East Texas Travel Event

Join us as we travel in comfort in a luxurious coach bus to Kilgore on Wednesday, Jan. 20, to visit the East Texas Oil Museum and the artist colony in Edom, Texas, on the way back. We will leave the Texins Activity Center at 9 a.m. and arrive in Kilgore about 11 for an early buffet lunch at McKay Ranch House at our own expense.

Then on to the nearby East Texas Oil Museum which houses an authentic re-creation of oil discovery and production in the early 1930s from the largest oil field in the "lower 48". See the people, their towns, their personal habits, their tools and their pastimes - all colorfully depicted in dioramas, movies, sound presentations and antiques donated by East Texas citizens. Then step through the doors into Boomtown USA - a full-scale town full of stores, people, animals, and machinery depicting the lively activity of a town booming in oil. Browse the shelves at the general store, have refreshments at the drug store while listening (or dancing) to vintage 1930 big-band music on the jukebox, and stop by the gas station to see a movie on drilling an oil well. Visit Boomtown's museum to study the geographical exhibits and take an elevator ride to the center of the earth. Our guides will take us 3,800 feet below the earth's surface to where oil deposits lie.

On our way back to Dallas, we will stop in Edom, Texas, known as the "Art Center of East Texas". Edom has one downtown street lined with charming shops that house artist's studios and gift shops featuring pottery, jewelry, birdhouses, candles and metal sculpture. We can try the homemade ice cream at the Edom Marketplace Café before boarding our bus. We should return to Texins about 5 p.m. Cost of $28 per member and $31 per nonmember covers transportation and museum entry fees.

Please contact Jessica Stewart at admin@tialumni.org or 214-567-8444 to register. Payment is due by Jan. 13 to reserve your place on the bus. Make check payable to TIAA and mail to TIAA, PO Box 740181, Dallas, TX 75374.