Editing Conroe, Texas (section)

== Culture ==
[[File:Crighton Theatre.jpg|thumb|Crighton Theatre, first opened as a movie theatre in 1935, now hosts live theatrical performances.]]

Downtown Conroe's Central Business District<ref name=limits/> hosts multiple arts venues. The oldest is the Crighton Theatre, which opened on November 26, 1935. The theatre is named after Harry M. Crighton, Conroe's mayor from 1932 to 1933. The theatre functioned as the community's movie theatre until 1967, at which point it fell into disrepair. In 1979 it was renovated, and it now hosts live theatrical productions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Sondra |date=May 10, 2017 |title=Crighton Theatre 'Crown Jewel of Conroe' still shines after 80-plus years |url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/125years/article/Crighton-Theatre-Crown-Jewel-of-Conroe-still-11136197.php |work=[[The Courier (Conroe newspaper)|The Courier]] |location=Conroe, Texas |access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref> Another theatre, the Owen Theatre, is also located in the district.<ref>Mendoza, Jesse. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/editors-pick/2018/02/22/stage-set-new-performing-arts-venues-conroe/ Stage set for new performing arts venues in Conroe.] Community Impact Newspaper: February 22, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.</ref> The Central Business District has outdoor performance venues at Conroe Founder's Plaza and Heritage Place, which host multiple festivals throughout the year.<ref>Mendoza, Jesse. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/development-construction/2015/07/15/downtown-initiatives-aim-to-attract-visitors/ Downtown initiatives aim to attract visitors.] Community Impact Newspaper: July 15, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2018.</ref>

The city supports several arts organizations, including the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance.<ref>[http://www.conroetoday.com/newsarchives/archivedetails.cfm?id=5386 Greater Conroe Arts Alliance unveils two sculptures honoring the arts in Conroe.] Conroe Today: July 16, 2013. Retrieved March 15. 2018.</ref> The Alliance is a network of multiple arts groups in the city such as the Conroe Symphony, the Conroe Art League, and the Montgomery County Choral Society.<ref>[http://greaterconroeartsalliance.com/member_organizations/ Current Member Organizations.] Greater Conroe Arts Alliance.</ref> The Alliance also sponsors, along with the state of Texas, the Young Texas Artists Music Competition. The competition, founded in 1983, showcases young musicians who aspire to careers in classical music.<ref>[https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/moco/events/article/Young-Texas-Artists-Music-Competition-s-Bach-12704744.php Young Texas Artists Music Competition's Bach, Beethoven & Barbecue set for March 10.] Houston Chronicle: February 23, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.</ref> In 2009, the city sponsored the Art Bench Project, which converted 13 stone benches scattered throughout the central business district into works of art. Each bench portrays a different part of Conroe's history and culture, from historical figures like George Strake and [[Charles B. Stewart]] to contemporary art groups such as the Crighton Players.<ref>Kuhles, Beth. [https://www.chron.com/news/article/Conroe-art-bench-project-debuts-downtown-1732612.php Conroe art bench project debuts downtown.] Houston Chronicle: August 10, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2018.</ref>

=== Parks and recreation ===
[[File:Montgomery County Heritage Museum, Conroe, Texas.jpg|thumb|Montgomery County Heritage Museum]]
The city contains multiple parks which document local history. The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County maintains artifacts of Montgomery County's early settlers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heritage Museum of Montgomery Co.|url=http://heritagemuseum.us/|publisher=Heritage Museum of Montgomery County, Texas|access-date=August 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>Barrett, Natasha. [http://abc13.com/news/precious-relics-of-texas-history-stolen-from-heritage-museum/2234703/ Precious relics of Texas history stolen from Heritage Museum.] Eyewitness News: July 19, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.</ref>

The Lone Star Monument and Historical Flag Park displays the flags that flew over Texas. The flags are positioned in a circle around the park, with a statue of a [[Texians|Texian]] in the center. Each flag comes with a plaque that describes its connection to Texas history.<ref>Meyer, Brad. [https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Lone-Star-Flag-Park-celebrates-Texas-history-9371811.php#photo-11099861 Lone Star Flag Park celebrates Texas History.] ''Houston Chronicle': April 15, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2018.</ref> At the park's entrance is a statue of [[Charles B. Stewart]], who is claimed to have designed the lone star flag.<ref>Spain, Charles A. [http://www.texflags.org/texheritage.pdf Who Designed the Lone Star Flag?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122223039/http://www.texflags.org/texheritage.pdf |date=2020-01-22 }} Heritage Volume 18, Number 1: Winter 2000. Retrieved March 15, 2018.</ref>

Montgomery County War Memorial Park is a memorial to the 166 soldiers from Montgomery County who have been killed in active duty. The park's dedication ceremony was in 1976 and featured a speech by President [[Gerald Ford]].<ref name=impactmemorial>Zedaker, Hannah. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/the-woodlands/city-county/2017/06/12/veterans-memorial-commission-planning-relocate-war-memorial-park-2/ Veteran's memorial commission planning to relocate War Memorial Park.] ''Community Impact Newspaper'': June 12, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.</ref><ref>Ford, Gerald R. [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=5898 Remarks at Dedication Ceremonies for the Montgomery County War Memorial Park in Conroe, Texas.] The American Presidency Project: April 29, 1976. Retrieved March 15, 2018.</ref> In 2017, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court and the City of Conroe agreed to relocate and expand the memorial, to include the names of up to 50,000 soldiers who have lived in Montgomery County.<ref name=impactmemorial/><ref>Dominguez, Catherine. [https://www.expressnews.com/militarycity/article/Commissioners-commit-to-help-fund-Montgomery-11038941.php Commissioners commit to help fund Montgomery County war memorial.] ''San Antonio Express News'': March 30, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.</ref> As of June 2019, the expansion is ongoing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dominguez |first1=Catherine |date=5 June 2019 |title=Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission's unveils first monument in new park |url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Montgomery-County-Veterans-Memorial-13939425.php |work=[[The Courier (Conroe newspaper)|The Courier]] |location=Conroe, Texas |access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref>

[[Lake Conroe]], northwest of downtown Conroe,<ref name=limits/> is a site for such water-based activities as boating and fishing. The most common fish in the lake are [[Largemouth bass]], [[bluegill]], [[channel catfish]], [[white bass]], and [[hybrid striped bass]]. [[Crappie]] may also be found in the early spring and fall.<ref>[https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/conroe/ Lake Conroe.] Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved March 15, 2018.</ref>