A Historic Talk by Rick Still

Friends of Historic Nacogdoches, Inc. is pleased to host a free historic talk with local collector Rick Still on Thursday, March 20th, at 4:30 PM at the Charles Bright Visitor Center in Downtown Nacogdoches. This event, open to the public, will explore the early trade of firearms in Texas and their impact on the region’s history. Rick Still is a longtime collector of Texas and Nacogdoches County artifacts, with his collection prominently displayed at the Nacogdoches Visitors Center. His dedication to preserving and sharing local history earned him the 2023 Cum Concilio Club Heritage Preservation Award from Stephen F. Austin State University’s Stone Fort Museum. During his talk, Still will discuss the trade of firearms in Texas as early as the 1700s and how it influenced interactions between Mexico, the French, and Indigenous groups. He will showcase examples of French trade guns, known as fusils de traite, which were integral to Native American trade and warfare. Additionally, he will explain methods for aging these firearms and identifying unique markers on bullets. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in the conversation as Still shares his expertise. The lecture also serves as a meeting for FoHNI members but is open to the public. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend. For questions or more information, please call (936) 560-4441 or email historicsites@nactx.us.