Camp Ford Confederate prison camp, 1863-1865. The camp held over 5400-6000 Union prisoners from 1863-1865. It was the largest Confederate prisoner of war camp west of the Mississippi. The camp is located 4 miles northeast of Tyler at 6500 US Hwy 271, .08 miles outside Loop 323. There is an outside patio that displays an extensive biography of the camp, its culture, and its surroundings.

This is the Carnegie Library, located at 125 S. Ave in Tyler. It was built in 1904 for $15,000 using funds from Andrew Carnegie, and it served as the city's public library for 75 years untiil 1980 when a new one was built acrosss the street from it. It is now home to the Smith County Historical Society and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

View of South Broadway leading to the old Smith county courthouse, approximately 3 blocks away. Picture publishes around 1935. The courthouse, a 3-story Beaux-Arts/Neo Classical landmark, featured a 165-foot rotunda. It was dedicated in 1910, but was demolished in 1955 for a modern courthouse because it blocked a straight path for Broadway through the downtown square.

This is an aerial view of the same Courthouse as above before its demolition in 1955. Many townfolk mourned its loss, especially the historical crowd who valued the building as an important landmark. Many considered it a beloved "lost gem of East Texas," and a point of pride among locals. Others thought it was indeed a painful change but recognized it as a necessary part of growth because Broadway Street had to be extended through the land occupied by the courthouse.

The first Black police officers hired by the Tyler Police Department were Ira Brown and Willie Johnson, who both joined the department in 1954, shortly after the passing of the Brown V. Board of Education ruling by the Supreme Court. Ira Brown passed away in 2017 at the tender age of 91, having faithfully served over 30 years in the uniform. The picture on the left was taken in 1955 by new hires, including Brown and Johnson.

The historic Blackstone Hotel, a cornerstone of downtown Tyler at Broadway Avenue and Locust Street, opened on November 29, 1922, and served as a bustling hub for over 60 years. It became a prime, often New Orleans-styled, social and business hub during the oil boom before its demolition in 1985. The hotel was located on the northeast corner of North Broadway Avenue and East Locust Street. However, there are concrete plans to bring a new reimagined Blackstone to downtown Tyler, opening by Jan, 2028. The hotel will feature 140 rooms at the intersection of North Broadway Ave and East Ferguson.

Newly drawn image of new Smith County Courthouse which becomes operational in December 2026. Located downtown Tyler square. The new courthouse, now under construction, will be completed in December of 2026. Once completed the old courthouse will be destroyed to make way for a community green space featuring places to sit, public restrooms, and even a small area for food trucks. It will also offer open space designed to host large events, festivals, and community gatherings.