Statue 20th anniversary 10/15/2014 City of Huntsville,Texas Mail-Sam Houston Statue 20th Anniversary event-10/25/14-press release
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Sam Houston Statue 20th Anniversary event - 10/25/14 - press release
Kristin Edwards <kedwards@huntsvilletx.gov> Wed, Oct 15, 2014 at 4:49 PM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
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Thank you!
The Sam Houston Statue Visitor Center & Gift Ship will kick off their 20th Anniversary celebration on Saturday,
October 25 from 12 p.m.to 3 p.m.
"We are excited to celebrate twenty years of the Sam Houston Statue gracing Interstate 45 and welcoming guests
not only to Huntsville and Walker County but to the State of Texas," said Kimm Thomas, Director of Tourism and
Cultural Services. "While the official anniversary date is October 22, we hope more of our residents and those who
were initially involved with the statue project will be able to attend a Saturday event."
Thomas said the celebration will include a short program to begin at approximately 12:30 p.m.
"We are excited to have Gene Pipes, who was the City Manager at the time the statues was built, to give his account
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10/15/2014 City of Huntsville,Texas Mail-Sam Houston Statue 20th Anniversary event-10/25/14-press release
of how and why the statue came to be," "Mayor Mac Woodward and a representative from the Walker County will
give proclamations in honor of the anniversary. The day will also include local musical artist Jarrod Sterrett, who
will play throughout the event."
The event will also include big games on the porch, food and door prizes In honor of the 20th anniversary, the gift
shop will be offering 20% off your entire purchase excluding consignments and clearance items.
Twenty years of tourism
Thomas said the impact of the statue and the visitor center has grown significantly during its 20 years.
"Of all the ways the Statue Visitors Center has grown and evolved over the years, I would say the impact we had on
tourism by changing the perception of Huntsville as a prison city to `The Home of Sam Houston' has been the most
significant," Thomas said. "Education is another significant aspect that the statue has played a significant role.
Because a lot of people are not aware of who Sam Houston was before they visit, we have had the opportunity to
give over a million people a significant look at Texas history."
Jamie Matthews, who has worked at the visitors center since 1999, added that the flow of guests to the statue
visitor center has steadily increased over its 20 years of operation.
"I feel that when I first started we had slower seasons, but now we stay very busy with people coming in from all over
the world," she said. "This includes both senior and school-aged tour groups, conferences, and local events.
The statue to date has been featured in TXU Energy commercial and Ford Trucks commercials, Texas Country
Reporter, Chet Garner The Day Tripper, Jeopardy game show, BET, and other TX Networks. Other nationally now
figures that has stopped by to see statue includes, Kermit the Frog, Oscar Myer Weiner Van,Tillamook Cheese truck,
basketball player and the list goes on. The 20th Anniversary is sponsored in part by; Sam's Club, Gardner Glass and
W hata bu rger.
For more information on the 20th anniversary event, contact the Statue Visitors Center at(936) 291-9726.
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