with a tall central clock tower was built in its place. This courthouse was designed by the popular courthouse designer Eugene Heiner (who also built the still-existing courthouse at Halletsville, TX). The Courthouse Cedar stayed where it was and continued to mature.
1955: Once the decision was made to rebuild the courthouse, the old Victorian 1892 building was razed in record time, but the clocktower bell and the 1892 cornerstone were saved. The new courthouse was built as very bland big square boxy building that has had several more bland boxy building additions added to it. The Courthouse Cedar is also in a rather bland boxy cube to match the courthouse.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2024, by Carolyn Sanders of Plano, Texas. This page has been viewed 292 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2024, by Carolyn Sanders of Plano, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
