Recreation

Dwight D. Eisenhower Birthplace & Museum

The park features the Birthplace home, visitor’s center, a covered pavilion, restrooms, and an education building. The park offers picnicking, limited hiking trails and landscaped grounds. The visitor’s center contains information and displays related to the late president’s life, such as a bronze bust of Eisenhower, historic photographs of the Denison native and the “Ike Jacket,” the brown short-waisted, tailored wood field jacket sported by the U.S general. In addition, park visitors can view two of Eisenhower’s paintings and photographs documenting his three visits to Denison between 1946 and 1965. The center also has a bookstore and gift shop.

Eisenhower State Park

Eisenhower State Park, with 423.1 acres, is located in Grayson County, northwest of Denison on the shores of Lake Texoma. It was acquired in 1954 by a Department of Army lease and was opened to the public in 1958.

The park was named for the 34th U.S president, Dwight David Eisenhower, as he was born in Denison. In the early 1830s, the area became increasingly important to Anglo settlers, particularly as a route to Texas and the American southwest. Some of the things which add to the history of the area are the American Indian; Butterfield Overland stage routes; Chisholm and Shawnee cattle drive trails; Fort Johnson, established in the area in 1840; and Colbert's Crossing, established on the Red River in 1853 and operated until 1931.

Some of the activities include: 

• Biking
• Boating and boat rentals
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Nature study
• Picnicking
• Swimming
• Variety of camping
• Water skiing
• Wildlife observation

Denison Arts & Cultural District

The Denison Arts and Cultural District is all about discovery. With over 30 entities fitting into the Arts and Cultural District framework there is something for everyone to enjoy, plus many great finds just outside the official District including:

• Food
• History
• Museums
• Specialty shopping
• Visual and performing arts
• Wine

For visitors and downtown residents, Denison is the perfect place for the laid-back small-town lifestyle.

Combine friendly Texas atmosphere with a rich cultural heritage, great recreation, the excitement of an up and coming art scene and the result is a truly unique destination Denison, Texas. See what’s happening in our beautiful downtown at www.denisonlive.com.

Grayson County Frontier Village

Take a walk back in time to the days when pioneer Grayson County residents used hand tools to shape logs notched together at the corners to form one-room cabins, some with lofts for added space to house families of six or more.

The Village Museum is filled with interesting historical artifacts from years past plus many photos of people, places and events in this area.Located in Loy Park, this pioneer settlement of 17 homes and buildings has been carefully restored to present an accurate portrayal of life in the mid-1800s.

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge lies on the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma, on the Red River between Oklahoma and Texas. Established in 1946, the refuge includes 3,000 acres of marsh and water and 8,000 acres of upland and farmland. During fall, winter, and spring, the marshes and waters are in constant use by migrating and wintering waterfowl.

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1946 as an overlay of a portion of the Big Mineral arm of Lake Texoma. Consisting of about 12,000 acres, the Refuge provides a variety of habitats for birds and wildlife. Canada, snow, white-fronted, and Ross' geese along with pintail, mallard, gadwall and other ducks use refuge impoundments and fields as stop-over and wintering grounds. White pelicans by the thousands can be seen here during their spring and fall migrations. Deer, turkeys, bobcats, hawks, and songbirds are abundant.

Many recreational opportunities are offered at the Refuge. Bird and wildlife observation, an auto tour, hiking trails, fishing, hunting, boating, and paddling are examples of available activities.