Texas trees are not always viewed as icons of the industrial growth of the state. When people think of the Lone Star State, visions of cattle, cowboys and oil wells usually come to mind. However, in the decade between 1890 and 1900, the timber business of Texas brought more money to the economy of the state than any other industry. The 14 million acres of the East Texas Pineywoods are still an important contributor to the strength of the state. Sawmills, logging railroads, and modern forest management have all influenced East Texas culture. The century-and-a-half story of the forest industries of Texas, the people who shaped them, the legacies they left, and the changes in forest management are the focus of the exhibits and programming at the Texas Forestry Museum.

Educational materials in the Company Store extend the visitors experience of the museum. Books, games, Smokey Bear items, nature toys, and things made from wood highlight the products sold.

The Texas Forestry Museum's Online Gift Shop uses PayPal as its checkout payment service. Customers are not required to have a PayPal account. PayPal enables you to make purchases using any major credit or debit card. You can also place an order by calling 936-632-9535 during normal business hours.

Texas’ only museum devoted to preserving the legacy of the people, places and products of the forest began as a dream in the early 1950s. Industry leaders set aside important equipment and tools representative of the wood products industries for a future museum. The dream became reality in 1976 when the original museum building was completed. Exhibit space was soon outgrown, and the museum was doubled in 1986. Growth has continued to the present, with the addition of an Education and Research Center in 1993, expansion of the Urban Wildscape Trail on the grounds, and the 2001 completion of a major renovation and addition of exhibit space.