Editing Tyler, Texas (section)

==Recreation and tourism==
[[File:Caldwell Zoo, Tyler, TX, Photo 2 IMG 0548.JPG|thumb|[[Caldwell Zoo]] entrance]]
Annually, the [[Texas Rose Festival]] draws thousands of tourists to Tyler.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.texasrosefestival.com/festival/now.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321050634/http://www.texasrosefestival.com/festival/now.htm|url-status=dead|title=Until Now|archivedate=March 21, 2012}}</ref> The festival, which celebrates the role of the rose-growing industry in the local economy, is held in October and features a [[parade]], the [[coronation]] of the Rose Queen, and other civic events. The Rose Museum is within the [[Tyler Municipal Rose Garden]] and features the history of the festival.

Tyler is home to [[Caldwell Zoo]], several local museums, [[Bellwood Lake|Lake Bellwood]], Lake Palestine, Lake Tyler, and numerous [[golf course]]s and country clubs.<ref>{{cite journal |title=It's Tee Time in Tyler |last=Navarro |first=Edward |journal=Images of Tyler |volume=1 |page=57 |publisher=Journal Communications, Inc. |year=2006}}</ref> A few miles away in [[Flint, Texas]] is The WaterPark @ The Villages, a year-round, indoor water park.

An "Azalea Trail" in Tyler consists of two officially designated routes within the city that showcase homes or other landscaped venues adorned with [[azalea]] shrubs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tylerazaleatrail.com/faqs.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Tyler Azalea Trail |access-date=December 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130131746/http://tylerazaleatrail.com/faqs.htm |archive-date=November 30, 2012}}</ref> The Azalea Trail is home to a long-standing tradition of official greeters known as the Azalea Belles. Young women are chosen to fill the role each year from Tyler-area high schools or home school families in the Tyler area, and dress in [[antebellum era|antebellum]] [[gown]]s.

[[Tyler State Park (Texas)|Tyler State Park]], a few miles north of the city limits, attracts visitors with opportunities to [[Camping|camp]], [[canoe]], and paddle boat on the [[lake]]. Other available pastimes include [[picnic]]king, [[boating]] (motors have a {{convert|5|mph|abbr=on}} [[speed limit]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/tyler |title=Tyler State Park |website=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=We allow motors, but have a 5 mph speed limit.}}</ref> boat [[Renting|rentals]], [[fishing]], [[Birdwatching|birding]], [[hiking]], [[mountain biking]], [[Trail|hiking trails]], lake [[swimming]] (in an unsupervised swimming area), and [[nature study]].

The Smith County Historical Society operates a [[museum]] and [[archive]]s in the old Carnegie Library.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smithcountyhistoricalsociety.org |title=Smith County Historical Society |publisher=Smith County Historical Society |access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> The East Texas State Fair is held annually in Tyler.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.etstatefair.com/ |title=East Texas State Fair |publisher=Etstatefair.com |access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> Harvey Convention Center, the largest building at Tyler's fairgrounds is slated for demolition in August 2021.<ref>{{Citation |last=Wellerman |first=Zak |title=Tyler Morning Telegraph |date=August 3, 2021 |volume=92 |issue=215 |pages=1A, 3A |language=English |type=Print newspaper}}</ref> Lake Tyler was the location of the [[HGTV Dream Home]] contest in 2005. The {{cvt|6500|sqft|m2|}} house helped to boost tourism and interest in the community and surrounding areas. It was subsequently sold at [[public auction]] in January 2008, for {{US$|1325000|2008}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7615650 |title=HGTV Dream Home Sold, $1.325 Million |publisher=Kltv.com |access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref>

===Historical===
[[File:Smith County Historical Society, Tyler, TX IMG 0498.JPG|thumb|right|The Smith County Historical Society building is across the street from the Tyler Public Library]]

Tyler is home to the  [[Cotton Belt Railroad]] Depot Museum, located near the [[Chamber of commerce|Chamber of Commerce]] office.

Individuals and business firms dedicated to discovering, collecting, and preserving data, records, and other items relating to the history of Smith County, Texas, founded The Smith County Historical Society, a [[501(c)(3)]] [[non-profit organization]], in 1959. The society operates a museum and archives in the former [[Carnegie Public Library (Tyler, Texas)|Carnegie Public Library]] building in [[downtown]] Tyler. Permanent museum exhibits include life-size dioramas of Smith County history, with topics ranging from the [[Caddo|Caddo Indians]] to the 20th century.

Other items from the society's collections are showcased in revolving, temporary exhibits. The society's [[archival library]] contains historical artifacts of Smith County, including newspapers, city directories, school records, photographs, maps, historical papers, and rare books. The archives are open to the public for [[research]] on a limited schedule with [[Volunteering|volunteer]] staff on duty. The society is also the official caretaker of [[Camp Ford|Camp Ford Historic Park]].

[[Camp Ford]] was the largest [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] [[Prisoner of War]] camp west of the [[Mississippi River]] during the [[American Civil War]]. The original site of the camp [[stockade]] is a public historic park managed by the Smith County Historical Society.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://smithcountyhistoricalsociety.org/ |access-date=2020-12-16 |website=Smith County Historical Society |language=en-US}}</ref> The park contains a kiosk, paved trail, interpretive signage, a cabin reconstruction, and a picnic area. It is on Highway 271, {{cvt|0.8|mi|km|}} north of Loop 323.